UPSC Articles
Place in the news: Dhekiajuli
Part of: GS Prelims and GS- I – Modern History
In news
- Indian Prime Minister recently paid a visit to the historic martyr town of Dhekiajuli in Assam, to lay the foundation stone for two medical colleges and launch a road and highway project.
Important value additions
- Dhekiajuli is associated with the Quit India Movement of 1942.
- Dhekiajuli was home to possibly the youngest martyr of the Indian freedom struggle.
- On September 20, 1942, as part of the Quit India movement, processions of freedom fighters marched to various police stations across several towns in Assam.
- These squads, which were known as ‘Mrityu Bahini’, or death squads, had wide participation — including women and children — and set out to unfurl the tricolor atop police stations, seen as symbols of colonial power.
- The British administration came down heavily on them.
- In Dhekiajuli, at least 15 people were shot dead, three of them women, including the 12-year-old Tileswari Barua.
Do you know?
- September 20 has for long been observed as Martyrs’ Day in Dhekiajuli town.
- Recently, the Dhekiajuli police station was accorded heritage status and restored by the Assam government.
