Quit India Movement in Assam: History, Major Events, Leaders and Martyrs
Introduction
The Quit India Movement of 1942 was the final major mass movement launched by the Indian National Congress against British rule. It began after the All India Congress Committee passed the Quit India Resolution in Bombay on 8 August 1942. Mahatma Gandhi gave the famous call of “Do or Die”.
The movement quickly spread to Assam. Students, women, peasants, workers and Congress volunteers participated in protests, processions, strikes and attempts to hoist the national flag on government buildings.
Assam witnessed some of the most important and tragic episodes of the Quit India Movement. The martyrdom of Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakati, Bhogeswari Phukanani and Kushal Konwar became important symbols of Assam’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
Spread of the Quit India Movement in Assam
The movement received a strong response in Assam.Congress leaders were arrested, but this did not stop the movement. Students and ordinary people organised meetings, processions, strikes and demonstrations.
The movement became particularly strong in areas such as:
- Gohpur
- Dhekiajuli
- Tezpur
- Sootea
- Jamuguri
- Nagaon
- Barpeta
- Bajali
- Rangia
- Golaghat
- Jorhat
- Sivasagar
The main objective in many places was to challenge symbols of British authority, especially police stations, courts and other government buildings. Protesters often attempted to hoist the national flag over these buildings.
Role of Students in Assam
Students played an important role in the Quit India Movement in Assam.
After the arrest of senior Congress leaders, young people became important organisers of protests and underground activities. Students boycotted educational institutions, organised processions and spread nationalist messages.
In several parts of Assam, young volunteers formed groups known as Mrityu Bahini, meaning “Death Squad”. These groups were prepared to face arrest and even death while participating in the freedom movement.
The Barpeta region also witnessed active student participation and the formation of Mrityu Bahinis.
The participation of young people became one of the most distinctive features of the Quit India Movement in Assam.
Role of Assamese Women in the Quit India Movement
Women played a major role in Assam’s 1942 movement.
Women participated in:
- Processions
- Satyagraha
- Flag-hoisting programmes
- Public meetings
- Underground activities
- Resistance against police repression
Women also helped organise Shanti Bahini and Mrityu Bahini in different areas.
The participation of women showed that the movement was not limited to political leaders. It had become a wider people’s movement.
Mrityu Bahini
Mrityu Bahini was one of the important volunteer organisations associated with the Quit India Movement in Assam.The name literally means “Death Squad”.Their activities included processions, resistance to British authority and attempts to hoist the national flag over police stations.
The group became particularly famous because of the participation and martyrdom of Kanaklata Barua.
The Mrityu Bahini represented the willingness of young Assamese volunteers to sacrifice their lives for India’s independence.
Gohpur Firing and Kanaklata Barua
The Gohpur incident of 20 September 1942 is one of the most famous episodes of the Quit India Movement in Assam.
Kanaklata Barua was a young freedom fighter from Barangabari in the Gohpur area. She joined the nationalist movement and became associated with the Mrityu Bahini.
On 20 September 1942, she led a procession carrying the national flag towards the Gohpur police station.The objective was to hoist the Tricolour at the police station.The police ordered the procession to stop. When the protesters continued moving forward, the police opened fire.
Kanaklata Barua was shot dead while carrying the national flag. Mukunda Kakati was also fatally wounded and died in the incident.
Kanaklata became one of the most remembered young martyrs of India’s freedom struggle.
Her sacrifice is particularly important in Assam’s history because it represents the role of young people and women in the Quit India Movement.
Dhekiajuli Firing
Another major incident took place at Dhekiajuli on 20 September 1942.
Large numbers of people gathered near the Dhekiajuli police station with the objective of hoisting the national flag.
The police opened fire on the unarmed protesters.
According to the Assam Police historical account, 11 people were killed in the firing. Among them were three teenage girls:
- Tileswari Barua
- Numali
- Khahuli
The Dhekiajuli police station is therefore an important site in the history of India’s freedom movement. The Assam government has recognised Dhekiajuli, Gohpur and Chatia police stations as heritage sites because of their connection with the freedom struggle.
Bhogeswari Phukanani
Bhogeswari Phukanani was another important woman freedom fighter from Assam.
She was from Barhampur in Nagaon district and was actively involved in the national movement.
During the Quit India Movement, she participated in protests and demonstrations.
On 20 September 1942, during a confrontation with British forces, she resisted an attempt to dishonour the national flag. She was shot by a British officer and later died from her injuries.
She is remembered as the “60 Years Old Martyr” and is an important symbol of women’s participation in Assam’s freedom struggle.
Quit India Movement in Barhampur
Barhampur in Nagaon became an important centre of the movement.
After the arrest of political leaders, local nationalists continued the struggle. The people organised meetings and maintained nationalist camps.
On 18 September 1942, a large public gathering was organised. Later, police action against the protesters led to a confrontation.
Women also played an important role. A group of women led by Ratnabala Phukan approached the nationalist camp carrying the national flag. Bhogeswari Phukanani intervened when the police tried to interfere.
