PATACHARKUCHI, Feb 19 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today appealed to the people of Assam, specially the new generation to follow the ideals of Bir Chilarai. Addressing a huge gathering of nearly 10,000 people at Na-puria Pathar Bir Chilarai Kshetra, Akaya, about ten km from here in the district of Barpeta, he asked the people to work hard so that Assam becomes a developed State of the nation.
The Cultural Affairs department of the Government of Assam in cooperation with the Barpeta district administration celebrated the 509th birthday of Bir Chilarai with various programmes. Soon after arriving at the venue by helicopter, he visited one of the ancient satras of the locality, the Akaya Satra and then attended the Chilarai Divas programme. He announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for the development of the satra and another Rs 10 lakh for building a Chilarai Bhavan in the locality. He also mentioned about the various steps taken by the Prime Minister, including the recent grants to the State for its development.
Ranjit Dass, ex-Speaker of the Assam Assembly and president of the State BJP in his speech stressed the need of studying the life and works of Bir Chilarai and about his continuous effort to bring back the �Brindabani bastra� to the State. Dr Amarendra Narayan Dev, former president of Darrang Sahitya Sabha, attended the programme as the appointed speaker and in his speech he spoke on the life and works of Chilarai and thanked the present dispensation for their efforts to popularise the ideals of the great leader.
The programme was also attended by Pabindra Deka MLA, Patacharkuchi LAC, Bimal Bora, Tinkhong MLA, Ginindra Nath Das, Aswini Roy Sarkar, MLA Golakganj, Phani Pathak, president of the Bajali zila BJP etc. Earlier, a chorus and guru bandana was performed and welcome address was delivered by the secretary of the Cultural Affairs department Madhurima Barua Sen. The vote of thanks was offered by Munindra Sarma, Deputy Commissioner, Barpeta.
Biswanath Chariali Correspondent adds: Along with the rest of the State, the 509th birth anniversary of Bir Chilarai was observed today at Cheniram Das Park, here under the aegis of Uttaran Samaj, a socio-cultural organisation of Biswanath Chariali.
The day�s programme commenced with the lighting of the earthen lamp by vetaran social worker Jiten Bhagawati while floral tributes were paid at the portraits of Bir Chilarai by Biswanath MLA, Pramod Borthakur. A public meeting was also held on the occasion with Atul Sharma in the chair. The meeting was addressed by Biswanath Municipality Chairperson Ruli Sharma, former civil servant Hiteswar Das, artist Durga Saikia, social worker Dr Nagen Baruah, Tandrali Devi, Khagen Borah, Rajiv Saikia and others. A quiz and drawing competition was organised among school children on the occasion.
Gauripur Correspondent adds: Under the auspices of Biswa Mahabir Chilarai birth anniversary celebration committee, Gauripur the 509th birth anniversary of the famous Koch general Chilarai was observed at Gauripur today with a day-long programme.
In the morning, the flag of the celebration committee was hoisted by the president of the committee in the Chilarai park situated on the north bank of the historic Mahamaya tank in the heart of Gauripur town. The statue of the legendary warrior was garlanded and floral tributes were paid to him on the occasion. Various competitions like art, essay, 100 and 200 metres race, folk dance and folk song etc., were organised.
The prize distribution and the open meeting held in the afternoon was attended by a host of invitees and they urged the youths to follow the ideals of the famous hero in safeguarding the language and culture of the ethnic community. Prizes were distributed among the winners of the competitions. After lighting of earthen lamps in his memory in the evening, an attractive cultural evening was also held where local and invited singers took part. Chilarai Divas was also observed at Chilarai College, Golakganj to pay homage to the legendary warrior of the Koch kingdom.
Gossaigaon ANN Service adds: The Gossaigaon District Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani and its fraternal organisations observed Bir Chilarai Divas at Chilarai Bhawan, Habrubil in a befitting manner today. Earlier, floral tributes were paid to the jawans killed at Pulwama. The president of the Sanmilani, Suroth Ch Roy hoisted the flag at 10 am for the observance of the Chilarai�s 509th death anniversary.
Monika Roy, Swapan Roy, Provat Roy, Tarani Kt Roy, Provat Barman and Binod Ch Roy and paid floral tributes to those who had laid down their lives. Suroth Ch Roy in his flag hoisting speech, urged all Koch Rajbongshi people to be united in snatching their rights. Later, a cultural programme was held in the open field in which school and college students participated. Many distinguished persons including guardians attended the celebrations with great enthusiasm.
