Barun Biswas Barun Biswas (12 September 1972 – 5 July 2012) was a Bengali school teacher and a social activist in Sutia, West Bengal, India. In 2000, he co-founded "Sutia Gonodhorshon Pratibad Mancha", an organisation which protested against a local criminal gang, who were using gang -rape to terrorise the people of Sutia.[1] Biswas was murdered on 5 July 2012. In 2013, a Bengali film Proloy was made, based on his life and fight.[1][2] Barun Biswas Born12 September 1972 Sutia, West Bengal, India Died5 July 2012 (aged 39) Sutia, West Bengal, India Cause of deathMurdered (shot)NationalityIndianOccupation(s)School teacher, social activistKnown forProtester against the gang rapes in Sutia, West Bengal. Life and career Biswas was born on 12 September 1972 in Sutia, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. His parents, Gita Biswas and Jagadish Biswas, migrated from Faridpur, Bangladesh after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War to Acharipara, Panchpota, in North 24 Parganas.[3] His father worked as a labourer during the day and sang for a local theatre group at night to pay for his children's education.[1] Barun Biswas attended Panchpota Bharadanga High School. He completed his schooling at Gobardanga Khantura High School. He received his B.A. in Bengali from Gobardanga Hindu College, his master's degree from Calcutta University, and his B.Ed from B.T. College, New Barrackpore.[1][3][4] After his education, Biswas passed the West Bengal School Service exam, and chose a career in social work and education. In 1998, he started his career as a school teacher at Mitra Institution (Main) of Kolkata, where he worked till his death. He was also an active member of Panchpota Sashadanga Sarada Seba Sangha.[1][3][4] Activism Ichhamati river and water In 2000, Biswas started a campaign for the construction of a canal to check flooding of the Ichamati and Jamuna rivers. The rivers were causing widespread flooding in Sutia, Bongaon, Swarupnagar, and Gaighata. Biswas drew up a blueprint for the canal. Though initially his plan met with little enthusiasm from local leaders, the government later built the canal.[1] Later, he was involved in the fight against gangs who were illegally blocking and diverting the Ichamati river for their businesses, causing floods in the village area.[1][2][3] 2000—2012: Anti-rape activism Sutia and neighbouring villages were engulfed by a criminal gang during the late 1990s and early 2000s. From 2000—2002, 33 rapes (official figure, actual figure may have been much more) and around a dozen murders were committed in Sutia. Biswas formed a group of villagers to fight crime and to demand arrests. In 2000, at age 28, he co-founded "Sutia Gonodhorshon Pratibad Mancha".[5] The organisation started to hold public meetings to protest the rapes. During such a meeting, Biswas said: If we can't protect our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers, then we shouldn't be living in a civilized society. If we lack the courage to take on the rapists, we deserve more severe punishment than they do.... So come and join us to protect the honour of our women.[1] Biswas' group helped rape victims give reports to the police that led to arrests of the gang members, including the leader of the gangs, Sushanta Choudhury. Biswas also counselled the raped women.[1][2][3] Death I am a proud mother who has lost her son. Barun, my youngest, never went on the backfoot despite knowing there was a threat to his life. Till the day Pratibadi Mancha (a social service organization set up set by Barun) raises its voice against all atrocities, my son will remain immortal. Bengali: Barun chilo, Barun ache, Barun thakbe (Barun was, Barun is, and Barun will be) —Gita Biswas (mother of Barun Biswas) in an interview[4] At 7:20 pm on 5 July 2012, when returning from Kolkata, Biswas was shot from behind in a parking lot outside the Gobardanga railway station. Subsequently, police from Habra, Gaighata, and Gopal Nagar arrested five men with ties to the Sutia gang. This included the alleged hired killer, Sumanta Debnath, alias Fotke, Debashish Sarkar, Bishwajit Biswas, and Raju Sarkar, most of whom were local students. The alleged assassin reportedly confessed to the police that he was contracted by gang leader Sushanta Choudhury, who was serving life imprisonment in Dum Dum Central Jail.[3] Legacy In 2011 a teleserial named Proloy Asche was launched by Sananda TV loosely based on the life of Barun Biswas.