Shaheed Diwas 2023: Baji Rout, Martyred At 12 Years Of Age, Becomes Nation's Pride

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"It is not a pyre, O Friends! When the country is in dark despair, it is the light of our liberty. It is our freedom-fire" These lines can be found in the poem "Boatman" dedicated to an unsuspecting innocent lad, by poet Routray.

Can anyone even imagine at the age of twelve that he or she would go through a violent death for a larger cause which one does not even have a clue about? Born in Dhenkanal, Odisha, Baji Rout at 12, sanctified the town as his patriotic blood spilled out and wetted his homeland, as a response to a gunshot by a Britisher.

Baji's Early Years

Born in 1926 as the youngest son of Hari Rout and Rania Devi in the village Nilakanthapur. Dhenkanal, he was brought up later by his mother single handed as he lost his father pretty soon. Her mother along with her other two sons could not earn much to fend for the family or to spend on Routs education. The entire village was suffering due to the tyranny of its king.

People Surround The King's Palace

So in opposition to the King Shankar Pratap singh deo's oppressive rule, people came down to the street to protest. More than fifty thousand people gathered in DhenkanalGarh and surrounded the royal palace on 12 September 1938. When about 50000 people marched to the palace and swarmed it from all sides, they were advised by the praja mandal leaders to get back and conduct the satyagrah in a peaceful way.

King's Violent Response

When they returned, the king took the help of 200 armed force from his neighborhood, and also took help of a 200 European troops to suppress these hapless people. The prajamandal committee of Dhenkanal formed Banar Sena to be of additional assistance to the committee. Prajamandal banar sena consisted mostly of young children. Baji's brothers along with the entire village were a part of this. Baji had as a child, resented the police and government atrocities as well as the wily king's oppressive rule. Due to high tax imposed on the subject on the consumption of salt, his mother had to deny him salt in the food which was another reason for Baji to grow averse to the king as well.

Pitiable Scenario In Dhenkanal

People in more than sixty villages were brutally killed by the polices, their houses razed, their women violated, and citizens finally forced to sign loyalty declaration to the king at gunpoint. They took custody of 11 protesting villagers and wanted to move them to another place which is why they wanted Rout's help to ferry them across the river with the 11 villagers in their custody. Hearing this, the Banar sena children along with some adults rushed to the spot and informed Rout about this and requested not to let this happen. A set of villagers also lent their support to Baji Rout.

How Baji Gave Up Fighting

It was the night of 11 October 1938 at Nilakanthapur Ghat when this incident started. Baji tried to convince the police that it was not an ethical thing to do. But they were deaf to his pleas. He was adamant and refused to ferry them across the river, at any cost. The police now opened fire and killed most of them out of which Baji Rout was unfortunately one. Their bodies, before cremation, were taken out in a procession across the entire city for antim darshan. Baji had turned into a legendary household name of Orissa by the time he was cremated with honours.