Shaheed Baji Rout

At a time, when children spend their time in playing, this young boy of twelve years martyred himself for the sake of freedom. Such was his audacity that he refused to bulge even in front of armed British soldiers!

Baji Rout was born on 5th October in the year 1926. He was the youngest Indian freedom fighter and martyr, having been killed at the age of twelve.

Baji Rout was a boat boy, was shot by British police when he refused to ferry them across the Brahmani River on the night of 11 October 1938 at Nilakanthapur Ghat in Bhuban in Dhenkanal district.

Baji Rout was the youngest son of a boatman on the Brahmani river. As an active member of the Banar Sena of Prajamandal (Party of People),he 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.

Baji Rout thus attained martyrdom and sacrificed his life for the sake of motherland.

This real life incident is an anecdote about unknown heroes of our freedom struggle who deserve much more than mere praise and appreciation. They were the torchbearers who braved the cruelty of the mighty British empire, and gave us freedom.

Jai Hind