Neglected Martyrs’ Tower in Orissa cries for facelift
Even as the nation has just celebrated the 64th Republic Day and paid rich tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to free India from the shackles of British rule, the old house of Sanada Swain, one of the four martyrs who fell to bullets on August 22, 1942, presents the picture of a jagged pile of bricks overgrown with weeds.
The house, situated in Krushnanagar village under Bari block in Jajpur district, which according to historians and researchers merits heritage status, has instead been allowed to lie neglected.
“Though the history of revolt against the British rulers is taught in schools and colleges in the state, songs on exploits of four martyrs such as Sanada Swain, Hadibandhu Panda of Krushnanagar, Sauti Mallick of Srirampur and Mayadhar Bhuyan of Hatasahi are sung dutifully by the local people on important occasions. They laid down their lives while fighting against the British at Kalamatia during the Quit India Movement called by Mahatma Gandhi,” said Purosotam Nayak, 93, president of Orissa Freedom Fighters’ Association.
History of freedom movement in Orissa will remain incomplete without the mention of the supreme sacrifices made by the martyrs of Kalamatia.
Large number of villagers of these areas fought against the British rule.
On the other hand, many villagers succumbed to the might of the British administration, but the four martyrs and many villagers chose to rebel against the British Raj, added Mr Nayak.
On August 22, 1942, about 200 villagers set afire the village post office at a place called Kaipada and prevented the entry of British police into the village to arrest the freedom fighters.
The police managed to enter the village in six boats and opened fire, killing four persons and injuring many near a pond at village Kalamatia, said historian Dr Nrusingha Sahu of Jajpur.
Jameswar Shukla, the grandson of martyr Hadibandhu Panda said nothing had been done by the state government or the Centre to develop the birth places of the martyrs.
Ranjan Mallick the grandson of martyr Sauti Mallick of Srirampur village said that there was no government grant either from the state or Centre to help their poor family.
“I have been running from pillar to post to get a house under Indira Awas Yojana. But the authorities are yet to listen to my request,” lamented Ranjan.
To remember the sacrifice of the four martyrs in 1975, the villagers had erected a martyrs’ tower (Shaheed Stambha) at Kalamati where all the four were shot dead by the police.
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