Kanaklata Barua (Aged 18) was born on 22 December 1924, in Borangabari, Gohpur, Darrang district, now in Sonitpur District, Assam, India. She was a forgotten teenage freedom fighter in Indian women’s history. During the Quit India Movement, Barua joined the Mrityu Bahini, a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub-division of Assam.
On 20th September 1942, the Bahini decided that she would hoist the national flag at the local police station. Barua led a procession of unarmed villagers 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 them. Barua was shot, and the flag she was carrying was taken up by Mukunda Kakoti, who was also 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. She passed away on 20 September 1942 in Borangabari, Gohpur, Assam, India.
Kanaklata Barua
(1924 – 1942) – (Assam)
Kanaklata Barua (Aged 18) was born on 22 December 1924, in Borangabari, Gohpur, Darrang district, now in Sonitpur District, Assam, India. She was a forgotten teenage freedom fighter in Indian women’s history. During the Quit India Movement, Barua joined the Mrityu Bahini, a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur sub-division of Assam.
On 20th September 1942, the Bahini decided that she would hoist the national flag at the local police station. Barua led a procession of unarmed villagers 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 them. Barua was shot, and the flag she was carrying was taken up by Mukunda Kakoti, who was also 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. She passed away on 20 September 1942 in Borangabari, Gohpur, Assam, India.
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