BALANGIR: The idea that fight for freedom was not limited to men, the women need to support the movement to make it successful made her join the freedom struggle. This valiant fighter Gurubari Meher who laid down her life for the motherland remains unsung and unknown even to this day.
The story of Gurubari, the courageous lady of western Orissa, is one that has remained unknown to the people of independent India and historians as well.
It was on January 28, 1947 that the then princely state of Sonepur let loose a reign of terror at gunpoint in Binika. It was a fight against the king for his pro-British leanings.
Nearly 20,000 persons led by this intrepid woman of Binika organised a mass movement against the king. Police resorted to baton charge and she was shot dead by them. She became a martyr for India’s freedom struggle but little has been written or done on the part of the government in memory of this braveheart of Binika.
Senior lecturer in History Siba Prasad Nanda said a news item written by one Sarangadhar Dash under the headline ‘Victory for the people of Sonepur’ in ‘Dainik Asha’ from Sambalpur on January 23, 1947 is the only evidence about Gurubari’s contribution.
Nanda said, the movement Gurubari spearheaded was the offshoot of Prajamandal Movement, which was inaugurated at Cuttack in 1938. The branch of this was opened for the first time at Sonepur under the leadership of Laxman Satpathy.
Her valour also finds some mention in Prajamandal Movement where Gurubari has been depicted as a ‘Soldier of Western Orissa.’
Some historians have come forward to claim that Gurubari, among other women fighters, was a unique personality and needs to be remembered by the locals at least.
Historian Sadhu Panda, who recently mentioned the role of Gurubari, said like three other women fighters of western Orissa, Jambubati Debi, Prabhabati Debi and Parbati Giri, Gurubari was a valiant fighter.
“Her story of valour should be published to impress modern Indian women. In her case, domestic problems and the problem of livelihood mostly prompted her to join the struggle.
In the later part that took the shape of freedom struggle. Is the Government listening?