Guwahati: The Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) urges the government to take the time to paint a proper portrait of Birbala Kanaklata with the assistance of her close relatives after objecting to the publication of an incorrect photograph of the teenage martyr of India’s freedom struggle from Gohpur in Assam.
The forum of nationalist citizens also believes that the frequently displayed portrait of the martyr Kanaklata has to be carefully examined and updated to reflect his actual age.
Kankalata Barua was shot by British police while leading a march while holding the Indian flag in her hands. She was the daughter of Krishna Kanta Barua and Korneshwari Barua of the Barangabari hamlet in central Assam. She sacrificed her life on 20 September 1942, while defending the glory of Tri-colour during the Quit India Movement.
Kanaklata, a Mrityu Bahini member, committed suicide at the age of 16 by attempting to raise the tricolour above the Gohpur police station.
“We have found that in some digital media inputs the photograph of another martyr Preetilata Waddedar is used as that of Kanaklata Barua (may be mistaken because of similar names). Agnikanya Preetilata died while fighting with British forces inside Chittagong European Club in 1932. Preetilata sacrificed her life in gunfighting against the club authority in the night hours at the age of 21. The error should not be repeated,” said a PPFA statement.