When Jatin stopped running

Little Jatin was afraid of stray dogs. One evening, when a street dog barked at him, he turned and started running. The dog ran after him barking loudly. The only safe place, Jatin thought, was home. He ran even faster.

Jatin’s mother saw the dog chasing her son. She called out to him — “Jatin, stop.”

Hearing his mother’s voice, Jatin slowed down.

“Stop running. Turn and face the dog,” his mother ordered.

Such was the magic in her voice, Jatin found himself turning back and facing the dog. The moment Jatin stopped running, the dog stopped too. When he turned and faced it, the dog stopped barking and quietly walked away.

Mother said to Jatin, “Never run away from a situation, my son. Always face it. You will be victorious.”

When Jatin grew up, he once took a walk through a forest with his friends. A tiger came at them from nowhere. Jatin’s companions fled in fear. But Jatin stood his ground and fought the tiger singlehandedly. Later, when his friends returned with help, they found Jatin bleeding with wounds inflicted by the Royal Bengal Tiger. The animal was mortally wounded. Since that day, he came to be known as Bagha Jatin.

Story: Subba Rao | Illustration: Kaustuv Brahmachari

Speaking about his life mission, Jatindranath Mukherjee said, “Amra morbo, jagat jagbe” — “We shall die to awaken the nation.”

Jatindranath Mukherjee (1879 –1915), fought for freedom of the country and died a martyr.