128 years have passed since the historic Patharughat farmers’ rebellion. Nearly 140 unarmed peasants were killed by the British on 28 January, 1894 in Assam for protesting against the high taxation in land revenue levied by the colonial administration, when the military opened fire.
It is mentioned that the British began to impose land taxes after the annexation of Assam in 1826. They decided to increase agricultural land tax reportedly by 70 to 80 percent in 1893. Protesting which the revolt took place at Patharughat, a small place in Darrang district.
Kisan Shaheed Diwas is being celebrated every year in honour of the martyred farmer who lost his life in the road. This Kisan Shaheed Diwas has been officially observed since 2017. On the occasion of the 128th Farmers Martyrs’ Day today, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma tweeted his condolences to the martyrs.