DARE TO DREAM

YADA YADA HI DHARMASIYA GLANIRBHAVATI SUVRATA |

ABBYUTTHANAMADHARMASIYA TADA PRAKRITISAMBHAVRAH||

O LORD OF THIS UNIVERSE! O CREATOR OF MAN!

WHENEVER THE DHARMA IS IN DECLINE!

OR THERE IS INHUMANITY ALL AROUND

THE SACRED FEMININE WILL RISE!

A GIRL WHO BEHOVED TO BE THE NATION” S PRIDE!

DESTINED TO CHALLENGE TIME AND TIDE.

1)PROLOGUE-

THEY SAY WRITING IS A LONELY PROFESSION! THEY SAY WRITING ISOLATES YOU FROM THE WORLD! THEY COULDN’T be any more wrong. Writing does isolate you but from the worries, the everyday stress. When you hold a pen in your hand and start to write, it is like the infinite power you have commanded.

It sets you free, writing has always been my passion, the key to the cage of my expectations and my insecurities. This story is a reflection of my thoughts and dreams. My main character Kanaklata Baruah is a small glimpse of a dream that every girl dares to see,has dared to see and will dare to see.

The dream to be free from the world that traps us in chains.

Chains of expectations, inhumanity, bigotry, inequality.

Dare to dream is the story of a young girl who spread her wings and departed from the world leaving behind traces of immortality.

The girl had magic in her eyes that even the stars envied.

I, Hridya Sharma dedicate a small tribute to Kanaklata Baruah, the warrior of India who sacrificed her life for the motherland.

Chapter 1

1)The siege of the Hind.

The British commanders laid atrocities on the land of Assam.

The citizens, of the slave country, want to unleash the trap of the British and want freedom.

A small group of people plans to hoist the Indian flag in a local police station. The plan to execute the British officer and free their land from the atrocities of the British.

2)The Battle to freedom

Kanaklata recalled the oath taken by her at the death pyre of her father, grasping tight to her father’s cloth stained in her father’s blood embellished the sense of patriotism in her, she was ready to fulfill the call of her duty. Although just 17, she was filled with valor and courage, knowing she no less than a man.

She addressed her band with utmost benevolence, encouraging them to fight it like it is their last battle.

Clasping to her might, she was ready to fight.

3)The Abode of her childhood.

Kanaklata’s grandfather Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in Darrang. Her ancestors previously were Dolakasharia Barua, but later relinquished the Dolakakharia title retaining the Barua title. Her childhood was filled with adventures and joy, she would often go with her father to these hunting activities and would observe her father learn these activities,

She outwitted every teacher at the age of 3 who taught in the school of the small village.

4)The sun and the moon.

Kanaklata grew oblivious of the inequality between girls and boys, she knew she could have anything she set her mind to.

She turned into a four-year-old girl who just learned about the sun and the moon.

Her grandmother taught her about the sun and the stars, depicting the sun and the moon as a man and a woman. The sun, the father of the universe is the portrayer of the masculine energy, the one responsible for the livelihood of the universe, who is strong, pragmatic, and dominating.

Whereas the moon is the portrayer of feminine energy, the ones responsible for light up the darkest hours of the universe, the carrier of enigma, kindness, femineity, and emotions, the nurturer of the universe.

The little Kanaklata was unaware of the fact that she was destined to be the sun and the moon of her abode.

Soon Kanaklata was blessed with two younger siblings, unaware of the catastrophic turn of fate,

She moved with happiness telling the news to the entire town,

Unaware that her world would soon crash down.

5)The Unrequited Misery

Kanaklata was about to turn five the next day, excited about her birthday, she waited for her father and mother’s presents. While lying in bed, she heard a strange noise outside. Like fate giving her a wake-up call. As she went outside, she saw a strange commotion, a flag foreign to their land was being carried. The Britishers entered the land of Assam for the first time, she hesitantly moved to her mother and father’s room, they slept peacefully with her younger siblings. A serene smile on the faces of her loved ones calmed her anxiety. Yet a strange feeling ticked in her mind. It was actually the calm before the storm.

Juddered by a terrifying dream, she went outside and to her agony saw her mother lying on the ground covered with blood and a white cloth.

She ran towards her mother, seeing her father mourning and jolting against his wife’s body.

Kanaklata held her father’s shoulder and the five-year-old couldn’t realize what had happened to her mother. She asked her father what happened to her mother, her father cried and said her mom went to Devi Maa’s home. Not being able to contemplate her father’s words, she cradled her mother’s head and sung her mother her favourite lullaby so that she would get up and praise her singing.

Unaware that her mother left the mortal world.

Kanaklata’s mother had gone to buy her daughter a gift, where the British soldiers misbehaved with her when she attacked them, she was brutally killed by them.

