Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced today that the birth anniversary of India’s youngest martyr, Baji Rout, will be celebrated on a grand scale at the official level.
Speaking at the ‘Saheed Baji Rout Jayanti’ celebration at Jaydev Bhawan, Majhi emphasized Baji Rout’s unique place in India’s freedom struggle, hailing him as a beacon of inspiration for generations.
The Chief Minister recounted the brave boy’s sacrifice in the fight against British oppression in Odisha, detailing how, at the age of 12, Baji Rout refused to let British police forces cross the Brahmani river during the Praja Mandal Movement in 1938.
Despite threats, Rout stood his ground and was shot dead by the police, becoming the youngest martyr of India’s freedom struggle.
Majhi highlighted that Baji Rout’s martyrdom, along with the deaths of six others during the same incident, further fueled the freedom movement in Odisha, turning the tide of resistance against British rule.
He also recognized the broader historical significance of October, a month in which other great figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri were also born.
The event, organized by the Saheed Baji Rout Memorial Foundation, was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other prominent political leaders.
The Chief Minister called for Baji Rout’s legacy to be publicized at the national level, asserting that his courage and sacrifice continue to inspire the youth of Odisha and India.
