On the martyr day of Baji Rout, the Samajwadi Party, Odisha unit on Sunday wrote to Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani to institute a National Bravery Award in Baji Rout’s name and designate a children’s park after his name in national capital New Delhi.
“Born on October 5, 1926, Baji Rout was shot dead by British police on the bank of River Brahmani in Dhenkanal district on October 11, 1938 as he refused to ferry them across the river. Along with the 12-year-old boy, four others named Nata, Guri, Hrushi and& Fagu also succumbed to the firing. But the sacrifice of this 12-year-old boat boy does not find a glorious place in our national history and he has not been recognized at the national level,” wrote SP State president Rabi Behera.
Behera also sent copies of this demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.