The little girl lost her sense of direction, she vowed to never celebrate her birthday again,

Her little heart stoned with rage and hatred for the British, the only thing that kept her alive was her mission, to take revenge for her mother’s death.

To fend justice to her mother’s soul was her soul motto.

6)The journey of the rise of a warrior

A year passed after her mother’s death, her father married again, her stepmother was an evil lady.

She didn’t give her and her siblings enough to eat.

Was the reason her father got into the habit of drinking and didn’t take care of his family.

Kanaklata had no other option except for feeding her siblings, she dropped out of school when she was in the third standard.

Doing odd jobs, she fed her family. Working on the farm and at the munshi’s place was her source of living.

The munshi’s wife adored Kanaklata, she would always give her extra pair of clothes for her siblings, food to eat and also offered Kanaklata to stay with them with her siblings.

Kanklata found her mother in her mistress but knew it was not the right thing to do.

She felt humbled by her mistress but refused to stay with them because of her call of duty.

She knew she couldn’t leave her father alone.

7)Trial by fire

Years passed by, the little girl grew up into a responsible teen. The bread earner of the family.

The British empire had conquered almost the entire of India. Assam was fully under the captivity of the British.

Kanaklata’d father was improving on his habits, her stepmother had left them and married a rich man. Kanklata’s siblings had grown up, her brother had turned 8 and her younger sister had turned 7.

She felt a sense of stability in her life.

Although she didn’t forget her mission, she knew she needed to feed her family as well.

Her father had seen her daughter struggle and was well versed with her mission.

He vouched to take revenge on the British.

The next morning he quietly caressed her daughter’s head and prayed to god for their safety.

He went to the local police station of their village, carrying a gun, the British officer in charge had come there to check up on their working.

Clutching his dagger, he kept it intact and slashed the British officer with the knife, hitting it onto his torso. The British officer bled to death.

Feeling a sense of pride, he remembered his family in his last moments as the fellow police officers shot him dead.

Kanaklata, on hearing the news trembled with grief and ran to her father. She saw his father on the death pyre and the priest gave her a cloth.

This was the same cloth her mother had covered herself with when she was killed. Her father carried it with him. Holding the cloth in her hand, she bosomed the cloth on her forehead , like a crown being placed on her head

It was the last belonging of her parents, feeling a sense of pride she performed the last rituals of her father. Her soul burned in despair ,with a sense of revenge, she wanted to free her motherland from the clutches of the British and give justice to the souls of her parents.

Kanaklata vowed to complete her purpose.

8)Empire of the evil

The British raj had spread its borders to the entire country.

Atrocities being laid on the poor, women being killed, children being reduced to slaves.

India was entrenched in the hands of the British Raj, where no Indian had a right to live

The golden bird had turned into a trapped bird longing to be free.

Meanwhile, Kanaklata had joined the quit India movement, an upsurge of national movements were covering the entire nation.

Kanaklata learned how to use weapons, she learned how to write speeches to persuade more people in joining the movement. Kanakala inspired a lot of young women to raise their voices against the Britsh.

8)Unconquered dreams

Kanaklata was in her room when her siblings came up to her and placed their heads in her lap.

They asked her the same question she couldn’t answer.

Where are baba and maa?

It felt like being slammed by a thousand lashes.

She answered with a heavy heart,

Maa and baba have gone on a pilgrimage, they will return soon. They have gone there to pray for the freedom of our nation and our wellbeing.

Her siblings fell asleep leaving her mind drift to the heaven of freedom she yearned for. Where she could live her life without fear, without fighting every day to remain alive.

In the dark sands of time, she found her friend, who supported her in every stride

Mukunda Kakoti lived in the same village.

They became best friends, the quit India movement became the root of their strong friendship.

Unknown of the fact that they were meant to change history.

Soon the quit India movement gained the support of many Indians. It was not the movement but the dream that united the citizens- FREEDOM!

Untying the ties,

The caged bird wanted to rise.

Into the heaven of freedom,

Awaken into a sense of unity,

It wished to paint the skies,

In the hues of emancipation

9)Dharamyudh

The Quit India movement was in full force, the young leaders were in a war state with the British,

They were ready to release arms on the battlefield.

The British power had weakened because of the FIRST WORLD WAR.

People were now openly condemning British goods and were promoting swadeshi goods.

Kanaklata was now 17, her birthday had just passed. She was now ready to take on the British.

The Quit India movement had seen a rise in Assam.

They were now aiming to eradicate British Raj out of Assam.

British Soldiers were being shot and there was a constant fight between the soldiers from both ends

Kanaklata led many national movements and strengthened her position in society.

She filled her fellow mates with the courage to fight,

Finally, the day arrived,

The Indian soldiers in the district decided to unveil their Tiranga at the local police station.

Kanaklata insisted on her heading the operation,

But her follows mates refused by saying that she was too young to head the mission.

