Organisations visit language martyr Birendra Sutradhar's daughter, submits memorandum demanding land-lease

The plot of land that was provided to the Language Martyr Birendra Sutradhar’s family by the Silchar Municipality in 2001 had no legal papers. After the demise of the martyr’s wife, the family members are suffering from the fear of getting evicted and rendered homeless. People from different walks of life in the city appealed to the district governor on Monday on their behalf. Their demand is to provide land lease and financial resources to the families of the martyrs as well as to name the road in the area where their house is located after Shahid Birendra Sutradhar. Socially conscious people including various cultural, social, sports etc. organizations have signed the agreement in this demand. 

A story was recently published in the Barak Bulletin on the financial and mental condition of the family of martyr Birendra Sutradhar. The cultural and civil society of Silchar has been active on this issue. On Sunday, a delegation visited their home and inquired about the family’s condition. They demanded to meet the Deputy Commissioner on Monday regarding this issue.

On Monday afternoon, a group representing various social organizations met Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli and presented their demands. Cultural activist Nikhil Paul from Rupam’s Organisation said, “We knew the family members of martyr Birendra Sutradhar were living there, but we were not aware of their current condition. Besides, a lot of information has come up in the news reports which has made us feel guilty. The families of the martyrs of the language movement are spending their days in so much suffering and terror in front of our eyes. Before visiting the Deputy Commissioner, our delegation went to their house and talked about various issues. No paperwork was provided to the family for the land allotment on behalf of the Silchar Municipality. Besides, they are also lagging financially. We have demanded the District Administration to fix the paperwork of their plot as well as arrange a financial source for their income. Besides, our demand on behalf of the city dwellers is that the road should be named after the martyr. The Deputy Commissioner has informed us that she is already aware of this and also wants these problems to be resolved. Later, Mousumi Sutradhar, granddaughter of Birendra Sutradhar, called us and informed us that a delegation of the District Administration had visited their house and inquired about the same. We hope that our demands will be met and the administration will provide protection to the families of the martyrs.” 

On Sunday afternoon, social workers Kamal Chakraborty, Nikhil Paul, Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Rajkumar Roy, Debashish Sutradhar went to the house of late Dhankumari Sutradhar by maintaining the Covid protocols. They tried to discuss the issue in detail with the family members and tried to sort it out. Many have said that though they couldn’t visit the family members of the martyr, they’ll co-operate in this initiative nevertheless. Kamal Chakraborty said, “We are stunned and shocked to see the miserable condition of the families of the martyrs. This is the situation of the family of our language martyr! What have we done for so many years! No one keeps a track of them even once in a year!” Respected Madhumita Sutradhar, daughter of Birendra Sutradhar, lamented that many people visit their house on the occasion of May 19. No one else keeps any track of us throughout the year. Even before, people used to throw stones at our house. Seeing their house, and the buildings around them, I hate myself. Are we so indifferent, selfish? I don’t know but there is no road in the name of martyr Birendra Sutradhar. His granddaughter Mousumi Sutradhar requested to name the lane in the alley of our residence after her grandfather and put up a plaque. There are lanes named after other martyrs.”

Further adding, she said, “‘Rabindranath in our heart, Unishe May in our conscience’, ‘Unishe May is our identity, ‘Unishe May is our pride’ these are the slogans I have been hearing for so many years. What’s more, no one keeps any track of the martyr’s family. On the contrary, this family has been repeatedly threatened, and the well-wishers of the city, including over 50 organizations in the city of Silchar, protested in the media after the matter came to light. However, I don’t know who threatened the martyr’s family. The family members did not reveal any name to the media, perhaps as a precautionary measure. But, at least we are aware of all this now. We should check up on them every once in a while and try to give due respect to their families. If we all try together, we will surely be able to fix it.”