Know the historical significance of Assam's Sootea Police Station in India's freedom struggle

Sootea in Sonitpur district is awash with celebration as the Assam State Government has officially decided to observe August 20 as "Sootea Diwas," a historic recognition of the region's contribution to India's freedom struggle. This announcement by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Assam Legislative Assembly has ignited a wave of joy among the people of Sootea, who have long commemorated this day for its deep historical significance.

The roots of "Sootea Diwas" trace back to the stirring events of August 1942, during a crucial phase in India’s fight for independence. At the All India Congress Committee session held in Bombay on August 7, 1942, key resolutions were passed, one of which called for the hoisting of the tricolor at every police station across the country on September 20, 1942. Gopinath Bordoloi and Siddhinath Sharma, key freedom fighters from Assam, were arrested by British authorities in Dhubri while returning from the session, further fueling the spirit of defiance.

In Sootea, the message of resistance arrived early. On August 9, 1942, Vijay Chandra Bhagwati brought the call to action, urging the people to hoist the tricolor at Sootea Police Station a full month ahead of the proposed date, on August 20. This bold act of defiance became a defining moment in the local freedom movement, breaking the bonds of patience among the oppressed masses.

Recognizing the significance of this historic act, former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited Sootea Police Station on July 27, 2020, and announced measures to preserve the site, which occupies a unique place in India's independence narrative. The movement to officially commemorate this day gained further momentum when, under the initiative of Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika, the first "Sootea Diwas" was celebrated on August 20, 2022. This annual celebration has since grown in stature, with the third edition being grandly observed at Sootea Natya Bhavan on August 20, 2024.

On August 29, 2024, MLA Padma Hazarika presented the case for official recognition of "Sootea Diwas" before the Assam Legislative Assembly, passionately recounting the significance of the day. Responding promptly, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the government's decision to officially recognize August 20 as "Sootea Diwas" from 2025, cementing the legacy of Sootea’s contribution to the freedom movement in the annals of Assam's history.