ICGS Kanaklata Barua commissioned; a tribute to the unforgettable freedom fighter from Assam

The FPVs built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. Is the fifth and the last in this series. The previous four are ICGS Priyadarshini (named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi), ICGS Annie Besant (Eminent British writer), ICGS Kamala Devi (after freedom fighter Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay), and ICGS Amrit Kaur (Indian politician).

The commissioning was done through a video conferencing by the additional secretary, Ministry of Defence Jiwesh Nandan, and was attended by senior officials of the Indian Coast Guard and GRSE, including its chairman and managing director Rear Admiral V K Saxena (retd).

According to the officials, the FPVs are suited for patrolling, surveillance, maritime, anti-poaching operations, anti-smuggling and also for fishery protection, and rescue and search missions. As per a GRSE official, the FPVs are medium-range surface vessels with a length of around 50 meters and a displacement of over 300 tonnes.

Kanaklata Baruah is one of the youngest martyrs of the Quit India Movement. She was only 17 when she led the Mukti Bahini, a procession of freedom fighters from Assam to unfurl the Tricolour at Gohpur Police station on September 20, 1942. She was shot dead after a squabble led to firing by the police.

The Mukti Bahini squad strictly admitted members aged 18 and above but Kanaklata was an exception. After much persuasion, she was along to lead the procession just two days before she was martyred. 

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