The incident resulted in the deaths of Bhogeswari Phukanani and other freedom fighters.
Women’s Protest at Patacharkuchi
The participation of women was particularly visible in Bajali.
After police firing against nationalists, more than 10,000 women reportedly organised a procession towards the Patacharkuchi police station carrying national flags and singing patriotic songs.
The women successfully hoisted the national flag at the police station.
The incident shows the scale of women’s participation in Assam’s Quit India Movement.
Kushal Konwar
Kushal Konwar is one of the most important martyrs associated with the Quit India Movement in Assam.
He was a Gandhian and Congress worker from the Golaghat region.
In October 1942, a military train was derailed near Sarupathar in Golaghat district. British authorities accused Kushal Konwar of being involved in the sabotage.
He was arrested and later sentenced to death.
Kushal Konwar was hanged at Jorhat Jail on 15 June 1943.
His execution made him one of the most remembered martyrs of Assam’s freedom movement.
Other Forms of Resistance
The Quit India Movement in Assam was not limited to peaceful processions.
In several areas, protesters targeted symbols of colonial authority.
Activities included:
- Strikes and hartals
- Boycott of educational institutions
- Processions
- Flag-hoisting
- Picketing
- Attacks on government property
- Cutting communication lines
- Railway sabotage
- Resistance to tax collection
- Underground political activities
Railway lines became an important target because railways were strategically important to the British war effort.
However, the movement varied from place to place. Some areas mainly witnessed peaceful demonstrations, while others saw sabotage and violent confrontation after severe British repression.
British Repression in Assam
The British government responded to the movement with severe repression.
The major methods included:
- Arrest of Congress leaders
- Mass arrests
- Lathi charges
- Police firing
- Imprisonment
- Restrictions on public meetings
- Punitive measures
- Suppression of newspapers and political activities
The arrest of political leaders created a leadership vacuum, but local activists and students continued the movement.
Police firing at places such as Gohpur and Dhekiajuli showed the extreme nature of colonial repression.
Important Leaders and Martyrs
Kanaklata Barua
- Associated with Gohpur
- Member of Mrityu Bahini
- Led a procession to hoist the national flag
- Martyred on 20 September 1942
- Became a symbol of youth and women’s participation
Mukunda Kakati
- Participated in the Gohpur procession
- Was fatally wounded during police firing
- Martyred during the Gohpur incident of 20 September 1942
Bhogeswari Phukanani
- From Barhampur, Nagaon
- Active participant in the Quit India Movement
- Martyred on 20 September 1942
- Important symbol of women’s resistance
Kushal Konwar
- Gandhian and Congress worker
- Associated with Golaghat
- Arrested in connection with the Sarupathar railway sabotage case
- Hanged at Jorhat Jail on 15 June 1943
Guneswari Devi
Guneswari Devi of Kaliabor, Nagaon, was another important woman participant. She organised a large public meeting during the Quit India Movement and was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment.
Important Places Associated with the Movement
Gohpur
Famous for the martyrdom of Kanaklata Barua and Mukunda Kakati.
Dhekiajuli
Famous for the police firing on an unarmed procession and the martyrdom of several protesters, including teenage girls.
Barhampur
Associated with Bhogeswari Phukanani and strong nationalist activity.
Patacharkuchi
Known for the large women’s procession and flag-hoisting at the police station.
Sarupathar
Associated with the railway sabotage case for which Kushal Konwar was arrested and later executed.
Jorhat
The historic Jorhat Jail was the place where Kushal Konwar was hanged on 15 June 1943.
Significance of the Quit India Movement in Assam
The Quit India Movement was important in Assam for several reasons.
1. It became a mass movement
The movement involved students, women, farmers, workers and ordinary villagers, not only political leaders.
2. Youth played an important role
Young volunteers and members of Mrityu Bahini played a major role in organising resistance.
3. Women showed exceptional courage
Women participated actively in demonstrations, flag-hoisting and resistance against colonial repression.
4. It strengthened nationalist consciousness
The movement spread the idea that British rule had to end immediately.
5. It created important symbols of sacrifice
The martyrdoms of Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakati, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Kushal Konwar and many others became part of Assam’s freedom movement heritage.
6. It challenged colonial authority
Government buildings, police stations, railway lines and communication systems became sites of resistance.
7. It connected Assam with the national movement
Although Assam had its own local leaders, organisations and methods of protest, the movement remained part of the wider nationwide struggle launched by the Indian National Congress.
Limitations of the Movement
The Quit India Movement in Assam also faced several difficulties.
The arrest of major Congress leaders weakened organised leadership.
British repression was severe, and many activists were arrested.
Communication restrictions made it difficult to coordinate activities across the province.
The movement also differed from region to region. In some places, protests remained largely peaceful, while in others sabotage and attacks on colonial infrastructure took place.
Despite these limitations, the movement demonstrated the depth of anti-colonial sentiment in Assam.