Bokaro: On the occasion of the 118th martyrdom anniversary of legendary freedom fighter and revolutionary Khudiram Bose, a tribute programme was organised at Dubekata Mor in the Chandankiyari block of Bokaro district on Tuesday. Participants paid floral tributes to the revolutionary by garlanding his portrait and remembered his supreme sacrifice for India’s freedom.
The programme was presided over by Kumud Mahto, State Secretary of the All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan, while Jagannath Rajwar, convenor of the United Kisan Morcha, Chandankiyari, conducted the proceedings.
Addressing the gathering, Kumud Mahto said that Khudiram Bose was one of the youngest and most prominent revolutionaries of India’s freedom struggle. He was born on December 3, 1889, in Bahubaini (Habibpur) village of Midnapore district in present-day West Bengal.
He said that at the age of just 18, Khudiram Bose was hanged by the British on August 11, 1908, in connection with an attempt to assassinate British magistrate Kingsford in Muzaffarpur.
Mahto further said that the historic court building in Muzaffarpur, where Khudiram Bose’s trial was conducted, and the courtroom enclosure associated with his trial should be preserved as a museum. Such a step, he said, would help future generations learn about his courage, sacrifice and contribution to the freedom movement.
On April 30, 1908, Khudiram Bose and his associate Prafulla Chaki targeted the carriage believed to be carrying Kingsford and threw a bomb at it. However, Kingsford was not inside the carriage. Instead, the carriage was carrying the wife and daughter of British barrister Pringle Kennedy, both of whom were killed in the incident.
Following Khudiram Bose’s arrest on May 1, 1908, his trial began. Lawyers Kalidas Basu, Upendranath Sen and Kshetranath Bandopadhyay defended him without charging any fees.
Khudiram’s Fearless Spirit Remembered
Jagannath Rajwar, convenor of the United Kisan Morcha, Chandankiyari, said that when Khudiram Bose was sentenced to death on June 13, 1908, he reportedly remained calm and smiled. He said that Khudiram’s courage in the face of death reflected his unwavering commitment to the country’s freedom.
Rajwar said that there is a need to remember and embrace the ideals of Khudiram Bose and take inspiration from the path of sacrifice and patriotism shown by the young revolutionary.
Kisan Morcha Supports Student Movement
During the programme, leaders of the Chandankiyari unit of the United Kisan Morcha also expressed their support for student organisations protesting alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes.
The speakers said that student organisations had taken out a pre-planned march towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. They alleged that police resorted to a baton charge against the students while the march was proceeding peacefully.
The United Kisan Morcha strongly condemned the alleged police action and warned the state government that farmers would not remain silent if the concerns of the protesting students continued to be ignored.
The leaders said that if necessary, farmers would also launch a strong agitation in support of the student movement. They held the state government and its representatives responsible for any such future confrontation.
Those present at the programme included Haripada Mahto, Gokhul Rajwar, Suresh Kumar Mahto, Jalil Ansari, Dr Kamal Prasad Mahto, Niwas Mahto, Ramesh Mahto, Shankar Rajwar, Parikshit Mahto and Nakul Mahto, among others.
