Hyderabad: As much as he fought for the freedom of the country, Mahatma Gandhi fought a moral battle to eradicate untouchability from the society and for the upliftment of Dalits whom he called Harijans. He founded the organization 'Harijan Sevak Sangh' for the upliftment of Dalits. The Sangh helped the depressed class to access all public places like temples, schools, roads and water resources etc. Along with the rest of the country, Assam too witnessed this movement which was initiated by Krishna Nath Sarma, also known as Harijan Bandhu.
Born on February 28, 1887 at Sarbaibandha in the Jorhat district of Assam, Krishna Nath Sarma continued his struggle to bring the Harijans to the mainstream of the society through the Harijan movement of Gandhiji. His activities, however, did not go well among the Orthodox Brahmin society he belonged and he was ostracized.
A science graduate and graduate of law from Earl Law College, Sarma also practised law but later sacrificed his profession in 1921 to actively participate in the Non-Cooperation movement started by Mahatma Gandhi.
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Krishna Nath Sarma was given charge of the Congress party in the Jorhat district in 1921. The same year Sarma along with Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, Tarun Ram Phukan and Kuladhar Chaliha had to serve one-year imprisonment in jail. During those days, Sarma while following the steps of Gandhiji started several movements in Assam for socio-economic development like starting schools and colleges, setting up hospitals and constructing roads to remote areas.
Among his works, Sarma stands out for his works towards the eradication of untouchability. Hailing from an orthodox Brahmin family, Sarma welcomed the Harijans of the society to the Namghar (place of prayer) in his house, a daring act those days. In 1934, when Mahatma Gandhi visited Assam for the second time, Gandhiji inaugurated the Namghar for the Harijans, a development that had never happened in Assam before.
A true Gandhian, who had followed each ideal of Gandhiji throughout his life died on February 2, 1947. However, this social reformer of Assam is yet to get his due recognition in the state till today.
The Sabarmati Ashram established by Krishnanath Sarma in Jorhat is in a dilapidated condition now. Due to the lack of interest by the locals and the successive governments, the Ashram was surrounded by the jungle growth around. The government also has no scheme to restore the Ashram, which has a rich history of the pre-independence era of Assam. Most importantly, the memorial of Krishnanath Sarma still remains in dilapidated condition within the campus of Sabarmati Ashram at Sarbaibandha area in Jorhat.
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