Kushal Konwar

Kushal Konwar (1905 -1943) was an Assamese freedom fighter and the only martyr of the Quit India movement in India. He was a true patriot and follower of Gandhian philosophy of non-violence. Though he was not directly involved, British hanged Kushal Konwar in relation to the famous Sarupathar derailment of October 10, 1942. Assams.info is presenting a brief biography of Kushal Konwar.

Early Life

Kushal Konwar was born on March 21, 1905 at Balijan Chariali near Sarupathar in Golaghat district of Assam. His father was Sonaram Konwar and his mother’s name was Konpahi. Kushal Konwar started his schooling from Baligaon School. After finishing primary education, he got enrolled in Bezbaruah English School at Golaghat. At that time, Non-cooperation movement started all across India and Kushal Konwar joined the movement

Service Life:

In 1925, Kushal Konwar started a school of his own at Bengmai. But due to financial constraints he had to abandon the noble project. Kushal Konwar later joined Balijan Tea Estate as a Clerk. But the patriot inside forced him to leave the job. In 1936, Kushal Konwar left the tea garden job and devoted himself fully in the Indian freedom movement.

Quit India Movement

In 1942, Quit India movement started and ‘Do or die’ became the motto of the patriots. Though Mahatma Gandhi advocated the philosophy of non-violence, many patriots adopted armed and subversive techniques. So, August Revolution started. In Assam, ‘Santi Sena’ (peace force) and ‘Mrityu Bahini’ (death squad) of Congress took active part in the movement. Kushal Konwar took the side of Santi Sena and became the Secretary of Sarupathar Congress.

On October 10, 1942 at 1.42 AM, few members of Sarupathar Mrityu Bahini derailed a military train near Sarupathar. The train was carrying British and American soldiers. A considerable amount of soldiers died in the Sarupathar derailment. Soon, British military cordoned off the whole Sarupathar area and many people got harassed and arrested by the police. Kushal Konwar was one of them.

Trial and Hanging

On October 13, 2942, police arrested Kushal Konwar when he was on his way to Sarupathar railway station. On March 6, 1943, hearing of Kushal Konwar started in the court of C. A. Humphrey, the Deputy Commissioner of Sibsagar district. Several advocated defended Kushal Konwar. Also there was no proof against him. But one Pulin Barua of Sarupathar Santi Bahini became approver in the case. In the mock trial, judge C. A. Humphrey sentenced four persons to be hanged by neck till death. They were Kushal Konwar, Kanakeswar Konwar, Dharmakanta Deka and Ghanashyam Saikia.

Though innocent, Kushal Konwar accepted the illegal or unlawful sentence. Except Kushal Konwar, other three got their sentence commuted to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment due to mercy petition. British hanged Kushal Konwar in Jorhat Jail, on 15 June 1943, at 4.30 AM. Before hanging, Kushal Konwar read some selected verses of Gita and prayed to the God.

Kushal Konwar was neither an extraordinarily popular leader, nor a revolutionary. But he was a ‘True Patriot’. He loved his country and it’s people. That’s why he accepted the sentence of illegal trial. He sacrificed his life happily for the freedom and happiness of his countrymen.

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