Kanailal Niyogi (; 1924 - 19 May 1961) was an employee of the Indian Railways who took part in the Bengali Language Movement in the Barak Valley in 1961. On 19 May 1961, Niyogi became a martyr when he was shot dead by the paramilitary forces at the Tarapur railway station in Silchar.
Early life
Niyogi was born in 1924 to a
Bengali Hindu family in the village of
Kalihati Upazila in
Tangail District, Mymensingh district, Bengal Presidency (now in
Bangladesh). He was the son of Dwijendralal and Manorama Niyogi. After his studies, he got a job in the Bengal Assam Railway. He was posted in
Silchar, where he settled with his family. After the Partition of India, Niyogi moved to Silchar permanently.
[[
archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=186462 Tributes to language heroes of Assam]]
Martyrdom
As the Bengali Language Movement gained momentum in the
Barak Valley, Niyogi was drawn into it. In spite of being a railway official, he took part in the
Satyagraha on 19 May 1961.
[[
archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=186462 Tributes to language heroes of Assam]] The primary agenda of the satyagrahis was a rail blockade at Tarapur railway station demanding the official status of
Bengali language in Assam. The rail blockade program passed off peacefully in the morning. However, in the afternoon, at around 2-35 pm the paramilitary personnel posted at the station started firing at the satyagrahis without any provocation.
[[
archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=186462 Tributes to language heroes of Assam]] Niyogi suffered bullet wounds and along with others he was taken to Silchar Civil Hospital where he was declared dead. He was survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters and his 70-year-old mother.
[[
archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=186462 Tributes to language heroes of Assam]]
See also
-
Kamala Bhattacharya
-
Sachindra Chandra Pal
-
Birendra Sutradhar
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Tarani Debnath
