GUWAHATI, March 3 � Maniram Dewan was not only the most outstanding personality of the 19th century Assam but was the most brilliant statesman of the great Sepoy revolution of 1857. This observation was made by Kamaleswar Bora, former vice-chancellor of Dibrugarh University, while addressing as the chief guest at the memorial function held on February 26 last on the occasion of the 153rd anniversary of the martyrdom of the great patriot of Assam.
The function was held at the Ambarish Hotel under the auspices of the Maniram Dewan Memorial Trust and was presided over by senior journalist DN Chakravarty. Describing the tragic situation in Assam after the Burmese occupation and annexation by British, Bora dwelt at length on the multifaceted genius of Maniram Dewan.
The working president of the Maniram Dewan Memorial Trust and great grandson of Dewan, Arun Barua gave a detailed account of the various programmes undertaken by the Maniram Dewan Memorial Trust and referred to the steps so far taken to bring out postal stamp in memory of the great martyr of Assam.
Pranjal Saikia, ex-minister Bishnu Prasad, Suryya Kanta Hazarika and Mrinalini Borbora while paying homage to Maniram Dewan described him as a great historian, pioneer tea planter and an expert in revenue matters.
Chakravarty in his presidential remarks regretted that although Maniram Dewan was the most distinguished personality of the 1857 revolution yet he was to get due national recognition and not many people outside Assam had any knowledge about Maniram Dewan.
The function began with the lighting of the lamp by Kamaleswar Bora and laying of floral wreathe at the statue of the martyr. A group of reputed folk artistes from Dergaon under the leadership of Ajit Bora presented folk songs. The meeting also paid homage to the great historian Benudhar Sarma on the occasion of his death anniversary.
