Tarun Ram Phukan ( Tarun Ram Phookun) was born on 22 January 1877 in Assam. He was popularly called Deshbhakta, as he was a patriot who wore his love for his country on his sleeve. After his schooling at the Cotton Collegiate School in Guwahati and his higher studies at the Presidency College in Calcutta, he went to London where he studied Law and earned a Bar-at-Law degree. Phukan then returned to India and served as a lecturer at Earle Law College in Guwahati. Inspired by Gandhiji, Phukan gave up his practice to join the national freedom movement.
In 1920, Phukan joined the Congress and played a prominent role in the formation of the Assam division of the party. In 1921, when Gandhiji first visited Assam, Phukan was his trusted companion. Phukan joined the Non-cooperation movement and travelled through the length and breadth of Assam, delivering Gandhiji’s message. He was eventually arrested and imprisoned for a year by the British authorities for his participation in the Non-cooperation movement. In 1926, Phukan played a big role in organising the All-India Congress Committee session at Pandu, Guwahati. All the prominent national leaders like Gandhiji, Motilal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and many others were a part of this session. Gandhi stayed at Phukan’s house in Bharalumukh and performed the bideshi bostro dah jagya (burning of foreign goods). Phukan became a prominent figure of the Swadeshi Movement in Assam, and he popularized the use of Khadi.
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