Kanaklata Barua

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In the remote village of Barangabari in Assam, a frail girl in her early teens was stirred by Mahatma Gandhi's clarion call of 'Do or Die' towards total independence of India. The story of Kanaklata Barua (1924-1942) is one of the most inspiring episodes in the history of India's freedom struggle. Kanaklata was only seventeen when she fell to the bullets of brutal police firing while trying to hoist the tricolour at the Gohpur Police Station, a symbol of British power, during the Quit India Movement of 1942.

The book brings out the little known yet significant sacrifice of Kanaklata, and the whole hearted participation of women in the freedom movement, breaking through the barriers of patriarchy, caste, traditions and customs. It is also a narrative of the socio-political and cultural history of Assam and its major role in shaping India's modern history.

Shiela Bora is an eminent historian of modern India and taught at the universities of Dibrugarh and Gauhati. A two-time recipient of the Fulbright scholarship, Prof. Bora has also taught Women's History at Harvard University. A life member of the Indian History Congress and North-East India History Association, she has published widely in many national and international journals. Her major works include Student Revolution in Assam (1917-1947), Youth at the Crossroads: A Study of North East India and Growth of Feminist Nationalism in Assam: Role of Asom Mahila Samita.

A retired Indian Administrative Service officer, M P Bezbaruah had served as the Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of India under former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He is the permanent honorary representative of United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Bezbaruah's published books include Indian Tourism: Beyond the Millennium, Fairs and Festivals of India, The Guest is God: Reflections on Tourism, etc.

The saga of Kanaklata is one of intense patriotism, of extreme courage and of unswerving determination. It is the stuff of folklores. Yet even in the land of her birth her story has remained largely untold, her life not celebrated, her example remaining only as a distant memory to future generations rather than being the guiding star and constant source of inspiration. The world outside has hardly any idea of such a moving story of our fight for freedom.

She was only seventeen years old. By all accounts she was a homely girl in a remote village, growing up in a rural ambience, busy in the family chores, looking after her siblings and her elders like any other girl in a caring family would do. A girl of seventeen anywhere in the world would be full of life, with hopes and dreams of the years ahead. Kanaklata was literate but did not have much by way of a formal education. She had a mind open to the world. She learnt not from the pages of the books but by listening to the voices around her. She was stirred by Gandhiji's call for freedom; she was inspired by the songs and writings of Jyoti Prasad. She was motivated to social causes by iconic women leaders like Pushpalata Das and Chandraprabha Saikiani. They spoke of a role for women in society that was much ahead of their times. Inspired by their own examples, they drove home the point that not only was freedom non-negotiable, but also women should play a vital role in the fight for freedom. Kanaklata was deeply moved by their words and examples.

And then young Kanaklata, wiser beyond her years, made her decision. She decided that the hopes and dreams of a young girl, of marriage and family cannot compromise the call for a greater duty. And that duty was to fight against the alien rule, to free mother India. She was steadfast in her determination and clear in her vision.