Freedom fighter Sushil Dhara passes away

Legendary freedom fighter Sushil Dhara, who along with others had liberated Tamluk (then Tamralipta) in the East Midnapore district from British rule for a few days back in 1942 and formed a national government there, died in the district today. He was 101.

Dhara's death was confirmed by Trinamool Congress leader Subhendu Adhikary, an MP from Tamluk.

A true Gandhian, Dhara was a bachelor and spent his last days at an ashram attached to Prajnananda Smirit Bhavan at Mahisadal.

A redoubtable figure among freedom fighters, Dhara was the 'defence minister' in the 'Free and nationalist Tamralipta (now Tamluk) government' under the commandant of illustrious Satish Samanta in 1942.

Dhara, along with his close associate veteran Gandhite and former West Bengal chief minister Ajoy Mukherjee, retained control over the free Tamralipta government for some days before succumbing to the intense pressure by British government.

A former industry minister in the first government of West Bengal (after independence), Dhara actively participated in the post-independence politics of the state during 1967-69.

Elected from Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency in 1977, Dhara was the chief whip of the Janata Dal parliamentary party at that time.

On February 3, 2010, he became a centurian.

Adhikary said that at his request, President Pratibha Patil felicitated Dhara, a Tamrapatra recipient, on his attaining 100 years by sending a representative at his Mahisadal residence.

Union minister of state for information and broadcasting CM Jatua condoled Dhara's death and said it was an irreparable loss to the nation.