Tarun Ram Phookun, popularly known as 'Deshabhakta', was  born  in  Gauhati in Kamrup District of Assam on January 22, 1877. He was educated in Cotton Collegiate School, Gauhati and Presidency College, Calcutta.  Later, he was called to the Bar from the Inner Temple in London. He distinguished himself as a lawyer and also served as Lecturer in Earle Law College in Gauhati.

Phookun was a prominent  member  of the Assam Association which was the only political organisation in Assam till 1920. He played a notable part in forming the Assam Branch of the Indian National Congress in 1921 and was elected its first President. When the Non-cooperation Movement was started, Phookun  took a leading part in it and he toured various parts of Assam carrying the message of Mahatma Gandhi. He was sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment in 1921 in connection with the Non-cooperation Movement. After release, he joined the Swarajya Party. He was twice elected to the Central Legislative Assembly.  In 1926  he  became  the  Chairman  of the Reception Committee of the Pandu Session of the Indian National  Congress.

Phookun was also a popular figure in the civic life of Assam. As Chairman of the Municipal Board and Local Board of Gauhati he undertook several programmes for the uplift of the under­privileged sections of society. While Chairman of the Gauhati Municipal Board he established a Leper Asylum in Gauhati. He was a forceful orator and also an eminent writer.  He  served as  President of the Assam Sahitya Sabha, a premier literary organisation in Assam at its Goalpara Session in 1927 and as President of the Assam Chhatra Sammelan in 1928. Tarun Ram Phookun breathed his last on July 28, 1939.

The Posts and Telegraphs Department feels privileged to bring out a commemorative stamp in honour of this great son of India on the occasion of his birth centenary.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India