Holding onto the cloth, she affirmed that she would lead.

That night she couldn’t sleep, as she went to her sibling’s room. she kissed their foreheads gently whispering a line in their ears.

“waqt hai yeh mera ki mai apna dharm nibhaungi,

Jispe uske maa baap aur desh fakr kar sake,

Mai aisi beti banke dikahaungi!

10)The immortal soul

Kanaklata along with MukundaKakoti led the procession with the flag in their hand.

Kanaklata held the cloth in her hand and grasping it she recalled the sacrifice of her father and mother, instilling a sense of patriotism she marched forward with her troop.

They reached the police station, filled with a sense of pride the troops attacked the police station and

Killed the officers.

Meanwhile, Kanaklata and Koti trotted towards the top to hoist the Indian flag.

As they raced onto their way, they were warned by the officer in charge Rebati Mahan Some of the consequences of their plan.

The young soldiers knew they could die too while playing with the fire.

But the fire inside them burnt brighter than the fire outside.

They were ready to embrace death but not die before fulfilling their purpose.

Pushing the officer aside, Koti blocked the way and Kanaklata went to the top to unveil the flag of their motherland.

As she stepped towards the top,

She calculated every breath she took,

Reminiscing the old moments spent with her family, she marched to place the tiranga.

As she was about to unveil the Tiranga, she was shot by a British soldier.

The Tiranga fell and with it fell Kanaklata.

Draped in the Tiranga she drew her last breath, with a feeling of triumph she told Koti to unveil the flag and departed her friend saying her last words

JAI HIND!!!

Koti too was killed by the British.

A story of whim and courage and strife

Ages hence, the immortal souls still remain alive

Lets remember the unsung warriors whose sacrifices awakened our land into a heaven of freedom.

Synopsis of the story dares to dream

KanaklataBarua ), a(martyr), was an Indian independence activist and leader who was shot dead by the British police while leading a procession bearing the National Flag during the Quit India Movement of 1942.

Barua was born in the Borangabari village of the undivided Darrang district of Assam as the daughter of Krishna Kanta and Karneshwari Barua. Her grandfather Ghana Kanta Barua was a famous hunter in Darrang... Her mother died when she was only five and her father, who remarried, died when she reached thirteen. She went to school till class three but then dropped out to take care of her younger siblings.

During the Quit India Movement Barua joined the MrityuBahini, a death squad comprising groups of youth from the Gohpur subdivision of Assam. On 20 In September 1942, the Bahini decided it would hoist the national flag at the local police station. A procession of unarmed villagers was led by Barua to do so.

The police under Rebati Mahan Som, the police station officer-in-charge, warned the procession of dire consequences if they went further with their plan. Undeterred by the police, the procession continued marching ahead when the police fired upon the procession. Barua was shot and the flag she was carrying with her was taken up by Mukunda Kakoti who too was shot at. Both Kanaklata and Koti were killed in the police action. Barua was only 17 years of age at the time of her martyrdom.

Epilogue

The siege of the Hind

Kanaklata gazed at the orange sky, the clouds hovering above the Himalayas just parted to reveal the blazing sun.

The battery was sung, she was ready to fulfill her purpose and sense of duty,

It was her turn to serve the nation and give justice to the souls of her mother and father,

The Quit India movement had been a rising movement of the 20th century. The British were about to complete 200 years of their rule over India.

The upsurge of the British rule not only in India but all over the world.

Indian masses were reduced to slaves and were impoverished off their livelihood.

India was beset with divisions, resentment, and poverty. The citizens despised the corrupt and selfish practices adopted by the British.

The British grew increasingly powerful, sinking its fangs deeper into hapless India.

India needed warriors who could force Britishers to admit defeat,

Kanaklata recalled the phrase that her mother taught her

Mai mushkilo se dari toh mari toh nahi!

Magar jeet bhi saki kyunki mera jazba hai sahi.

Mat pooch ki meri manzil Kaha hai!

Abh itoh bas safar ka irada kiya hai!

Repeating her mother” swords, she was ready to march onto the battlefield.

Author's note-

This is an excerpt from my upcoming novel, do let me know what you think about it.

You can read more of my work here- Links to my work

About me

Hridya Sharma, in three simple words, would like to describe herself as a dreamer, achiever, and believer. She believes that the power to achieve one’s aims lies within oneself. Writing has always been her passion and in her 3 years of content writing and blogging experience, she specialises in many content niches. Her search for creative endeavours has never stopped and it has only made her realize that in the game of writing, no matter how many milestones one achieves or stories one writes, it gives the feeling of writing as much as possible. She is currently working as a freelance writer and blogger. Her works have been published on prestigious platforms such as Times of India, Feminism In India, Vocal, TheMindsJournal and ReadWrite