Youngest Freedom fighter Khudiram Bose remembered on his birth anniversary

Kolkata: The nation on Monday remembered great revolutionary, freedom fighter and martyr Khudiram Bose on his 129th birth anniversary.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, several union ministers and other leaders paid tributes to him on the occasion.

"Tribute to Khudiram Bose, freedom movement martyr, on his birth anniversary. Let our young generation be inspired by his spirit of patriotism," Ms Banerjee posted on her social  networking page.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in his tweet said, "My obeisance to the esteemed revolutionary of the Indian freedom struggle Khudiram Bose ji on his birth anniversary. His courage, devotion & sacrifice for the nation will always be remembered and keep inspiring us all. #KhudiramBose."

Union Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal said, "Remembering Khudiram Bose, one of the youngest revolutionaries from the Indian freedom struggle, who sacrificed his life for the cause at the tender age of 18 years."

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu tweeted, " "Remembering Khudiram Bose, a great Freedom Fighter, Revolutionary & an Inspirational Leader on his Birth Anniversary. He continues to be an inspiration to all of us."

Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal? in his tweet said, " I pay homage to one of the youngest martyrs of Indian freedom struggle Khudiram Bose Ji on his Jayanti. His courage and sacrifice continues to inspire generations."

Union Minister of State (I/C) Youth Affairs & Sports, MoS (I/C) Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore in his tweet said, " Khudiram Bose's age could never measure the overwhelming amount of courage & patriotism he embodied!"

Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik tweeted, "My tributes to one of the youngest martyrs of India, Khudiram Bose on his birth anniversary."

All India Mahila Congress in a tweet said, " Our heartfelt tributes to legendary Khudiram Bose, one of the youngest & most prominent revolutionaries of the Indian freedom movement, on his birth anniversary. His supreme sacrifice for the nation will inspire generations.

Born on this day in 1889, Khudiram Bose, a young political activist from Bengal, was not only one of the most prominent figures in India's fight for freedom from British rule, but also the youngest revolutionary that the Indian independence movement had witnessed.

He led a life of risk and adventure, never for once flinching from his goal of acquiring freedom for his country. Apart from possessing the spirit of a fighter, Khudiram was also known for his leadership qualities and his services to the society.

 However, the revolutionary died an unfortunate early death, leaving India bereft of one of the greatest freedom strugglers that the country had ever seen.

Khudiram was all of 18 years of age when he was sentenced to death for attacking and killing three Britishers in Muzaffarpur, Bihar in 1908. 100 years later, Bose remains relatively unknown in spite of being one the youngest revolutionaries of the Indian freedom struggle.

While Bose's story of sacrifice and love for his motherland is a popular folklore in Bengal, his story remains unknown outside the state- just like several other matyrs who may have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of India but went unnoticed in the larger story of freedom struggle.

A student of Midnapore Collegiate School, 16 year old Bose was heavily influenced and inspired by Aurobindo Ghosh, a veteran freedom fighter and later known as spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo.

As a student, Bose was known to act as a messenger for secret revolutionary groups in Midnapore region. Bose was the first martyr of the early twentieth century.  Over the years, Khudiram Bose and his journey has been represented in multiple films.(UNI)