THERE is no instance in the world history of any monarchy being transformed into a democratic state without people’s struggles. But, in the observance of 50 years of attainment of statehood of Tripura, the way the prime minister and the union home minister glorified the last monarch of Tripura suggests as if the present statehood of Tripura was a mercy of the royal family. Both the prime minister and the union home minister were addressing virtually a hall meeting on this occasion in Agartala on January 21.  

Strongly reacting to the falsehood to distort the history of landmark struggle of the people of the state, Manik Sarkar lashed out at the shrewd attempt of top BJP leaders to highjack the history. If the glorious struggles, dedication and sacrifices of the people for a long period don’t come up in discussion in celebrating this day, it is virtually committing humiliation to the people of the state. History neither forgets any event nor forgives anybody, Sarkar told the press on January 24.

STRUGGLES IN KING’S REGIME

Briefly narrating the regime of the so-called 184 kings, Manik Sarkar said it is not a fact that these kings ruled the state smoothly.  Several revolts were held during this period mainly against the misrule of monarchy and feudal exploitation. Those revolts were crushed in an inhuman manner. But till then the idea of ‘self-determination’ did not rouse in the minds of the people. Only in 1945, after the formation of ‘Janashiksha Samity’ by a handful of educated tribal youths led by Dasaratha Deb, Sudhanwa Debbarma, Hemanta Debbarma and others, did this idea start germinating in their minds. The samity leaders alongside its academic, social and anti-feudal economic reformative drives simultaneously started campaigns that the people are not destined to be ruled by the royal family. They have the inherent liberty to make a choice to whom to be ruled by.

The campaign of Janashiksha Samity leaders greatly stimulated the people’s urge for getting rid of the monarchy. The people, both tribals and non-tribals, started the united movement against the royal administration with the slogan “Rajar Chhele Raja Noy, Prajar vote Raja Chai” (A prince by inheritance must not be a king, want a king elected by people’s vote). Naturally, the Janashiksha Samity leaders with their anti-feudal activities invited the wrath of the monarchy. Instead of cooperating with their noble mission, the royal administration treated this samity as a rival to their regime.  In 1947, king Bir Bikram Debbarman though gave birth to a parallel political organisation in the name ‘Tripura Sangha’  to confront ‘Janashiksha Samity’ in the hills, he had realised that monarchy would not be sustained for long. He decided to arrange three ‘maha sammelans, with ‘samajpatis’ of three separate sections of the people, i.e., tribals, Bengalis and Muslims. But unfortunately, after holding the first ‘maha sammelan’ of tribals, king Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman died on  May 17, 1947. Prince Kirit Bikram Kishore Debbarman being a minor at that period, queen Kanchan Prabha Debi was crowned as a regent queen. 

There was no respite in the drive for crushing the janashiksha movement even after the demise of the king. Consequent to the brute attempt of the monarchy to crush janashiksha movement, the Tripura Rajya Upajati Ganamukti Parishad emerged in 1948 mainly to carry on the mission of ‘Janashiksha Samity’ and simultaneously lead the resistance movement against the royal police. Both the Janashikha Samity and Ganamukti Parishad were backed by the Communist Party of India from remote.

Indian independence on August 15, 1947, immensely inspired the people of Tripura to have a democratic administration as a province of India. Thus, the movement had further escalated for accession to India. The royal family at that moment realised that they were not in a position to continue the monarchy. But they were divided on which side to get accessed. The larger section was in favour of India and the other in favour of Pakistan. Under the multi-pronged pressing compulsion, the regent queen had no other alternative but to sign the instrument of accession with India on October 15, 1949.

MOVEMENT IN CONGRESS REGIME

After accession, the then Congress government at the centre declared Tripura as a ‘C’ category state in January 1949 and appointed a chief commissioner to act with an advisory board consisting of three Congress leaders, namely Sachindra Lal Singh, Sukhamay Sengupta and Jiten Thakur. In the early fifties, the State Delimitation Commission in its recommendation merged the entire Tripura with Assam state. This infuriated all sections of the people of Tripura. The Communist Party of India led by Dasaratha Deb and Biren Datta, two MPs of the state, organised the biggest protest demonstration in the capital city Agartala against this recommendation.

Sensing people’s pulse, the then central government declared Tripura as a union territory and retained the chief commissioner as administrative head. In 1957, the first territorial council election was held and that was converted into assembly giving limited power with a provision of a small cabinet in 1963. Since then, there were ceaseless movements in the state led by the Communist Party. Two MPs were continuously pressing for this demand in Parliament.  Finally, on February 21, 1972, Tripura attained full statehood along with Manipur and Meghalaya. That was the victory of the struggle of the people for more than 25 years.

Saluting this long heroic struggle of the people of the state for statehood, Manik Sarkar said we are not surprised that neither the prime minister nor the union home minister uttered a word of recognition of this long struggle.  It is natural because capitalists, landlords and royal families, corporate are their class allies. But by doing this they have shown disrespect to the struggling people of Tripura.

SANKALP 2047

Referring to the publication of ‘sankalp 2047’ by the government, Manik Sarkar quipped everybody knows that BJP is synonymous with ‘jumla’. Who assigned them to undertake planning for 25 years? They made 299 promises in 28 sections in their ‘vision document’ during the last assembly election. Not a single of those could be implemented during the last four years. Their own party MLAs are asking their leaders what performance they would show for seeking votes next time. On the contrary, they robbed the constitutional rights of the citizens to vote in all the elections held under their regime. They snatched away peace and unleashed terror. The people are repenting that they have invited a devil in the last assembly election. The people are preparing to rectify their mistakes.