Eram, a village near the sea under the control of Basudevpur police, became the main place for protests in the then Balasore district(Today Bhadrak). The area, covering about 40 square miles, was surrounded by the Kansabansa and Gamei rivers on one side and the sea on the other. During the rainy season, these natural barriers kept the area isolated, making it hard for outsiders, like the police or British forces, to get in. There were three main groups of villages in the region—Eram, Sankharo-Padhuan, and Suan-Sadeipada. Since communication was poor, it made it easier for local leaders to quickly organize the people for protests and rebellions.
Eram was always involved in the national freedom movement. During the Quit India Movement, political activities grew, led by people like Anirudha Mohanty from Eram, Kamalakanta Kar from Sankharo, and Gouranga Charan Mohanty from Barandua. Other leaders included Pravakar Tripathy, Ganesh Prasad Tripathy, and Shyamsundar Panigrahi. When Banchhanidhi Mohanty began sharing his nationalist poems, more people got involved. He spread messages of patriotism by performing on stage and in village street plays to inspire the local villagers. As the rebellion gained momentum, leaders built a strong intelligence system that helped them get information on police activities. Villagers used conch shells to signal when police were nearby.
On September 17, 1942, an important event took place in Eram. A parallel government was set up and named "Swadhina Banchhanidhi Chakla"(in the name of native Odia Nationalist poet. Banchhanidhi Mohanty),covering six panchayats (local councils) and 26 villages spread over 19 square miles. This government was run by five leaders, with Gouranga Charan Mohanty as the prime minister and Kamalakanta Kar as the commander-in-chief. The other leaders included Anirudha Mohanty, Pravakar Tripathy, and Shyam Sunder Panigrahi. They used Arjun Biswal's house as their office, where they raised the Congress flag. They even set up their own court and jail to handle cases, and organized departments for the army, intelligence, and food to support the movement.
A report from September 29, 1942, mentioned that "Swaraja Panchayats" were formed in 12 villages, and 250 soldiers from the "marari-sena" had been recruited. These groups used force to take grain from wealthy villagers and also tried to break down the rural police system. On September 17, the "Chowkidars and Dafadars" (village guards) were forced to give up their uniforms in front of a large crowd. The next day, there was a big public meeting at Basudevpur where leaders like Anirudha Mohanty and others gave powerful speeches. The people decided to attack the police station on September 22.
On September 20, villagers attacked a coastal watch station at Kulikhati, about 1.5 miles east of Eram. In response, the District Magistrate imposed Section 144 on September 24, which banned gatherings of more than five people in Basudevpur. Although Eram had been quiet in August, by September, many meetings were held, where leaders called for the destruction of police stations and telegraph lines. Eram became the center of the movement, with major villages like Eram, Betadahat, Satipati, and Basudevpur hosting mass meetings. Villagers continued to take grain from the rich and give it to the poor, as the area's isolation made it difficult for authorities to intervene.
However, local zamindar (landlord) Radhakanta Padhi, who had previously supported the Congress, felt threatened. He feared the protesters would loot his grain, so he informed the authorities about the Congress leaders.
On September 28, 1942, a police team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), with one inspector, one sub-inspector, one havildar, and 18 armed constables, left Basudevpur police station. They were sent to investigate the zamindar’s complaint and arrest the leaders. As they approached, villagers blew conch shells to warn others. The police crossed the Gomei river, where they saw about 300 people gathered. After some time, they reached the zamindar’s house at 6 PM.
Meanwhile, about 5000 people had gathered at a place called "Melan Padia," shouting slogans like "Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai" and "Angrez Rajya ka Dhwansha ho" (destruction of British rule). The crowd was full of energy. Just when the police were about to take a break, one of the chowkidars reported that the crowd had looted their luggage. Angry, the DSP ordered the police to go to the scene. At around 6:30 PM, the police arrived at Melan Padia, which was packed with men, women, and children. Despite the DSP declaring the gathering illegal and telling people to leave, they refused. In frustration, the DSP ordered the police to open fire.
The shooting resulted in 29 people dying, with 28 killed on the spot and one later in jail. Among those who died was a woman named Pari Bewa of Eram. This incident became one of the darkest chapters of the Quit India Movement in Odisha, as no other police action during the movement had killed so many in a single day.This incident is known as the second Jallianwala Bagh incident of India. The British government was heavily criticized for this.
After the massacre, the police launched a harsh crackdown. They went from village to village, arresting leaders and anyone suspected of being involved. Many villagers fled to nearby jungles to avoid arrest, leaving their homes empty, which the police freely looted. On October 1, 1942, Anirudha Mohanty was arrested, followed by Kamalakanta Kar on October 6 and Gouranga Charan Mohanty on October 17. Other people like Ganesh Chandra Tripathy, Manibhadra Biswal, Kusa Terai, Bhaskar Chandra Parida, and others were also arrested. Although the government imposed a fine of Rs. 4,700 on the villagers, they could not collect it.
The Eram massacre marked a crucial point in the struggle, and the rebellion in South Balasore slowly died down. By mid-October, a major cyclone hit North Balasore, displacing many villagers and causing starvation. In desperation, villagers raided a rice mill at Lakshmannath on October 19, and once again, the police opened fire, killing one person and injuring others. By the end of October 1942, life in Balasore gradually returned to normal.
The Martyrs of the Eram Massacre are:
- Pari Bewa , Eram, Basudevpur
- Gopal Chandra Das , Padhnuan
- Biswanath Das , Padhuan
- Bijuli Das , Padhuan
- Hrushikesh Behera , Padhuan
- Madan Palai , Padhuan
- Ballahaba Behera , Padhuan
- Magha Mahalika , Padhuan
- Bhua Majhi , Padhuan
- Kali Majhi , Padhuan Kumarpur
- Radhu Mahalika , Padhuan Muladiha
- Dhruba Charana Dey , Padhuan
- Basudeb Sahu , Padhuan
- Hari Behera , Padhuan
- Dibakar Panigrahi , Gud Kesagadia
- Krushna Chandra Swain , Padhuan Kumarpur
- Bhaban Rout , Padhuan Nandapura
- Nidhi Mahalika , Padhuan
- Brundaban Panda , Padhuan
- Upa Mallika , Nuangan
- Krupasindhu Behera , Sankharu
- Rama Majhi , Padhuan Kumarpur
- Mani Behera , Padhuan
- Kati Sahu , Iswarapur
- Ratnakar Pani , Sudarsanpur
- Mani Pradhana , Suan Sudarsanpur
- Pari Das , Suan
- Sankar Mallika , Adhuan
- Gobinda Rout , Artung