Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the newly inaugurated Swahid Smarak Kshetra on December 21 to honour the martyrs of the Assam Agitation, reaffirming the enduring impact of the historic movement on the state’s political and social fabric.
The memorial pays homage to 860 individuals who lost their lives during the six-year anti-foreigners’ agitation that ended in 1985. A continuously lit eternal flame stands at the site, representing their sacrifice and the resilience of the movement.
Accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior government officials, the Prime Minister walked through the martyrs’ gallery, which displays busts of those who died during the agitation. He also offered floral tributes at the statue of Khargeswar Talukdar, regarded as the first martyr of the movement, who was killed on December 10, 1979.
Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 170 crore, the Swahid Smarak Kshetra has been conceived as both a memorial and a public space. The complex features landscaped water bodies, an auditorium, a prayer hall, a dedicated cycle track and infrastructure for a sound-and-light show narrating key moments of the Assam Agitation and the state’s historical journey.
The Prime Minister’s visit underscored the Centre’s focus on safeguarding the legacy of the Assam Agitation, a landmark chapter that continues to shape Assam’s contemporary identity.