MANGRI
ORANG - MODERN HISTORY
News:
Assam’s first female
freedom fighter, shot a century ago, rediscovered on stage
What's
in the news?
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Malati Mem, a multilingual play based on
the life and revolutionary fervour of Mangri Orang, an Adivasi with roots in
central India, was presented by the North East Regional Centre (NERC) of the
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
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Her nickname among her fellow plantation
workers was Malati Mem; the second term is a shortened version of memsahib.
Malati
Mem:
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Malati Mem was an Assamese tribal woman
also known as Mungri.
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During the colonial era, she toiled on tea
plantations in the Darrang area of Assam.
Anti-Opium
Campaign:
●
Malati Mem gained notoriety for her
involvement in anti-opium initiatives.
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These campaigns were a part of the
Swadeshi movement, during which Indians boycotted products created outside,
such as opium and alcohol.
Participation
in the Swadeshi Movement:
●
She vigorously opposed the promotion and
use of opium and foreign liquor on the tea plantations during the Swadeshi
movement.
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Her participation in these activities
demonstrated how committed she was to the cause of Indian independence.
Martyrdom:
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Tragically, Malati Mem was killed in 1921
by colonial authorities during a confrontation.
●
She perished while taking part in the
non-cooperation movement, becoming a personification of the struggle against
British colonial control.
Assam’s
first female martyr:
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Malati Mem has the honour of being
acknowledged as the first Assamese woman martyr.
●
This historical honour was bestowed upon
her in recognition of her bravery and sacrifice in the struggle against British
control.
Legacy:
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The narrative of Malati Mem serves as a
reminder of the contributions of common people who were essential in India’s
struggle for independence.
●
People are still motivated by her memory,
which also draws attention to the contributions made by several unsung heroes
during this crucial era in India’s history.