>Rlink2 Bot at 01:43, 31 December 2021

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{{short description|Indian freedom fighter}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Kanaklata Barua
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|12|22|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Borangabari, [[Gohpur]], [[Darrang district]] (now in [[Biswanath District]], [[Assam]])
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1942|9|20|1924|12|22|df=yes}}
|death_place = Borangabari, Gohpur
|image = কনকলতাৰ প্ৰতিমুৰ্তি.JPG
|caption = Kanaklata Barua’s sculpture at Borngabari, [[Gohpur]]
|image_size = 240
|movement = [[Indian Independence movement]]
|known for =
|organization =
}}
'''Kanaklata Barua''' (22 December 1924 – 20 September 1942), also called '''Birbala''' and '''Shaheed''' (martyr), was an [[List of Indian independence activists|Indian independence activist]] and [[All India Students Federation|AISF]] leader<ref>{{cite web |title=Smt. Kanaklata Barua |url=http://devaski.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/kanaklata-barua.pdf |website=devaski.com |access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Swahid Divas Observed at Gohpur |url=https://www.pratidintime.com/swahid-divas-observed-at-gohpur/ |access-date=9 October 2020 |work=Pratidin Time |date=20 September 2019}}</ref> who was shot dead by the British police while leading a procession bearing the [[Flag of India|National Flag]] during the [[Quit India Movement]] of 1942.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pathak|first=Guptajit|title=Assamese Women in Indian Independence Movement: With a Special Emphasis on Kanaklata Barua|year=2008|publisher=Mittal Publications|location=New Delhi|pages=52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6igd9NaJFlUC&q=Kanaklata+Barua&pg=PA52|isbn=9788183242332}}</ref>

== Early life ==
[[File:Kanaklata Udyan, Tezpur.jpg|thumb|left|A sculpture at Kanaklata Udyan or Rock Garden at [[Tezpur]], Assam, describing the incident.]]
Barua was born in the Borangabari village of the undivided [[Darrang district]] of Assam as the daughter of Krishna Kanta and Karneshwari Barua. Her grandfather Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in [[Darrang]]. Her ancestors were from the Dolakasharia Barua kingdom (Chutia vassal chiefdom) of the erstwhile [[Ahom Kingdom|Ahom state]] who relinquished the Dolakasharia title and continued retaining Barua title. Her mother died when she was only five and her father, who remarried, died when she reached thirteen. She went to school till class three but then dropped out to take care of her younger siblings.<ref>{{cite web|title=KANAKLATA BARUA (1924-1942)|url=http://www.streeshakti.com/bookK.aspx?author=13|publisher=Stree Shakti|access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref>She dropped out of school after third grade due to scarcity of money and tough life.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Kanaklata Barua: Assam’s Teenage Martyr|url=https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/img.livehistoryindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/c26e04e8-1b8c-4622-ad0f-7a512423f883-scaled.jpg|access-date=2021-10-23|website=Live History India|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Independence activism ==
She was inspired by [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Kiran Bala Bora]], Ambika Kataki Aidew, [[Bishnu Prasad Rabha|Bishnu Prabha Rabha]], [[Jyoti Prasad Agarwala]], among others. After Gandhi gave the call of Quit India Movement, she started secretly meeting at the nationalistic camp as a teenager. She and her brother Rajanikanta successfully convinced their family to let them join Quit India movement. She joined the newly established 'Shanti Bahini'(Peace Force) which was established by Assam Provincial Congress Committee to guard villages at night and keep peace during protests.<ref name=":0" /> Barua joined the Mrityu Bahini('Death Army'), a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub division of Assam, which was formed by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, in line with Gandhi's 'Do or Die' call. On 20 September 1942, the Bahini decided she would hoist the national flag at the local police station. A procession of unarmed villagers were led by Barua to do so. The police under Rebati Mahan Som the officer in-charge of the police station warned the procession of dire consequences if they proceeded with their plan. Undeterred by the police, the procession continued marching ahead when the police fired upon the procession. Barua was shot and the flag she was carrying with her was taken up by Mukunda Kakoti who too was shot at. Both Barua and Kakoti were killed in the police action. Barua was only 17 years of age at the time of her martyrdom.<ref>{{cite news|title=Due recognition for Kanaklata, Mukunda sought|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar1412/state05|access-date=6 February 2013|newspaper=The Assam Tribune|date=14 March 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221944/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar1412%2Fstate05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Death and commemoration ==
The [[Fast Patrol Craft|Fast Patrol Vessel]] ICGS Kanak Lata Barua of the [[Indian Coast Guard]], commissioned in 1997, is named after Barua.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wertheim|first=Eric|title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems|year=2007|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|pages=306|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C&q=Kanaklata+Barua&pg=PA306|isbn=9781591149552}}</ref> A life size statue of hers was unveiled at Gauripur in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Statue of Kanaklata Barua unveiled|url=http://www.samachar.com/Statue-of-Kanaklata-Barua-unveiled-lkbkNTgegce.html|access-date=6 February 2013|newspaper=The Assam Tribunal|date=1 October 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411191102/http://www.samachar.com/Statue-of-Kanaklata-Barua-unveiled-lkbkNTgegce.html|archive-date=11 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her impassioned speech before her death, remains a source of inspiration for many. She laid down her life for the freedom of the country at the age of 17 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.translate.com/hindi/kanaklata-barua-was-an-indian-freedom-fighter-from-assam-she-joined-quit-india-movement-according/48664125|title=Kanaklata Barua was an Indian Freedom Fighter from Assam. She joined Quit India Movement. According… Translated to Hindi|website=www.translate.com|language=en|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref>

== Popular culture ==
Her story was retold in director Chandra Mudoi's film, ''Epaah Phulil Epaah Xoril. ''The Hindi version of the movie, titled Purab Ki Awaz, was also released to reach a wider audience.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160725/jsp/northeast/story_98623.jsp|title=Kanaklata story in Hindi|work=The Telegraph|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> {{Clear}}

== See also ==
* [[Pushpalata Das]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{youtube|id=qauAW4Q_ZIM|title=Remembering 10 Forgotten Bravehearts this Women's Day {{!}} Women's Day 2019}}
{{Commons category|Kanaklata Barua}}
* [http://www.proud2bindian.in/patriots-patriotism/5271-saheed-kanaklata-barua.html#.UXVU4Upoyzc Saheed Kanaklata Barua], proud2bindian.in.
* [http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar1412/state05 Due recognition for Kanaklata, Mukunda sought] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221944/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar1412%2Fstate05 |date=3 March 2016 }}, The Assam Tribune, 14 March 2012

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barua, Kanaklata}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Darrang district]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in India]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Assam]]
[[Category:Women Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Activists from Assam]]
[[Category:Women from Assam]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:People from Sonitpur district]]

Kanaklata Barua - Revision history

>Rlink2 Bot at 01:43, 31 December 2021