At 12 Years Of Age He Was The Youngest Martyr Of India

Baji Rout was a 12-year-old boy who ferries the boat across the Brahmani river. He was the youngest son of a boatman. On a fateful day when he bravely denied British officers to be ferried across the river, he was killed by the British and thereby making him the youngest martyr of India and stormed into the history books of India.

11th October 1938, 78 years ago, the British decided to flee a small village after the people of the village chose to revolt against the British for an act of injustice perpetuated to them. The villagers were vying for the British even as the British plotted to cross the banks of the river by boat to escape the mob. On one night they chose to cross the Brahmani river by boat which was manned by the 12-year-old Baji Rout. The British officers instructed Baji Rout to ferry them across the river but the valiant 12-year-old would not budge. Baji refused to ferry the British across even after repeated threats of killing him.

The officers would go on to kill Baji and his friends ruthlessly by bullets and by force. The outrage over Baji’s death added momentum to the freedom struggle in its own way. Baji Rout through his bravery would go on to inspire many even he etched his place in the history books of India.