Naveen Grieves over Demise of Centenarian Freedom Fighter Mohammed Baji

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed grief over the demise of centenarian freedom fighter Mohammed Baji.

Baji, an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, passed away at the age of 103 at his residence in Nabarangpur district.

ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ସ୍ଵାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ମହମ୍ମଦ ବାଜିଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଦେଶର ସ୍ଵାଧୀନତା ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନ ସବୁବେଳେ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବ। ଏହି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 27, 2019

Influenced by Gandhi’s approach of non-violence in his schooldays, he had actively taken part in the country’s freedom struggle and post-Independence lived only to realize the Gandhian principles of serving humanity.

Baji met Gandhi at the age of 21 in 1941 at Wardha Ashram. Seven days later he returned to Nabarangpur and had performed individual Satyagraha in an anti-war protest outside the Nabarangpur masjid. He was sent to jail for six months in Koraput and fined Rs 50. On August 25, 1942 during the Quit India movement, he was again jailed for 30 months.

Born on January 20, 1917, Mohammed Baji was also a close associate of martyr Laxman Nayak.

After the freedom struggle, he was active in the Sarvodaya movement.

The last rites of the great freedom fighter will be conducted in Nabarangpur with national honours by the State Government, a statement issued by the CMO said.