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Home , Ambujammal, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Bhikaiji Cama, Congress Radio, Krishnammal Jagannathan, Muthulakshmi Reddy

ALU – WOMEN’S STUDIES E - NEWSLETTER

Volume: August, 2017 ISSUE – 6 Women

Theme: Women in Freedom Movement

Editor – in – Chief: Prof.K.Manimekalai

Editors:

Dr.P. Veeramani Dr. I. Siva Kumar Dr. S. Poul Punitha Dr. T. Murugesan Dr.N.K.Bhuvaneswari Mrs.P.Sindhuja

Editor’s Desk

“I am not ready to die because it requires infinitely higher courage to live” -

The history of Indian Freedom Struggle would be incomplete without mentioning the contributions of women. The sacrifice made by the women of will occupy the foremost place. They fought with true spirit and undaunted courage and faced various tortures, exploitations and hardships to earn us freedom. When most of the men freedom fighters were in prison the women came forward and took charge of the struggle. The list of great women whose names have gone down in history for their dedication and undying devotion to the service of India is a long one. Women’s participation in India’s freedom struggle began as early as in 1817. Bhima Bay fought bravely against the British Colonel Malcolm and defeated him in guerrilla warfare. Rani Lakshmi Bai of whose heroism and superb leadership laid on outstanding example of real patriotism. Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba Gandhi, Vijay Lakshmi Pundit, etc., in the 20th Century is the names which are remembered even today for their singular contribution both in battlefield and in political field. Let us elucidate the role of Indian women who participated in the freedom struggle against British and British Empire and made great and rich contributions in various ways. TOP 12 WOMEN FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF INDIA

History has witnessed many women with exceptional bravery and intelligence who walked shoulder to shoulder with men of their times. Let us remember women of the freedom era who fought bravely for their country and contributed towards the achievement of independence of the country India. They are still a source of inspiration to not only women but to all. Though there are many but here is a list of only 12 of them who were exceptionally great and their absence would have definitely made this task more difficult than it was.

RANI LAKSHMI BAI OF JHANSI (19th November, 1828 – 17th June, 1858)

Rani Lakshmibai was one of the leading warriors of India’s freedom struggle who laid an outstanding influence on the succeeding women freedom fighters. She used to go into the battlefield dressed as a man. Holding the reins of their horse in her mouth she used the sword with both hands. She fought valiantly and although beaten she refused to surrender and fell as a warrior should, fighting the enemy to the last. Her remarkable courage inspired many men and to rise against the alien rule. She was a symbol of bravery, patriotism, self respect, perseverance, generosity and resistance to British rule. She fought till her last breath for the welfare of women in the country and for the noble cause of India’s independence.

BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL (1820—1879)

Begum Hazrat Mahal was a great Indian Freedom-Fighter who played a major role during India's First War of Independence (1857-58). She was also known as the Begum of (Oudh) and was the wife of the then ruler, Nawab . She led a band of her supporters against the British, and was even able to seize the control of Lucknow. She worked in close association with other leaders of the India’s First War of Independence, including Nana Sahib. Begum was not only a strategist but also fought on the battlefield. When the forces under the command of the British re-captured Lucknow and most part of the Awadh, she was forced to retreat. When her forces lost ground, she fled Oudh and organized soldiers again in other places. She turned down all offers of amnesty and allowances by the British rulers. Finally, she took refuge in an asylum in , where she died in the year 1879. To acknowledge her endless effort in fighting for the freedom of country, the of India released a stamp on 10th May, 1984.

ANNIE BEZANT (1st October, 1847 – 20th September, 1933)

Annie Besant an Irish lady the leader of the Theosophical Society joined the and gave it a new direction. She was the first woman president of the Congress and gave a powerful lead to women's movement in India. She soon became a leading labour organizer, strike leader and reformer. She also became involved in Indian and in 1916 established the Indian Home Rule League of which she became President. She started a newspaper, “New India”, criticized British rule and was jailed for sedition. She came to be associated with rationalistic congress group of workers who did not appreciate Gandhi’s views.

She got involved in political and educational activities and set up a number of Schools and Colleges, the most important of which was Central Hindu College High School at Banaras which she started in 1913. MADAM (24th September, 1861 - 13th August, 1936)

Madam Cama fought for the freedom of the country till the last in her own way, and helped many revolutionaries with money and materials. She unfurled the first National Flag at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart (Germany) in 1907. She declared “This flag is of Indian Independence! Behold, it is born! It has been made sacred by the blood of young Indians who sacrificed their lives. I call upon you, gentlemen to rise and salute this flag of Indian Independence. In the name of this flag, I appeal to lovers of freedom all over the world to support this flag." A thousand representatives from several countries were attended. She traveled lot of places including America and propagates Americans about Indians struggling for Independence.

