Khudiram Bose: The boy who helped to lit the early spark of revolution against Britsh Raj
Kolkata, December 3: 18 is the age of revolution, the age of struggle, the age of courage. Unfortunately, nowadays teenagers of 18 are submerged in a virtual world with least knowledge of society, contemporary problems. Those who will be the next driving force of society really need to remember some courageous souls, brave sons of Mother India like Khudiram Bose. Almost everyone has forgotten to pay tribute on his birthday, 3rd December to the martyr who welcomed a death punishment happily at the age of 18 for the sake of motherland.
The revolutionary was a native of a small village of Bengal Habibpur, from the district Midnapore which has given birth to so many brave faces during the revolution against British Raj. The boy lost his mother only at the age of six and then his elder sister brought him up.
The fire of revolution was burning within him since the time Sri Aurobindo visited Midnapore. At a very early age, he joined the movement against colonial rulers. He joined famous Anushilan Samiti where he came into contact with several other revolutionaries.
Early spark of revolution against British was lit by few fighters, among whom Khudoram Bose was one. To them, nationalism was more revolutionary rather than an ideology or philosophy. Anushilam Samiti decided to kill Magistrate Kingsford who tortured thousands of Indians. But the first plan to kill him did not work.
In the second phase, Khudiram Bose along with Prafulla Chaki was chosen to assassinate District Magistrate Kingsford of Muzaffarpur. The boys arrived a few days earlier and in an attire of normal school student, they meticulously observed Kingsford’s every movement. But on the day of planned assassination fate smiled cruelly. Kingsford was already passed on the information of probable plan by CID. They threw a bomb on the wrong but identical carriage. There were two British women who died.
He and his companion Prafulla Chaki tried to go in a hiding by two different routes. Two of them got caught in the mid-way and Chaki killed himself by the bullet. The trial against Khudiram Bose started on 8th July 1908 and the verdict was passed on 13th July.
If we read the details of the case from an old journal we will get how much proud and confident he was. “It is evident from the proceedings before the Sessions Judge that the appellant made no effort to dispute the truth of the case for the prosecution or to deny his guilt or that he was present at the scene of the murder,” the proceeding of the case read. “The accused is not a mere youth but a young man who has attained the age fixed for majority in this country,” it also reads.
On 11th August, he walked to the gallows firmly and easily welcomed the death. Newspapers reported of his firm attitude till his last breath. "Khudiram's execution took place at 6 a.m. this morning. He walked to the gallows firmly and cheerfully and even smiled when the cap was drawn over his head," Anandabazar wrote.
Later in honor of the great soul, the patriotic song Ekbar biday de Ma ghure ashi (Bengali: একবার বিদায় দে মা ঘুরে আসি ) was written. Till date, people connect Bose’s sacrifice with the song instantly.