8 martyr sadhus to be remembered on Monday

In the nine months of the Liberation War, the supreme sacrifice made by the brave Bengalis is exemplified by the martyrdom of eight Brahmachari sadhus in Faridpur. During the early days of the war, the Pakistani army launched a horrific massacre at the Shree Anga Ashram in Goyalchamat at Faridpur, killing eight chanting holy leaders on April 21, 1971.

These monks, who had renounced worldly life to worship Lord Jagadbandhu Sundar, spent their days and nights chanting 'Bolo Joy Jagadbandhu Bol'. However, the Pakistani invaders twisted this chant into 'Joy Bangabandhu'. Local collaborators, including Rajakars and Biharis, supported the attackers, symbolizing the brutality of the massacre. In this way, the eight sadhus, who were dedicated to human liberation, were martyred in a savage firing, executed by the monstrous forces.

The martyrs of that day were Kirtanbroto Brahmachari, Nidanbandhu Brahmachari, Andhakanai Brahmachari, Bandudas Brahmachari, Kshitibandhu Brahmachari, Gourdbandhu Brahmachari, Chirobandhu Brahmachari, and Rabibandhu Brahmachari. After the Liberation War, eight memorials were erected in their honor beneath the rooftop of the Shri Angan Temple. Recently, a memorial was also built in the courtyard through government initiatives.

The 54th anniversary of the tragic first mass killing in the district's Liberation War history will be observed on Monday (April 21).

Shreemot Mrigank Shekhar Brahmachari, General Secretary of the Mahanam Community, informed that on the occasion, prayers and offerings will be held at the Shri Dham Shri Angan. Various organizations and individuals will also lay floral wreaths at the memorial and monument dedicated to the first martyrs of Faridpur, who sacrificed their lives for motherland and independence.

On that day, the seer Haripriya Brahmachari miraculously survived. He had escaped the attackers by hiding in the jungle. He passed away on October 9, 2023.

Before his death, Haripriya Brahmachari had said in various news outlets, "I saw with my own eyes as they shot and killed eight renunciates. I hid in the jungle and survived. We never harmed anyone or wished ill upon anyone. Why did they kill us?"

The freedom fighters and the sadhus of Shri Angan mentioned that the ashram is a place where continuous chanting of the Lord's name takes place day and night. The renunciates, with deep faith that the chanting of the Lord's name will lead to human liberation and the welfare of the world, engage in kirtan tirelessly, day and night. These Brahmachari monks and their pilgrimage center, Shri Dhama Shri Angan, were not spared from the brutal and monstrous attack of the Pakistani invaders.

They mentioned that one month after the liberation war began, the Pakistani army entered Faridpur through Goalanda Ghat. Having received this news in advance, Guru Jagadbandhu's disciple, Mahabrat Brahmachari, and other saints and renunciates had vacated Shri Angan before the planned attack date of April 21. However, nine saints remained behind.

That morning, the Pakistani army positioned itself at the Rajbari road junction, the entrance to Faridpur, through Goalanda Ghat. From there, they began launching artillery shells towards the city one after another. In the afternoon, with the help of local collaborators, including Rajakars, Peace Committee members, and Biharis, they set up army and Rajakar camps in the city. Later that evening, accompanied by these traitors, the foreign barbarians entered the city and immediately attacked the Shri Angan in Goyalchamat.

The head of the Ashram, Shreemot Kanti Bandhu Brahmachari, stated, "That day, the Pakistani soldiers ordered the chanting monks to 'Come outside.' However, the monks continued their chanting without paying attention to them. The group of human-like hyenas then entered the temple, pulled out the nine monks who were chanting, and took them to the adjacent floor of the temple. The monks continued to chant 'Joy Jagadbandhu' with full devotion. The Pakistani soldiers mistook it for 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.' At that moment, Monk Haripriyo Brahmachari managed to escape by first climbing the staircase and later hiding behind a Brownea flower tree in the ashram's jungle. After that, the remaining eight monks were taken to the field and killed in a brutal crossfire by the Pakistani forces."

He further mentioned, "On the morning of April 22, a truck from the Faridpur Municipality arrived to take away the bodies. On that day, the Pakistani soldiers stood by while Biharis and Rajakars looted the area. On April 26, they used dynamite to destroy part of the main building of Shree Angan and the temple's spire."

The miraculous survivor of the massacre, Haripriya Brahmachari, said, "That evening, just before dusk, we, the nine monks, were performing our daily chant. Suddenly, there was an attack, the sound of cannons, and gunfire. Yet, we did not stop our chanting, for it was something we could not cease for even a moment. Then, the military entered our prayer hall, along with some Bengalis and Biharis. I hid behind the pillar (staircase) of the room. From there, I quietly tiptoed a few yards and hid behind the flower (brownia) jungle."

He said, "I saw with my own eyes, the military lined up and killed eight of the Lord's devotees. I was trembling with fear, oh God. Out of fear for my life, I didn’t even scream, in case they heard and killed me. Then, they dragged the bodies away to the ‘Chalta Tala’ (where the saints' tombs are now). The surroundings were flooded with blood. The bloodstains spread everywhere. After that, they looted the ashram and left."