| Birth date | 12 May 1882 |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Budhigang (Undivided Darrang) now in Biswanath district, Assam[1] |
| Death date | 24 January 1980 (aged 97) |
| Death place | Mazgaon (Gangmouthan) |
| Occupation | Political leader of Assam |
| Other names | Chabilal Upadhyaya, Chabilal Babu |
| Political party | Assam Pradesh Congress Committee |
Chabilal Upadhyaya[1] (12 May 1882 - 24 January 1980), was the first (selected) president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee.[2] In 1919 Upadhyaya's family settled at Mazgaon (Gangmouthan), Behali Tehsil in present day Biswanath district of Assam.[3]
Early life and education
- Born on 12 May 1882 in Budhigang (now Biswanath district). His family later moved to Gangmouthan in Behali.
- Had basic schooling before continuing his studies privately in Sanskrit, Assamese, Bengali, Hindi and Nepali.
Political contributions
Chabilal Upadhyaya,[4] popularly known as Chabilal Babu, was a prominent leader of the Indian Freedom Movement from Assam. Upadhyaya joined the war of independence.[citation needed]
Under his leadership, thirty thousand Nepali speaking people protested against Muhammad Ali Jinnah's proposal at the call of All India Gorkha League.[citation needed]
Role in Freedom Movement
- In 18 April 1921, he presided over a pivotal Jorhat meeting that merged Assam Association into the newly formed Assam PCC — and became its first selected president.
- Actively led the Non-Cooperation Movement across Assam; his activism resulted in a six-month jail term under British rule.
- Close association with Mahatma Gandhi, including translating his speeches during Gandhi’s 1921 Assam visit.
Social & Educational Contributions
- Established schools and libraries for the Nepali/Gorkha community of Assam — notably the Behali School at Tezpur in 1941.
- Advocated for unity among Assam’s linguistic communities and took a firm stand against proposed territorial divisions post-independence.
The Assam government commemorates him in several ways:
- Built a life‑size statue in Tezpur unveiled by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in June 2024, honoring his legacy and highlighting his leadership in the Non‑Cooperation Movement.
- Approved a Chabilal Upadhyay Engineering College in Behali, named after him in October 2020.
- Plans are underway to erect another public statue in Guwahati, with site selection by GMDA and family consultation led by CM Sarma.
See also
References
- ^ "Chhabilal Upadhyaya (Nepali:छबिलाल उपाध्याय) Indian Gorkha freedom fighter". Indian Gorkhas. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- ^ "The Times of India: Latest News India, World & Business News, Cricket & Sports, Bollywood". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- ^ Upreti, Mohan (July 2020). "BABU CHABILAL UPADHYAYA AND INDIA'S FREEDOM STRUGGLE :1920-47". Dissertation
- ^ Chabilal Upadhyaya. Good Books Distributors Publishers. 2020.