Kanaklata Barua was one of the leader in Assamese women in Indian independence movement and AISF leader who was shot dead by the British police while leading a procession bearing the National Flag during the Quit India Movement of 1942.
She was born on 22nd December, 1924 at Barangabari in a conservative family called 'Dolakasharia' family under Gohpur Police Station. She became orphan at the age of 5 and perhaps because of her helpless position, she bore a responsible mind since her childhood; and those responsible and dutiful charter on her part ultimately inspired her to dedicate her life for the cause of the nation at the prime of her life.
'20th September of 1942 is a red letter day in the history of 'Quit India Movement'. Like in many other places of Assam, preparation for successful implementation of the programme was also at Barangabari under Gohpur Police Satiation in the district of Darrang (at present Sonitpur). The preparation was made by the people of three Mauzas - Kallangpur, Helem and Brahmajan under the leadership of local leaders like Jonaram Bhuyan, Jiten Borah, Lakhi Kanta Bora, Giridhar Barua, Karneswar Hazarika and Mukunda Kakaty. These leaders inspired the local people with the slogan of Gandhiji 'Do or Die'.
Shaheed Kanaklata Barua, who took the leading part in the programme chalked out by those leaders for 20th September, 1942 at Barangabari and ultimately became martyr on the said day, was an unsophisticated village girl of 18 years. Kanaklata barua got her name enrolled in the volunteers force organized for the purpose of hoisting the Indian national flag at the Gohpur Police Station on 20 September, 1942 without the knowledge of other members of the family.
In the early morning of 20th September, like the other days, she completed her domestic works and took meal with her younger brother and sisters, telling them mournfully that she might not be able to come back alive and then she went out and joined the picketers at Barangabari Chariali. She stood at the head of the women volunteers line with the national flag in her hand. On receipt of the signal from the leaders, the volunteers, two in line, male and female proceeded towards the Gohpur Police Station about 12 KM from the spot. The aim of the volunteers was to hoist the national flag at the British dominated police station, following Gandhiji's principle of non-violence. They were joined by many other volunteers at different places on their way to Gohpur and all of them were shouting the slogans, 'British imperialists should go back', 'Freedom is our birth right' etc.
Kanaklata is no more with us, but the sacrifice of her life for the cause of freedom of our country has remained a great source of insperation for thousands of Indian women. Kanaklata can be compared with Rani of Jhansi who sacrificed her life for the cause of India's freedom at the time of Sepoy Mutiny and also with Zoan Ark of France.
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