The story of India's long way to achieving freedom from British rule has many protagonists but there is probably none more valiant and inspiring than Baji Rout's. Baji Rout was the youngest Indian freedom fighter and martyr, having been killed at the age of twelve. He was shot by the Britishers when he was only 12 years old. He was martyred after refusing to ferry boats across the Brahmani River in 1938 at Nilakanthapur Ghat, Bhuban, Dhenkanal district.
Baji Rout's Earlylife and Backround
- Name : Baji Rout
- Born : 5 October 1926, Neelkanthapur, Dhenkanal, Odisha
- Father Name : Hari Rout
- Mother Nmae : Rania Devi
- Died : 11 October 1938 (Aged 12), Neelakantapur, Dhenukanal
- Known For : Youngest Freedom Fighter, Youngest Martyr of India
Baji Rout was born on 5 October 1926, in Neelkanthapur, Dhenkanal, Odisha. His father Hari Rout was a boatman on the Brahmani river. He was the youngest person in the family. He lost his father at a young age, his mother Rania Devi worked in different houses to feed her children. He had two elder brothers who also earned very little to support the family.
Baji rout's Involvement in Indian freedom struggle
In the late 1930s, Prajamandal Movement had started in Odisha, which was supported by the Congress. After the formation of the Congress government in Odisha in 1937, they extended full support to the movement. The movement was mainly against the numerous taxes imposed by the king Shankar Pratap Singh Deo of Dhenkanal. More than fifty thousand people gathered near the royal palace on 12 September 1938. But the Prajamandal leaders advised the people to organize the movement in a disciplined manner and convinced them to return to their homes. But the king called 200 armed forces from other states who were sympathetic to him. A contingent of 200 European troops also arrived at Dhenkanal to suppress the movement on 20 September.
More than sixty villages were raided by the armed police who brutally beat and killed villagers. Baji Rout was an active member of the Banar Sena of Prajamandal Party. He witnessed too many atrocities of the police and government officials in his village and felt the economic exploitation of the king. Then on their way to Dhenkanal at midnight on 11 October, armed force tried to cross over river Brahmani in Nilakanthapur village. As an active member of the Banar Sena of Prajamandal, Baji Rout had volunteered to keep watch by the river at night. The British Police force ordered him to cross the river by his boat which he denied. The police force then fired upon Baji Rout along with Laxman Malik, Fagu Sahoo, Hrushi Pradhan and Nata Malik.
The inhuman killing of Baji Rout created ruckus in British Parliament at that time and was strongly condemned as it tarnished the image of imperialism. The killing of Baji Rout became a sensation in Odisha and he became a legend.
While it remains a question to what extent Baji's death created a profound effect on the freedom struggle of the country. Historians and experts has not given Baji his due recognition and due to which the 12-year-old's heroics remains unsung.
