Sootea in Sonitpur district is experiencing widespread celebration following the Assam State Government’s official recognition of August 20 as “Sootea Diwas,” commemorating the region’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle. This announcement by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Assam Legislative Assembly has sparked immense joy among Sootea residents, who have long honored this day for its historical importance.
The origins of “Sootea Diwas” date back to August 1942, during a pivotal moment in India’s independence movement. The All India Congress Committee, at its session in Bombay on August 7, 1942, resolved to hoist the tricolor at police stations nationwide on September 20, 1942. Freedom fighters Gopinath Bordoloi and Siddhinath Sharma from Assam were arrested by the British in Dhubri while returning from the session, intensifying the fervor for resistance.
In Sootea, Vijay Chandra Bhagwati carried the call to action early, urging locals to raise the tricolor at Sootea Police Station on August 20, a month ahead of the scheduled date. This decisive act of defiance galvanized the local freedom movement and inspired a spirit of rebellion among the oppressed communities.
A landmark visit occurred on July 27, 2020, when former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited Sootea Police Station, pledging to preserve the site’s historical significance. The momentum for official recognition grew stronger when Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika led the first “Sootea Diwas” celebration on August 20, 2022. This annual observance has rapidly gained prominence, with the third edition held at Sootea Natya Bhavan on August 20, 2024.
MLA Padma Hazarika formally advocated for official recognition on August 29, 2024, before the Assam Legislative Assembly, passionately detailing the day’s significance. Responding swiftly, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma declared the government’s decision to officially mark August 20 as “Sootea Diwas” starting in 2025, immortalizing Sootea’s role in the independence narrative within Assam’s historical records.
