Martyrs Tomb (Silchar)

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This is a monument dedicated to the memory of the 11 martyrs, popularly known as Bhasha Shaheed (Language Martyrs) or Ekadash Shaheed (Eleven Martyrs), who lost their lives in police firing on 19th May 1961. They were killed while taking part in a non-violent agitation programme to protest against unjustified oppression on the people of the Barak Valley by the Government of Assam against their birth right to pursue their mother tongue Bengali as medium of education.

It is really difficult to comprehend how the order to open fire on the innocent people could be passed by the authority under the control of a Provincial Government (Govt. of Assam) in independent India. This is an incidence no lesser brutal than the Jalian Wala Bag firing. But unfortunately, this event is yet to find a proper place in History. Is it because the place is in a remote part of the country?