13th August, 1942 is remembered as a Brave Martyrs day in the Brave History of City of Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Krantiveer Amar Shahid Krushnarao Kakade, was martyred on 13th August 1942 during the Freedom Struggle of India and is also known as the 1st Martyr of Nagpur during the call for “DO OR DIE” given by Father of Nation- Mahatma Gandhi. It is during this call for Do or Die given by Mahatma Gandhi an agitation in peaceful manner was being carried out by the youth of Nagpur City and Vidarbha Region of the present day Maharashtra, which also includes the Gandhi Ashram of Sewagram. This agitation was carried out in front of the then Cradoc Post Office situated near the Mayo Hospital and as a symbolic protest, the post office was entered into by the protestors. In the said symbolic agitation of the Do or Die protest there was a conflict with the British Soldiers who were standing guard to the said post office.
Statue of Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade
The British Soldiers in order to desist the protestors from protesting trained guns on all the protestors. Yet as the call was given by Mahatma Gandhi for Do or Die was loud and clear for the youth, especially Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade, he bared his chest in front of the barrels of the British Guns and asked them to Shoot. Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade stood there like a rock and also started to shout patriotic slogans like “Inqulab Zindabad” and “Vande Mataram”, and while baring his chest he roared at the British Soldiers, shaking their very souls with his bravery, roaring at them “Himmat hain to chalaao goli, main koi bhagoda sainik nahi hun” [Meaning: If you have guts then shoot (me), I am not a deserter soldier to run] it was at this moment that the British Soldiers shot him dead by shooting him on his chest stuck to the gun by unfazed Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade. Pertinently Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade was unarmed and yet courageously dared the British Soldiers was martyred by the uncaring bullets of the British Guns.
Worthwhile to note here that Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade was a member of Hindustani Lal Sena and was allocated the post of Bugle Master of the Hindustani Lal Sena. Pertinently Hindustani Lal Sena (Indian Red Army) was an anticolonial guerrilla group in India. It was formed on 13 April 1939 (on the anniversary day of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre). It was founded by Maganlal Bagdi and Pandit Shyam Narain Kashmiri along with their associates. With his own valiant blood Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade started a chapter of ultimate sacrifice for Mother Nation from the City of Nagpur.
It is noteworthy that one of the bullets upon exiting from the valiant Chest of Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade had hit the arm of Maganlal Bagdi, who also was one of the Founding Members of Hindustani Lal Sena, it is he who remembers the last words falling from the mouth of the Krantivir “Himmat hain to chalaao goli, main koi bhagoda sainik nahi hun” which sent shivers down the spine of the British Soldiers.
Many notable members of Lal Sena were present on the spot on the 13th August, 1942 when Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade was martyred for his bravery, valiance and sheer Love for motherland. The notable presence includes Maganlal Bagdi, Pandit Shyam Narain Kashmiri, Mahadev Jaiswal, Mahadev Vasule, Mulukdas Gaur, Tarachand Kapur, Ramnarayan Gaur, Ishwar Limbachiya, Dindayal Gaur, Bapulal Bawariya and other members of Hindustani Lal Sena in large numbers on the spot of incident, where Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade was martyred.
This unforgettable memory of the ultimate sacrifice by the valiant Amar Shaeed Krushnarao Kakade at Nagpur on 13th August, 1942 is always remembered as the Golden Chapter in the Book of Freedom Struggle at Nagpur and laid down his life for the freedom struggle of India.
Pertinently Haribhau Kakade brother of Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade was also present at the protest of 13th August, 1942. Other brothers of the family Sakharam Kakade, Baliram Kakade , Marotrao Kakade , Balkrishna Kakade ,Pandurang Kakade and Dhairyashil Kakade who all participated in the freedom struggle yet were not present at the protest meeting as they were either arrested and were behind bars or were in the fields working for the yield to support the Kakade family.
Remembering Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade August 13th 2021 in Image- Garlanded Statue of Krushnarao Kakade, his heir Avinash Dhairyashil Kakade and Parth Avinash Kakade Image Credit Omprakash Dhairyashil Kakade
At present the eldest son of Dhairyashil Kakade (also a cherished member of Hindustani Lal Sena- who was also jailed for the struggle for Sanyukt Maharashtra after being released from jail post independence) i.e. Avinash Kakade is active in Gandhian ideology based social life, fighting on various social issues, especially for the betterment of farmers. His notable recent activity includes fast unto death which lasted for 13 long days which resulted in the then, Government of State of Maharashtra, to yield to the demand of Cotton Farmers of the region who were cheated by one Talatule from the Swayamsewak Sangh of Nagpur. Children of other brothers are either working in Defence Sector of Government of India or are pursuing other vocations with support to Avinash Kakade who is carrying the legacy of Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade.
In order to honour the immortal memory of valour of the martyr of 13th August, 1942 Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade the then Chief Minister of State of Maharashtra Shri Sharad Pawar (also Former Agriculture Minister Government of India) on Wednesday 28th September, 1988 at 10:00 A.M. unveiled the statue of Amar Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade in front of the then Cradoc Post Office and Mayo Hospital and renamed the intersection of roads as Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade square a plaque to that effect is also affixed at the bottom of the Statue of valiant Martyr of Kakade family.
Shaheed Smarak at Zero Mile Nagpur
In his honour another memorial for the martyrs which was erected near the Zero Mile Stone on the side side of Sitabuldi Fort at Nagpur was erected. Notably even in this memorial the lead role is given to the valiant Martyr Shaheed Krushnarao Kakade to mark the celebration of Nagpur, the city of oranges and is remembered every year by his family members, social activists and politicians.
