India’s first freedom struggle way back on March 11, 1804 had really started from the Jagannath Temple in Puri by Jai Rajguru for freeing four estates of the Lords from the British clutch, claimed an outfit here on Tuesday.
Under the banner of Sahid Jai Rajguru Smruti Parisad, the outfit too claimed that Rajguru was one who led an army of 2,000 warrior Paikas to the Barabati Fort and threatened the British Government for liberating the properties of the Jagannath or face dire consequences.
Frightened by a vast army’s march towards the Barbati, the British chief there had intended a pact but was strongly rejected by Rajguru, who had even threatened a bloody war for liberation of Rahanga, Sirei, Lembala, and Chabisikuda estates from the British encroachment, stated the Sansad, tabling evidence from a book by noted poet Madhusudan Bipra. Sadly, a demand to declare Rajguru as first freedom fighter still goes unheeded, the Sansad lamented in a Press meet.
“The chief colonel of British force Col Harkut had intended a peace pact with Rajguru being frightened of a vast army against them,” said Sansad secretary Jatadhari Mishra.
Mishra told that despite a series of demands backed by documentary proofs, the State Government is still deaf towards their demand to declare Rajguru as first freedom struggler of India against the British rule. To commemorate the bravery of Rajguru against the British and the role of the Jagannath Temple in first freedom struggle, a rally would be held on March 11 from the Lions Gate to the Gundicha Temple on Badadanda, informed Mishra.