Detailed Notes
Tileswari Barua, who was 12 years old when she was shot and killed by British forces during the Quit India Movement on September 20, 1942. She joined the procession to hoist the flag, carrying a small flag in her hand, chanting Vande Mataram alongside other volunteers. As the police opened fire, Tileswari witnessed her fellow protestors falling, including Mahiram Koch, who was struck before her. The horrifying scene transformed her fear into fierce determination. Bravely, she rushed forward, becoming the fourth person to be hit by bullets after leaders like Monbor Nath, Kumoli Devi, and Mahiram Koch.
Despite being only twelve, Tileswari displayed extraordinary courage. Local historians recount that she was lifted by fellow volunteers and placed on a verandah across the road. Her maternal uncle, Nandiram Bhuyan, attempted to rescue her, carrying her to safety. However, amidst continued attacks, a police truck ultimately picked her up, and her exact place of death remains uncertain. Even though official recognition took decades, Tileswari Barua is rightly remembered as the youngest martyr in India’s freedom movement