- BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE
Khudiram Bose was born on 3rd Dec 1889 in Habibpur, Medinipur to Laxmipriya Devi and Troilokyanath Bose. The Bose couple had yearned for a male child but unfortunately did not live long enough to enjoy their happiness. They unexpectedly died when Khudiram was just six.
The boy's elder sister Anurupadevi and his brother-in-law Amritalal had to shoulder the responsibility of bringing him up. He had to move on to Tamlook where he was admitted to Hamilton school. Like any other boy he was interested in reading detective novels and loved to play the flute.
It was in his school days that he was inspired by the activists, Satyendranath and Gyanendranath Bose who headed a secret society to campaign and fight against British supremacy.
- A BORN PATRIOT
A born patriot, even at the age of seven or eight years, Khudiram Bose thought, 'Bharat, our country is great. Our ancestors say that this has been the home of knowledge for thousands of years. Why, then, are the red-faced British here? Under them, our people cannot even live as they wish. When I grow up I must somehow drive them out.'
These thoughts ruminated in his mind all day. Thus whether he read a book or sat down to eat he would see a red-faced, green-eyed Englishman glaring at him. This caused strange pain to his heart.
Even at that tender age, Khudiram had thought so deeply about the country's freedom. But how was he going to achieve it ? This was haunting him all the time. How could he perform his duty unto the country successfully?
When engrossed in this, one day Khudiram heard the cry 'Vande Mataram (I salute You O Motherland)' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India)’. He was thrilled by these cries, his eyes glowed and he felt elated.
- DON'T DARE TO TOUCH ME
It was February 1906. A grand exhibition had been arranged at Medinipur in Bengal. The intention was to obscure the injustice of the British then ruling India, through articles like pictures and puppets which could create the impression that the British rulers, though foreigners, were doing much to help the people of India. There were big crowds to see the exhibition.
Khudiram was distributing handbills having the title 'Sonar Bangla' to the people. It carried the slogan ‘Vande Mataram'. In addition, the true purpose of the British in putting up the exhibition was also exposed. The various forms of British injustice and tyranny were also explained.
Among the visitors to the exhibition, there were a few loyal to the King of England. They were opposed to the people who exposed the injustice of the British. Words like ‘Vande Mataram', 'Swatantrya' (freedom) and 'Swarajya' (self-rule) were like pins and needles to them. They tried to prevent him from distributing the handbills. Their eyes red with anger, they glared at him, rebuked and frightened him. But ignoring them Khudiram calmly continued his task. When some people tried to capture him, he made a smart escape.
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The policeman who had received the blow rushed forward but Khudiram had disappeared in the crowd.
As people burst into cries of ‘Vande Mataram' the police and loyalists of the King were bereft of words and also humiliated.
Later a case was filed against Khudiram but the court set him free on the ground of his tender age.
- MARTYRDOM
A trial was carried out for two months on this Muzaffarpur bombing and other charges of bombing carried out by him. Although the leading Calcutta advocate Narendra Kumar Basu defended Khudiram's actions in defence of his motherland to his best, Khudiram was sentenced to death for the murder of women and children. The sentence was carried out, and he was hanged on August 11, 1908. Legend says that as he was hanged he was still smiling.
- AN INSPIRATION
Not only did Khudiram himself became immortal, but he also inspired others by his sacrifice, to become immortal. In course of time, thousands of young men and women followed in his footsteps. While Kingsford had to quit his post, the British had to quit Bharat itself.
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