Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Babu Genu, a mill worker who sacrificed life for Country
New Delhi, Jun 19: In the history of the Indian Freedom Movement, there are plenty of inspiring stories and many unsung heroes. Babu Genu is one such person who gave his life to the country.
He was not a ruler of any kingdom who declared war against the British nor a freedom fighter like Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak etc., rather a mill worker who fought against the British in his own way.
Born
in
a
poor
family
in
Mahalunge
Padwal,
he
worked
in
a
cotton
mill
in
Bombay.
He
was
a
participant
in
the
protests,
organized
by
Indian
independence
activists,
against
the
import
of
foreign-made
cloth.
He
was
not
highly
educated
but
harboured
a
burning
love
for
his
country
in
his
heart.
In 1930, when the Civil Disobedience movement was at its peak, a cloth merchant named George Frazier of Manchester was taking loads of foreign-made cloth from his shop in old Hanuman Galli in the Fort region to Mumbai Port under the protection of the cops.
The
activists
pleaded
not
to
move
the
truck,
but
the
truck
got
moving
with
the
support
of
the
cops.
Babu
Genu
stood
in
front
of
the
truck,
chanting
the
name
of
Mahatma
Gandhi.
The
police
officer
ordered
the
driver
to
drive
the
truck
over
Shahid
Babu
Genu,
but
the
driver
Vithal
Dhondu,
refused,
saying:
"I
am
Indian
and
he
is
also
Indian,
so,
we
both
are
the
brothers
of
each
other,
then
how
can
I
murder
my
brother?".
However,
a
British
sergeant
drove
the
truck
over
Babu
Genu
and
crushed
him
to
death
under
the
truck.
His
death
triggered
massive
protests
in
the
city
and
thousands
of
people
participated
in
the
funeral.
"The funeral procession was taken through the heart of the city and the crowd wanted to take the body to Girgaum Chowpatty and cremate it on the sands. Legendary freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the only person to have been cremated there.
The angry mourners wanted Genu to receive the same respect. The British disallowed it following pitched battles fought between the protestors and the British police. Genu was finally laid to rest at the crematorium which was assigned by the British," as per Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
He died at a young age but inspired many to fight against the British Raj. His name was etched in history books forever. He lived at the Phoenix mills chawl (tenement), which is today an upmarket commercial area in Mumbai.
As the country is set to celebrate its Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav to commemorate the 75 years of independence, it is time for us to remember his contribution to the Freedom Movement.