[6] In August 2013, a Bengali film called Proloy was made on the life of Biswas. Actor Parambrata Chatterjee portrayed the role of Barun Biswas. In the 2013 Durga Puja, Panchpota Avijan Sangha Durga Puja Committee used Biswas' life and struggle as their puja's festive theme. They also named their puja platform Barun Mancha (Barun platform). Manobendra Biswas, joint secretary of the puja committee told—[7] Barun's mamabari (maternal house) was in Sutia Panchpota and he had spent his childhood here. When Sutia was virtually ruled by rapists and criminals, he started a movement to help villagers fight the reign of terror through Sutia Pratibadi Mancha... Durga Puja marks the victory of Durga over Mahishasura and Barun's fight epitomizes the victory of good over evil. Remembering Barun Biswas, the Hero Who Raised His Voice Against Rapes When No One Else Could Tanaya Singh 8 years ago Barun Biswas was 39-year-old when he was shot dead on July 5, 2012, in a parking lot outside the Gobardanga railway station in West Bengal. A teacher, an activist, and most importantly a very kind man, Barun is still remembered for his incredible and laudable courage. Barun Biswas was 39-year-old when he was shot dead on July 5, 2012, in a parking lot outside the Gobardanga railway station in West Bengal. A teacher, an activist, and most importantly a very kind man, Barun is still remembered for his incredible and laudable courage. The reason why he was murdered? For raising his voice against the members of a local criminal gang, who were using gang-rape and murder as a way to terrorise people in Sutia village. The year was 2000 and the residents of Sutia in West Bengal were terror-stricken. Frequent rapes in the region had left them both angry and extremely scared because there was no way to protest. According to a report in The Times of India, the criminals led by Sushanta Choudhury were using sexual torture as a weapon to dominate the villagers. “Women were being raped and molested in front of their husbands and children. We were forced to pay for even for a puja at our home. The gang enjoyed political support and no one could stop them,” Hitlal Bayen, one of Barun’s neighbours told TOI. Anyone who protested was gang-raped or murdered. Official reports said that 33 rapes and about a dozen murders had taken place between 2000 and 2002, but the locals knew that the real numbers were far worse. Most of the victims were too scared to complain. And when the police did not come forward to help, it was Barun who decided to break the silence. He co-founded an organization named Sutia Gonodhorshon Pratibad Mancha with a group of villagers, to protest against the gang and to fight crime. Selfless and courageous, Barun marched forward like a ray of hope for the villagers. “If we can’t protect our daughters, sisters and wives, then we shouldn’t be living in a civilized society. If we lack the courage to take on the rapists, we deserve a more severe punishment than they do… so come and join us to protect the honour of our women,” was his battle cry. His organization started conducting public meetings to protest against the gang. Initially a team of seven people, they were going from door to door to motivate people to raise their voices. And this gave courage to many others. He was the spark that the villagers needed to break the barrier of fear and start protesting. Barun helped the rape victims in reporting to the police, which finally led to the gang members being arrested. Five criminals, including Sushanta, were sentenced with life imprisonment. It is reported that Barun gave a copy of a book by Ramakrishna Paramhansa to Sushanta when he was being arrested and advised that he should read it in jail. Over the years, Barun also counselled the women who were survivors of rape, and rehabilitated them in the society. Soon after he began the protests, Barun started receiving several threats. He used to avoid going out after dark and even chose to never get married because that might have put his family in danger. According to reports, one of Sushanta’s aides who was arrested for murdering Barun had confessed that the order came from their leader from inside the jail. “Barun knew his life was under threat but he didn’t bother. He always had a daring streak. He looked like the boy next door but believe me, he had nerves of steel. He was scared of no one and he loved helping people, often at the cost of his own comfort. Barun kept nothing for himself, other than his bed which he would give away to the students he helped. A year ago, he finally gave it to a neighbour and would sleep on plastic sheets. Even the man who pointed him out to the assassins at Gobardanga station had received rice from him a week ago,” said Barun’s elder brother, Asit Biswas. Born on September 12, 1972 in Sutia, Barun was a school teacher by profession. After finishing school from Panchpota Bharadanga High School, he went to Gobardanga Hindu College for a Bachelor’s degree in Bengali. His did MA from Calcutta University and then a BEd from B.T. College, New Barrackpore. He also passed the West Bengal Civil Service exam, but instead of opting for a comfortable life, he chose a career in social work and education. He started working as a school teacher at Mitra Institution of Kolkata in 1998. Barun was always committed to social service. He helped poor children study, took care of the elderly, helped those who were looking for jobs, and also campaigned for the construction of a canal to prevent floods in Sutia and nearby areas. He successfully showed the world that a lot can be achieved once you give up fear and choose to walk on the path of truth and goodwill.