Kanak Chandra Mohan, hailing from Barsakahi, a village in Assam's Sivasagar district, was born in the year 1910. Clad in khadi attire, he possessed fluency in multiple languages, including Hindi, English and Bengali, despite lacking formal education.
He was a close associate of KushalKonwar, who tragically fell during the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. Kanak Chandra Mohan served a six-month prison sentence for his involvement in the same movement. This incarceration offered him the opportunity to travel across the nation as a committed member of the Congress Party. He rallied volunteers from remote corners of Assam, motivating them to join the struggle against British rule.
When the Quit India Movement of 1942 unfolded, it split into two factions: non-violence proponents and advocates of aggression. Kanak Chandra Mohan aligned with the latter group, led by KushalKonwar. Together, they orchestrated a disruption of British military transport on the Kohima-bound railway on 10 September 1942. This collective, known as Mukti Bahini, bore responsibility for the event, which resulted in the brutal mistreatment of civilians by British forces and the arrest of 45 Mukti Bahini members. After serving two years behind bars, he and fellow freedom fighters secured their release following negotiations between the All India National Congress and the British Government. Subsequently, he invested his efforts in various social welfare endeavours, establishing several institutions in the Sivasagar district.
In 1972, in recognition of his contribution to India's freedom struggle, the Government of India awarded him a Copper Plate to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of India's independence. Kanak Chandra Mohan passed away on 3 June 2006.
Tamra Patra awarded by Government of India in 1972
Source: Swapnali Gogoi Contributor for CCRT