GUWAHATI: Former Abhayapuri North MLA and noted communist leader Phani Medhi was remembered on his 16th death anniversary at Srijangram in Bongaigaon district on Sunday.
At a brief function maintaining COVID-19 protocol, Sadma Narayan Das, a senior citizen of the area unveiled the Phani Medhi Memorial Gate of Srijangram United High School. The gate has been constructed by the family members of the late leader who had played a pivotal role demanding ST status for the Koch Rajbongshi community.
A reprinted version of a souvenir in memory of Medhi was also released.
Remembering comrade Medhi who was jailed for several years, his close aide Sudhan Mudoi said, “This gate will always keep alive Phani Medhi. It is our responsibility to remember his works and ideals.”
Medhi who was associated with CPI(ML) and several other peasant and labour unions was killed in a road mishap on June 6, 2005 at Changsari on his way to attend a meeting with then chief minister Tarun Gogoi. The meeting was supposedly to discuss pertinent issues of the Koch Rajbongshis.
A teacher, advocate, poet, politician, actor, comrade Phani Medhi was born in 1937 at Uttar Khamarpara village.
Medhi had graduated from Abhayapuri College where he was a student of the first batch.
He was an active member of Communist Party of India (CPI). Later, he joined Communist Party of India (ML).
For his association with CPI (ML) which advocated armed revolution, the uncompromising leader was jailed in 1971 for the first time. Phani Medhi was also jailed in 1975 during the internal emergency imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi. He was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
Phani Medhi won the 1978 assembly election from Abhayapuri North as an independent candidate. Despite the political instability of his times, Medhi was proactive in voicing the concerns of the people.
As an MLA who shunned all the luxuries, Medhi was a dear friend for the people of all classes.
