Khudiram Bose – a revolutionary from the Indian freedom struggle – was in fact one of the youngest revolutionaries of the movement. At the time of his hanging, he was 18 years, 8 months 8 days old on 11 August 1908.
Lata Mangeshkar recalls what made her sing the iconic patriotic song “Ekbar biday de Maa, ghure ashi” that became a huge hit not just in West Bengal, but all across India. Listen to what Lata didi told The Quint.
Ek Baar Bidai De Maa, Ghure Ashi
Mother bid me farewell once, I will be back soon.
Whole of India will watch me While I wear the noose smiling
With me I had a bomb I’d made
Waiting by the roadside O Mother
I went to kill the Governor
But killed some other poor Englander
Had I had a dagger on me
You think they could have caught me?
Would have made a blood bath
And the world would have watched how to fight
On Saturday morning after 10AM
The Judge Court Road will be packed with people O Mother
Abhiram was deported to an island,
Khudiram will hang by the neck
A million and nigh another quarter
Is the number of sons and daughters you will still have left O Mother
Build your family around them
Make the brides your slaves
10 months and 10 days from now
I shall be born to my maternal aunt O Mother
If you don’t recognize me
Look for the noose around my neck.
The song’s lyrics written in Bangla
একবার বিদায় দে মা ঘুরে আসি।
হাসি হাসি পরব ফাঁসি দেখবে ভারতবাসী।
কলের বোমা তৈরি করে
দাঁড়িয়ে ছিলেম রাস্তার ধারে মাগো,
বড়লাটকে মারতে গিয়ে
মারলাম আরেক ইংলন্ডবাসী।
হাতে যদি থাকতো ছোরা
তোর ক্ষুদি কি পড়তো ধরা মাগো
রক্ত-মাংসে এক করিতাম
দেখতো জগতবাসী
শনিবার বেলা দশটার পরে
জজকোর্টেতে লোক না ধরে মাগো
হল অভিরামের দ্বীপ চালান মা ক্ষুদিরামের ফাঁসি
বারো লক্ষ তেত্রিশ কোটি
রইলো মা তোর বেটা বেটি মাগো
তাদের নিয়ে ঘর করিস মা
বৌদের করিস দাসী
দশ মাস দশদিন পরে
জন্ম নেব মাসির ঘরে মাগো
তখন যদি না চিনতে পারিস
দেখবি গলায় ফাঁসি।
“Ekbar biday de Maa, ghure ashi” is a Bengali patriotic song written by Pitambar Das, but recorded by music composer Aparesh Lahiri (father of Bappi Lahiri) for HMV’s private albums, recalls Lata Didi. She recalls how she felt all charged up and emotional when she was given more information about Khudiram Bose, the boy who died for India.
The Legend of Khudiram
Khudiram Bose was born in Habibpur village of Midnapore district of 3rd December, 1889. Unfortunately he lost his parents when he was too young. So he was brought up by his sister Anurupadevi.
His sister looked after Khudiram with the affection of a mother.
She wanted her younger brother to be highly educated, get a high post and to make a name. She therefore admitted him to a nearby school.
Parents Dead But Sister Showers Love
Khudiram Bose was first admitted to Hamilton School of Tamluk and after completing his education there he was admitted to Midnapore Collegiate School. The shame of dependence of the country would hurt him. He sustained a strong and hard mentality against the British government.
Khudiram’s Revolutionary Activities
In 1906, when Khudiram was engaged in distributing a revolutionary magazine named, ’Sonar Bangla’ – he was arrested by the British police. On that occasion he was acquitted and allowed to go unpunished in consideration of his tender age.
After this incident he joined the secret extremist group. In 1907, by robbing mailbag he helped the secret group a lot in their activities.
During that time Kingsford, the chief presidency magistrate was crushing the individuality and liberty of people of Kolkata by abusing his power and authority. People all around became panic – stricken by the unjust and cruel exercise of his power. At this the revolutionaries took a firm decision to kill him. But the authorities became aware of the conspiracy and accordingly for his safety and security they sent him to Muzaffarpur. Khudiram and Prafulla Chaki left for Muzaffarpur to accomplish the task of killing him.
Khudiram Bose Hurls Bomb
In the history of Indian freedom movement, 30th April of 1908 was marked as a most significant and remarkable day. At about 8 p.m. a phaeton was returning from the European Club. Khudiram Bose considered that the car was carrying Kingsford. So with a motive to kill him, he hurled a bomb at that car. But Kingsford was not in that car. Instead there were two European ladies and they were killed. Khudiram ran away swiftly from that spot. But later on he was arrested. After judicial trial he was proved guilty and as a convict he was sentenced to death by hanging. Khudiram Bose welcomed this penalty most cordially singing the glorious song of death on the 11th August, 1908.
Lataji’s Adulation for the Martyred Teen Lives On
Lata Mageshkar’s adulation for the great revolutionary had not ended with a hit record of “Ekbar biday de Maa, ghure ashi”. The legendary singer also did not forget to pay homage to Khudiram Bose on Twitter on 11 August 2016, the martyrdom day of the brave and patriotic boy.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)