Baji Rout

Shaheed Baji Rout , also known as Bajia
ବାଜି ରାଉତ
Portrait of Shaheed Baji Rout
Born	(1926-10-05)5 October 1926 Nilakanthapur, Dhenkanal, Odisha
Died	11 October 1938(1938-10-11) (aged 12) Nilakanthapur, Dhenkanal
Cause of death	Gunshot wounds
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Bajia

Baji Rout Junction

Baji Rout (5 October 1926 – 11 October 1938) ( Odia:‌ ସହିଦ୍ ବାଜି ରାଉତ) was an Indian boy best known for his role in the Indian independence movement.[1] Rout, who worked as a boatman, was shot by the Indian Imperial Police when he refused to ferry them across the Brahmani River on the night of 11 October 1938 at Nilakanthapur Ghat, Bhuban, Dhenkanal district.[2]

Baji Rout was the youngest son of a boatman on the Brahmani river.[3] As an active member of the Banar Sena of Prajamandal (Party of People),[4] he had volunteered to keep watch by the river at night. The police ordered him to cross the river by his boat which he denied. The police then shot and killed Baji Rout.[5] A large procession was held for him in Cuttack. His mortal remains were taken to 9, Pithapur (the then HQ of Legendary Shri. Bhagawati Charan Panigrahi) and then his cremation was held at Satichaura in Cuttack.

He was born on 5 October 1926 as the youngest son of Hari Rout and Rania Devi in the village Nilakanthapur in the then state of Dhenkanal. He lost his father in his childhood. His mother who was earning a living by grinding and husking paddy at a quern in the neighborhood was unable to spend anything on his education. He had two elder brothers who also earned very little to support the family.

Legacy

Baji Rout Cup

On 3 November 2022, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a national level football tournament in honour of Baji Rout,[6][7][8] which was won by Rajasthan United.[9]

Bibliography

Sachidananda Routray, Jnanpith Award winning poet has written a poem Baji Rout.

" ନୁହେଁ ବନ୍ଧୁ, ନୁହେଁ ଏହା ଚିତା , ଏ ଦେଶ ତିମିର ତଳେ ଏ ଅଲିଭା ମୁକତି ସଳିତା। "

"It is not a pyre, O Friends! When the country is in dark despair, it is the light of our liberty. It is our freedom-fire."

Films

• "Baji Rout: India's Freedom Fighter", a documentary drama which portrays Rout's entire life journey as a freedom fighter and ultimately his encounter with the police. This Hindi short film was made by a group of students, directed by Riyyan Farooq and Diksha Nayak, produced by Candid Cinema.[10][11]

References

1. "Odisha Government Portal". Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
2. "Baji Rout; The Youngest Freedom Fighter of Dhenkal district, Odisha". eOdisha. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
3. Mr, Reginald Massey (3 January 2014). Shaheed Bhagat Singh and the Forgotten Indian Martyrs. Abhinav Publications. pp. 192–. GGKEY:HCZLGL7521K.
4. Bhagaban Sahu, State Level Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Smruti Samsad (2002). Cultural Heritage of [Orissa]: Dhenkanal. State Level Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Smruti Samsad. ISBN 9788190276153.
5. "List of some Freedom Fighters". Dhenkanal Administration. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
6. "Baji Rout Cup: Pradhan attends inaugural match between Odisha & Mumbai Kenkre FC". argusnews.in. Dhenkanal, Odisha: Argus News. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
7. "FULL MATCH – Baji Rout Cup semis – Churchill Brothers bulldoze Kenkre FC in 5 goal haul". thefangarage.com. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
8. "FULL MATCH — Baji Rout Cup semis — Rajasthan charge into the final with a rout of Sreenidi". thefangarage.com. The Fan Garage. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
9. Sports Desk, The Bridge (8 November 2022). "Rajasthan United FC wins 2022 Baji Rout Cup". thebridge.in. The Bridge. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
10. [1]
11. "Ravenshaw University students make film on Baji Rout". Odisha Television Ltd. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020.