Thirty-two Oriya freedom fighters nostalgically recall days of glory

mora (Bargarh) Orissa, Aug.15 (ANIPanimora village in Orissas Bargarh District has wedded itself to Gandhian thought, and this is reflected by the presence of its 32 freedom fighters, the highest number in the State.

By Sarada Lahangir

Panimora (Bargarh) Orissa, Aug.15 : Panimora village in Orissa's Bargarh District has wedded itself to Gandhian thought, and this is reflected by the presence of its 32 freedom fighters, the highest number in the State.

These dedicated torch bearers of Gandhian ideals leave no stone unturned in recalling a past of pride and glory. At dawn and dusk, devotional hymns like "Raghupati Raghava Rajaram" and "Vaishnava Janato Tene Kahire" reverberate, spreading a feeling of bonding among villagers rarely seen elsewhere in the country.

Villagers take pride in the fact that these 32 freedom fighters took part in the "Quit India Movement" that was led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.

One of the freedom fighters, Muktiswar Pradhan, said: "About 42 people wanted to participate (in the movement), but the British police allowed only 32 persons. The remaining ten were either deemed too young or too old. The 32 individuals suffered imprisonment ranging from about eight months to two years."

Chamaru Parida, another freedom fighter, said: "I remember how we were asked to get ready to dedicate our lives for Gandhiji and the freedom movement. We only heard Gandhiji, and no other words. We united the youth and went village to village to spread Gandhiji's message. We also promoted Gandhiji's use of the spinning wheel and Khadi cloth. The plan or strategy for that programme was operated from this village."

Dayanidhi Nayak remarked that during the Quit India Movement, all villagers stood ready to sacrifice their lives for the national cause.

He said: "Ours was such a village that everybody was ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the nation."

India got its freedom on August 15, 1947 and Mahatma Gandhi died on January 30, 1948.

As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom fighters of Panimora Village took an oath to propagate his ideology, and have kept to their resolution for the last six decades.

Much of the credit for achieving independence from the British goes to the all these struggles launched by Gandhi along with lakhs of his followers between 1915 and 1947.

But the ravages of modernism has lamentably put the contribution of these freedom fighters' in the shade.

ANI