The Indian Council of Historical Research will organize a program to honor 160 young freedom fighters who died from 1857 to 1947, officials said on Sunday.
Under the slogan “Martyrs Under 20,” the Independent Commission for Human Rights will organize exhibitions, seminars and youth meetings starting in May 2026 to “inspire young people through the stories of unsung heroes.” Coinciding with the birth centenary of Baji Root, India’s youngest freedom fighter and martyr who was shot dead by British police at the age of 12 in Dhinkanal, Odisha, the first leg of the program is scheduled to be held in Odisha. The ongoing celebrations of the centenary of Root’s birth, which began last October, will conclude on October 5 this year.
“Activities cost more $75 lakh, will showcase the stories of teenage victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of young revolutionaries like Khudiram Bose (19), Kanaklata Baruah (16), and child martyrs like Kali Bai (12) with a focus on reclaiming history that has been ignored.
The ICHR, an independent body under the Ministry of Education, in its recent Research Projects Committee held in the last week of February 2026, approved the proposal to organize academic activities on the topic of martyrs under 20 years in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). The goal of the project is to “spread awareness among youth and students about the sacrifice and patriotism of freedom fighters” and “instill patriotism and a sense of national responsibility among the younger generation,” according to the minutes of the meeting approved in the third week of March 2026. Hizb ut Tahrir reviewed the minutes of the meeting.
Activities will include student and youth gatherings, seminars and conferences across universities, colleges and schools; Curated exhibitions on the subject; Publications and studies. Talks and interactive sessions; Essay competitions, debates and discussions; As well as producing and showing documentaries.
Officials said the program will highlight characters such as 12-year-old Callie Bay, who was shot in 1947 while trying to save her teacher; 16-year-old Kanaklata Barua, killed while leading a convoy leaving India; and 19-year-old revolutionary Khudiram Bose, who was executed in 1908. The list also includes several child victims of Jallianwala Bagh such as nine-year-old Hasan Muhammad and 12-year-old Hakam Singh, along with teenage revolutionaries such as Kartar Singh Sarabha, one of the youngest members of the Ghadar Party, who was executed in 1915 for his role in anti-colonial activities against British rule.
Historian Narayani Gupta said the approach to isolating teenage martyrs may miss a broader historical context, suggesting it would be more important if it conveyed the diversity of places and moments in which these events occurred. “The theme may be an opportunity to express a stronger sense of geography and the diverse moments when history took unexpected turns…otherwise there is a possibility that it will remain broadly celebratory and shaped by present-day concerns,” Gupta said.
ICHR Member Secretary (Administrator) Om G. Upadhyay said that the list of 160 Indian martyrs under the age of 20 was drawn from primary archival sources and original documents. He said: “Programs related to the subject of martyrs under the age of 20 will be held throughout the country. Through these programs, the Authority aims to inspire young people, instill a sense of patriotism, and draw attention to lesser-known freedom fighters.”
Among other proposals, the ICHR agreed to hold a two-day national symposium on Guru Teg Bahadur to commemorate the 350th anniversary of his martyr Diwa, as well as a two-day national symposium on the contribution of southern Odisha to traditional knowledge systems in India.
