Bagha death anniv held sans Rakta Tirtha Yatris

Coronavirus played spoilsport  in the path of observation of the death anniversary of Bagha Jatin, a prominent  freedom fighter who laid his life in the early twentieth century  while fighting against British during the freedom struggle.This year was 105th death anniversary and the observation for the first time was made  in absence of Rakta Tirtha Yatri of Bengal and without  public gathering.

Every year Rakta Tirtha Yatris from Bengal come to the place  to pay tribute  to the great leader  who exhibited unparalleled heroism and supreme sacrifices in his youth.

“This year no Rakta Tirha Yatri did come from Bengal owing to Covid 19 pandemic. The observation was made in a ritualistic manner  without gathering and meeting,” said general secretary,Bagha Jatin Development Committee Haren Chandra Rana. Hardly at an  age of  about 30  had Jatin displayed the courage to fight against a massive British police force with only his four aides.

He made supreme sacrifices for the motherland . He died on September 10, 1915 while undergoing treatment in hospital.

After garlanding  the bust of Jatin  at  Barabati Girls’ high school ( then District Headquarters Hospital where Jatin breathed his last ), the committee members visited the Balasore Jail where two aides of Jatin were hanged).In  a similar manner, the day was observed at Chasakhand where the final battle was fought between Jatin and his aides and a mighty British force. Jatin, a native of Koya , Kustia, now in Bangladesh,  in his childhood killed a man eater Royal Bengal Tiger with a Khukri single handedly without fear in his village.

Having a strong sense of self respect and national pride, he jumped into the national movement to free India  from the British Raj.

He enriched his potential and passion after coming in contact with Aurobindo Ghosh and his Anushilan Samiti.He and four of  his associates had a fierce  gun fight with British police near Chashakhand about 10 km from Baleswar town where he received bullet injuries.