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Need to perpetuate memory of Eram heroes stressed

BERHAMPUR: Neither the Centre nor the Orissa government have taken steps to make Eram village, the site of a big massacre during the ‘Quit India’ movement, get its place in Indian history.

The massacre took place after a cluster of villages now in Bhadrak district declared independence.

Historian M.N. Das has termed the killings the biggest by the British Empire during the 1942 movement.

Twenty nine satyagrahis, including one woman, laid down their lives and many more were injured when police opened fired on a group of agitators demonstrating for ‘swaraj’ at this village on September 28 of that year.

The ‘Quit India’ call given by Gandhi had led to the formation of ‘Swadhin Anchala’ by the local peasants.

The local Congress activists had started running a parallel government completely disregarding the British administration and local zamindars.

The lyrical poetry of poet Banchhanidhi Mohanty had inspired thousands to take the vow of ‘Do or Die’ and participate in this movement.

On the evening of the fateful day, these freedom fighters gathered at the Eram market place for a meeting.

In the firing by the British police, 29 freedom fighters were killed.

But the Saheed memorial committee of Eram feels the place and the martyrs are yet to get their due in Indian history. Speaking to The Hindu, Narmada Padhi, vice-president of the committee said this carnage, comparable to the one in Jallianwala Bagh, was never commemorated.

There should be a grand memorial at the spot to make the new generation remember the sacrifices of their forefathers, Ms. Padhi said.

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