Nilachakra

BAJI RAUT : THE YOUNGEST MARTYR

Jaya Jagannath,                                                        ( An Utkala Dibasa Special article, source  )

When our country was in the darkest despair for freedom, a 13 year old orphan boy Baji Rout was the spark of liberty who ignited freedom-fire. The supreme sacrifice of this thirteen-year-old boy triggered adequate catalyst to freedom movement that ultimately wiped out Britishers from India. In the darkest night of an unforgettable October 10, 1938 time had chosen Baji Rout to be immortal by just burning the mortal remains of his dead body and preserving his accomplishments intact.

In the midnight of 10th October 1938 ,British forces attacked Bhuban village and arrested as many as eight persons and let loose terror to elicit information on freedom fighters hideouts. based on a tip off british troop started immediate chase. Villagers obstructed, but britishers did not listen to agitators and fired at them killing and injuring many. Then the troop rushed to nearest ferry on River Brahmani.

A 13 year old orphan boy, Baji Raut was on guard of a country boat at that time. He was ordered by the troop to ferry them across immediately. By that time he had heard details of the brutality the troop had resorted to villagers and had understood that if freedom fighters were to be protected, the british troops were to be obstructed from crossing the river. He refused to ferry them across. The troop threatened to kill him if he did not ferry them across immediately. this little boy strongly rejected their orders again.

One of the british soldiers hit Baji Rout head with his gun butt that fractured his skull severely. He collapsed, but he rose again gathering whatever little strength and courage was left with him, and raising his voice to the highest pitch beyond even his strength, warned the british troops not to ferry them till alive. A soldier pierced his bayonet into the soft skull of the brave boy even as another fired at him. Time wheel stopped for a while to recover this shocking dismissal of the bravest kid of our motherland.

Charged with wrath and contempt, villagers rushed to the spot. Seeing them the panicked british soldiers fled for life, but taking hold of Baji’s boat after killing him, the troop oared away in utmost haste. While escaping, they also back fired on the chasing masses causing four more deaths.

Time has changed. Our democracy has changed into plutocracy. History has witnessed that those, who were sabotaging our freedom struggle, have befooled us to the extent of becoming rulers of our country. Those who have redefined our independence to be dependant on foreign powers have grabbed the highest political posts in our Country. Those who should have opposed this mischief have allied with them in the style of safeguarding secularity! Those who should have remained unfazed on the issue of political economy of capitalism vrs socialism, have, only in order to remain in close proximity to power, been parading new ideas of political philosophy of secularism versus communalism.

We Odias, despite our truest Indian hood, are grossly neglected ever in the Indian parlance. Some one who says the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 as the First War of Independence must get reminded that the Paika Mutiny of 1803-17 and Adivast Mutiny of 1926 were ancient to 1857. If the people of Odisha had the English Media at their command, and had the historians been able to interpret events without fear, martyrdom of Baji Raut could have been recognized as the first spark that ignited freedom fire. Jaya Jagannath.

Regards
Team Nilachakra