AGSU’s golden jubilee celebrates the Gorkha heritage in Assam
Digboi: The All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AGSU), the apex student organization representing the Gorkha community of Assam, is set to mark a historic milestone with the celebration of its Golden Jubilee Year, commemorating the 50th Foundation Day of the organization.
The grand inaugural programme will be held on 26th and 27th December, 2025, at the Oil India Bihutoli Premises, Duliajan, in Dibrugarh district, under the hospitality of the AGSU Dibrugarh District Committee, with active support from people across Assam.
Highlighting the importance of the occasion, AGSU President Sunil Kumar Chhetri while talking to the NeNow stated that the Golden Jubilee is not merely a ceremonial celebration but a tribute to the long journey of struggle, sacrifice and self-respect of the Gorkha community in Assam. He said that the milestone belongs to every Gorkha who has stood firm for identity, dignity and constitutional rights, and reaffirmed AGSU’s commitment to safeguarding those values in the years to come.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations aim to honour five decades of unity, perseverance and achievements of the Gorkha student movement. The Gorkha community’s contribution to Assam’s socio-cultural, economic and national life has been significant and enduring. From state-building and national security to agriculture, the tea industry, education, literature, sports, administration and public service, the community has played a crucial role in strengthening Assamese society and its composite culture.
Addressing persistent misconceptions about the community’s identity, AGSU General Secretary Nomal Chhetri on Wednesday morning strongly asserted that attempts to portray the Gorkha community as foreign are baseless and misleading. He emphasized that the sacrifices and blood shed by Gorkhas of Assam for the nation stand as living testimony to their belonging and commitment to the land and the people of Assam.
Tracing the organization’s legacy, AGSU leaders recalled that the roots of Gorkha student consciousness in Assam emerged in 1946 at Tezpur, later taking institutional shape with the formation of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union on 26 December 1976. With changing times and the need for a clearly defined ethnic identity, the organization formally adopted the name All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AGSU) on 12 March 2003, reaffirming the historical and cultural identity of the Gorkha community.
Speaking about the role of the host district, AGSU President, Dibrugarh District, Ratna Thapa said that Dibrugarh is proud to host the Golden Jubilee celebration. He noted that the event symbolizes unity, inclusiveness and the collective journey of the Gorkha community in Assam, while also reflecting the spirit of cooperation among different sections of society.
The two-day Golden Jubilee programme will feature cultural and religious displays representing various castes and ethnic groups, a grand Gorkha ethnic unity gathering, historical seminars and literary-cultural evenings, and a student conference focusing on leadership, education and future vision. The celebration will also include recognition and exchange programmes as well as community unity meetings, aimed at strengthening social harmony and mutual understanding.
Adding further significance to the celebrations, the organizers said that Bhagat Chettri, the newly elected Zila Parishad Member from Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, will attend the programme.
AGSU will accord a formal felicitation to Bhagat Chettri in recognition of his historic electoral success from one of the easternmost frontiers of the nation, bordering the motherland India. The felicitation symbolizes democratic participation, grassroots leadership and the expanding contribution of the Gorkha community in nation-building, particularly in strategically important border regions.
Highlighting the broader vision of the celebration, Working Presidents Japan Thapa and Pranjal Sharma, who also serve as Working Presidents of the AGSU Golden Jubilee Reception Committee, stated that the Golden Jubilee is not only about remembering the past but also about inspiring the next generation to move forward with responsibility, awareness and unity.
On behalf of the organizing committee, AGSU Dibrugarh District Committee General Secretary Deepu Ghising expressed confidence that the presence, guidance and support of respected dignitaries, intellectuals and well-wishers will make the Golden Jubilee inaugural programme a landmark success. He invited all sections of society to witness and participate in this historic moment.
Meanwhile, the AGSU Golden Jubilee Reception Committee has extended a cordial invitation to dignitaries, social leaders, intellectuals, students and the general public to take part in the celebrations.
The Golden Jubilee at Oil India Bihutoli Premises, Duliajan, stands as a reaffirmation of AGSU’s unwavering commitment to dignity, identity, unity and constitutional rights, while contributing positively to harmony and inclusive development in Assam
