Even as the nation celebrated the Children’s Day on Tuesday, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, recalling the glorious past of Odia martyr Baji Rout’s sacrifice, paid homage to the youngest martyr of India’s freedom struggle.
Taking to Twitter, Sehwag in a series of tweets narrated about the inspiring bravery of Baji Rout, who at the tender age of 12 was courageous enough to fearlessly face the bullets of British force.
On this #ChildrensDay it’s time we know about Shaheed Baji Rout from Nilakanthpur in Orissa, the youngest martyr of India’s freedom struggle.
This young boy was on guard of a country boat and was ordered by the British troops to ferry them across river Brahmani. --Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 14, 2017
Baji who had already heard details of the brutality of the troop which had killed innocent people in the village understood if the British troops were to be obstructed, then they needed to be stopped from going across to the other bank. He therefore refused to ferry them across. --Virender Sehwag November 14, 2017
The troop threatened to kill him if he did not ferry them across immediately. Baji however rejected their orders.
One of the British soldiers hit Baji’s head with his gun butt that fractured his skull severelyIJ. Baji 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 Baji. --Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 14, 2017
Another British soldier started firing ruthlessly. While one of the bullets hit Baji and he lay dead, his other friends laxman Malik,Fagu Sahoo, Hrushi Pradhan & Nata Malik were also killed. India’s youngest martyr definitely deserves more recognition.Salute one of greatest child. --Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 14, 2017
The British police in the midnight of October 10, 1938 attacked Bhuban village in the district, arrested some persons and leaders without any reason and took them to Bhuban police station. Several villagers gheraoed the police station and demanded release of the arrested persons. The cops did not listen to the demand of the agitators and fired at them during which Raghu Naik and Quri Naik were shot dead and many persons were injured.
Apprehending their lives at risk, policemen wanted to go to Dhenkanal through Nilakantapur Ghat as it was the shortest way to Dhenkanal.
On the night of October 11, 1938, the cops reached Nilakanthapur Ghat of Brahmani river while it was raining. Baji Rout, a member of the children’s wing of the Prajamandal Andolan, was in charge of a country boat. The Britishers ordered him to carry them across the river, to which he denied. The police force fired at him along with two other boatmen laxman Mallik and Fagu Sahu, killing them on the spot. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan thanked Sehwag for praising martyr Baji Rout who was the youngest freedom fighter of the country.
Sehwag tweeted that children should learn patriotism from Baji Rout of Odisha who didn’t ferry English troops.
“Sehwag has taken Baji Rout’s sacrifice for the country to the international level through tweets. I thank him on behalf of people of Odisha,” said Pradhan.
The Samajwadi Party urged Chief Minister Naveen Patanaik to institute a yearly State Bravery Award after Baji Rout to instil patriotism and sacrifice among the young generation.
In a letter to the CM, SP State president Rabi Behera said the award should carry a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. He also suggested a documentary film on Baji Rout which can be shown in schools and colleges, besides a statue of Baji in the capital city in the children’s park.