Khudiram Bose is hailed as the first martyr of organised revolutionary movement for India's freedom. He has become a legend on account of his fearlessness and valiant defiance of  death.

Khudiram Bose was born on 3.12.1889 in Habibpur. Village of Midnapur District in Bengal. He had lost his parents at a very early age and was brought up by his elder sister. He joined the movement for the country's liberation after the partition of Bengal, in 1905. He started his revolutionary activities under Satyen Bose. He was first arrested in February 1906 but escaped from police custody. He subsequently participated in the incident of looting of mail bags at Hatgacha in 1907 and in the bomb attack on Governor's special train in December 1907. He was known in revolutionary circles of Midnapur as a courageous and capable organiser.

Kingsford, the Chief Presidency Magistrate of Calcutta had made himself thoroughly unpopular by his harsh methods of suppressing the national movement. It was decided by the revolutionaries to eliminate/ liquidate him and this task was assigned to Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki. Kingsford had, meanwhile, been  transferred  to Muzaffarpur  as Sessions Judge. On 13 April, 1908, Khudiram assisted by Prafulla Chaki threw a bomb at the carriage supposed to be carrying Kingsford. Unfortunately, instead of Kingsford, two ladies who were travelling in that carriage were killed.

Prafulla Chaki was apprehended by the police but he shot himself dead. Khudiram was arrested a day later. He fearlessly told the police that he had thrown the  bomb to punish Kingsford. He was sentenced to death and hanged on 11 August, 1908. In Muzaffarpur Jail, the Magistrate who had ordered his execution subsequently remarked that Khudiram "moved to gallows like a defiant lions cub." The martyrdom of Khudiram at the age of 19, led to a surge of patriotic awakening all over the country. Songs were composed glorifying his contribution and his  sacrifice passed into folk lore. Even today the soul stirring songs composed in his honour are sung by Bengali folk-singers.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India