Dolakasharia Barua was a title, not a kingdom |
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== Early life == | == Early life == | ||
[[File:Kanaklata Udyan, Tezpur.jpg|thumb|left|A sculpture at Kanaklata Udyan or Rock Garden at [[Tezpur]], Assam, describing the incident.]] | [[File:Kanaklata Udyan, Tezpur.jpg|thumb|left|A sculpture at Kanaklata Udyan or Rock Garden at [[Tezpur]], Assam, describing the incident.]] | ||
Barua was born in the Borangabari village of the undivided [[Darrang district]] of Assam as the daughter of Krishna Kanta and Karneshwari Barua. Her grandfather Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in [[Darrang]]. Her ancestors | Barua was born in the Borangabari village of the undivided [[Darrang district]] of Assam as the daughter of Krishna Kanta and Karneshwari Barua. Her grandfather Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in [[Darrang]]. Her ancestors were from the Dolakasharia Barua kingdom (Chutia vassal chiefdom) of the erstwhile [[Ahom Kingdom|Ahom state]] who relinquished the Dolakasharia title and continued retaining Barua title. Her mother died when she was only five and her father, who remarried, died when she reached thirteen. She went to school till class three but then dropped out to take care of her younger siblings.<ref>{{cite web|title=KANAKLATA BARUA (1924-1942)|url=http://www.streeshakti.com/bookK.aspx?author=13|publisher=Stree Shakti|access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> | ||
== Independence activism == | == Independence activism == | ||
During the Quit India Movement Barua joined the Mrityu Bahini, a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub division of Assam. On 20 September 1942, the Bahini decided | During the Quit India Movement Barua joined the Mrityu Bahini, a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub division of Assam. On 20 September 1942, the Bahini decided she would hoist the national flag at the local police station. A procession of unarmed villagers were led by Barua to do so. The police under Rebati Mahan Som the officer in-charge of the police station warned the procession of dire consequences if they proceeded with their plan. Undeterred by the police, the procession continued marching ahead when the police fired upon the procession. Barua was shot and the flag she was carrying with her was taken up by Mukunda Kakoti who too was shot at. Both Barua and Kakoti were killed in the police action. Barua was only 17 years of age at the time of her martyrdom.<ref>{{cite news|title=Due recognition for Kanaklata, Mukunda sought|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar1412/state05|access-date=6 February 2013|newspaper=The Assam Tribune|date=14 March 2012}}</ref> | ||
== Death and commemoration == | == Death and commemoration == | ||
Revision as of 22:16, 8 August 2021
Kanaklata Barua | |
|---|---|
 Kanaklata Barua’s sculpture at Borngabari, Gohpur | |
| Born | 22 December 1924 |
| Died | 20 September 1942 (aged 17) Borangabari, Gohpur |
| Movement | Indian Independence movement |
Kanaklata Barua (22 December 1924 – 20 September 1942), also called Birbala and Shaheed (martyr), was an Indian independence activist and AISF leader[1][2] who was shot dead by the British police while leading a procession bearing the National Flag during the Quit India Movement of 1942.[3]
Early life
Barua was born in the Borangabari village of the undivided Darrang district of Assam as the daughter of Krishna Kanta and Karneshwari Barua. Her grandfather Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in Darrang. Her ancestors were from the Dolakasharia Barua kingdom (Chutia vassal chiefdom) of the erstwhile Ahom state who relinquished the Dolakasharia title and continued retaining Barua title. Her mother died when she was only five and her father, who remarried, died when she reached thirteen. She went to school till class three but then dropped out to take care of her younger siblings.[4]
Independence activism
During the Quit India Movement Barua joined the Mrityu Bahini, a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub division of Assam. On 20 September 1942, the Bahini decided she would hoist the national flag at the local police station. A procession of unarmed villagers were led by Barua to do so. The police under Rebati Mahan Som the officer in-charge of the police station warned the procession of dire consequences if they proceeded with their plan. Undeterred by the police, the procession continued marching ahead when the police fired upon the procession. Barua was shot and the flag she was carrying with her was taken up by Mukunda Kakoti who too was shot at. Both Barua and Kakoti were killed in the police action. Barua was only 17 years of age at the time of her martyrdom.[5]
Death and commemoration
The Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Kanak Lata Barua of the Indian Coast Guard, commissioned in 1997, is named after Barua.[6] A life size statue of hers was unveiled at Gauripur in 2011.[7] Her impassioned speech before her death, remains a source of inspiration for many. She laid down her life for the freedom of the country at the age of 17 years.[8]
Popular culture
Her story was retold in director Chandra Mudoi's film, Epaah Phulil Epaah Xoril. The Hindi version of the movie, titled Purab Ki Awaz, was also released to reach a wider audience.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ "Smt. Kanaklata Barua" (PDF). devaski.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ↑ "Swahid Divas Observed at Gohpur". Pratidin Time. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ↑ Pathak, Guptajit (2008). Assamese Women in Indian Independence Movement: With a Special Emphasis on Kanaklata Barua. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 52. ISBN 9788183242332.
- ↑ "KANAKLATA BARUA (1924-1942)". Stree Shakti. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ↑ "Due recognition for Kanaklata, Mukunda sought". The Assam Tribune. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ↑ Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 306. ISBN 9781591149552.
- ↑ "Statue of Kanaklata Barua unveiled". The Assam Tribunal. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Kanaklata Barua was an Indian Freedom Fighter from Assam. She joined Quit India Movement. According… Translated to Hindi". www.translate.com. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ↑ "Kanaklata story in Hindi". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
Further reading
- Saheed Kanaklata Barua, proud2bindian.in.
- Due recognition for Kanaklata, Mukunda sought, The Assam Tribune, 14 March 2012