Mahisadal: Sushil Dhara, the founder
of the erstwhile Tamralipta government which kept the British
at bay for about two years (1942-44) in Midnapore, on Tuesday
turned 100.
Union ministers -- Saugata Roy (urban development),
Sisir Adhikary (rural development), Mukul Roy (shipping) and C
M Jatua (information and broadcasting) -- visited Dhara at
Peerless Bhavan here and paid floral tributes to the freedom
fighter.
State's Fisheries Minister Kironmoy Nanda also visited
him. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee could not turn
up due to his "preoccupations", East Midnapore district
Congress sources said.
The Union ministers regretted the state government's
"indifference" towards paying tribute to Dhara.
Dhara, born at Tikarampur village, had taken a lead
role in launching anti-British movement in August, 1942 in
undivided Midnapore that helped in the liberation of
Tamralipta and formation of a free government on December 17,
1942. The Tamralipta government lasted till 1944.
The day was marked by taking out 'prabhat phery'
(morning procession), marchpast by volunteers, bringing out of
a souvenir and a pictorial exhibition on the freedom movement.
Dhara, who still reads newspapers every morning,
however, is unable to move and mostly lies in bed, his close
associates said.
Subhendu Adhikary, MP (Trinamool Congress), suggested
that Haldia port be named after Satish Samanta, veteran
freedom fighter and 'political guru' of Sushil Dhara.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 02, 2010, 19:00