KASTURBA GANDHI (11th April, 1869 – 22nd February, 1944)

Kasturba Gandhi, 's wife worked with him for many years. She was a leader of Women's for which she was imprisoned. She helped her husband in the cause of Indigo workers in Champaran, Bihar and the No Tax Campaign in Kaira, Gujarat. She was arrested twice for picketing liquor and foreign cloth shops, and in 1939 for participating in the Rajkot Satyagraha.

She many times took her husband's place when he was under arrest. Kasturba suffered from chronic bronchitis. Stress from the 's arrests and ashram life caused her to fall ill. After contracting pneumonia, she died from a severe heart attack on 22nd February, 1944. She died in Mahatma Gandhi's arms while both were then in prison.

SAROJINI NAIDU (13th February, 1879 – 2nd March, 1949)

Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India, was a distinguished poet, renowned freedom fighter and one of the great orators of her time. She was elected as the president of Indian National Congress. The dynamic phase of Sarojinis career was from 1917- 1919. She campaigned for the . When Gandhi launched the Movement, she proved a faithful lieutenant. With great courage she quelled the rioters, sold proscribed literature, and addressed frenzied meetings on the carnage at in Amritsar. In 1930 when Mahatma Gandhi chose her to lead the Salt Satyagraha the stories of her courage became legion. After Gandhi's arrest she had prepared 2,000 volunteers under the scorching sun to raid the Dahrsana Salt Works, while the police faced them half a mile up the road with rifle, lathis (canes) are steel tipped clubs. She gave up writing poetry and fully devoted herself to emancipation of women, education, Hindu-Muslim unity etc. She became a follower of Gandhiji and accompanied him to England. Whenever in England, she openly criticized British rule in India which caught the attention of scholars and intellectuals.

KAMALA NEHRU (1899 – 1936) Kamala Nehru, 's wife gave full support to her husband in his desire to work actively for the freedom struggle. In the Nehru home town of Allahabad, she organized processions, addressed meetings and led picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops. She played a prominent part in organizing the No Tax Campaign in United Provinces (now ).

In the Non Cooperation movement of 1921, she organized groups of women in Allahabad and propagated use of Khadi cloths. When her husband was arrested, to prevent him delivering a "Seditious" public speech, she went in his place to read it out. She was twice arrested by British authorities. Kamala died from tuberculosis in Switzerland while Jawaharlal Nehru was in prison. She spent some time at Gandhi's ashram with Kasturba Gandhi.

VIJAYA LAKSHMI PUNDIT (18th August, 1900 – 1st December, 1990)

She is the daughter of , was the president of Congress and brother Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. She was inspired by Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi and impressed by Sarojini Naidu. She entered the Non Co- operation Movement to fight against the British rule. Vijaya Lakshmi Pundit represented India in many of the conferences abroad. She attended numerous public lectures and challenged the British dominated delegate’s rights to represent India therein. She was a great fighter and took parts in many of the freedom movement. She was arrested in 1932 and sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment. She was arrested in 1940 and yet again during the Quit India Movement in 1942. She was the first women to become cabinet minister, she was designated the post of minister of local self-government and public health. She was also the first woman president of United Nations General Assembly. She was also the first woman ambassador in the world who attained the position in three countries – Moscow, Washington and .

SUCHETA KRIPALANI (25th June, 1908 – 1st December, 1974)

She was a freedom fighter and worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi during Partition riots in India. She also played major role in politics by joining Indian National Congress. During the formation of she was elected as a member of the drafting committee of Constituent assembly. Another feather to her cap is attached when she sang “” in the Constituent Assembly. She was also elected as the of Uttar Pradesh state after Independence.

ARUNA ASAF ALI (16th July, 1909 – 26th July, 1996)

She is a well known Indian independence activist. Being an activist she participated actively in public processions during Salt Satyagraha, and she also became an active member of Indian National Congress. Due to her activity she was imprisoned but prison walls did not stop her she continued with her protests and strikes inside the jail for indifferent treatment of prisoners which resulted in the improved condition of prisoners in Tihar Jail.

DURGA BAI DESHMUKH (15th July, 1909 - 9th May, 1981)

She was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and thus; played active role in Gandhi Satyagraha movement and played role of Indian struggler, a lawyer, a social activist and a politician. She was a member as well as member of Planning Commission of India. While being member of Planning Commission she launched a Central Social Welfare Board through which she improved condition of education, women, children, handicap and rehabilitation of needy persons.

USHA MEHTA (25th March, 1920 - 11th August, 2000)

Usha Mehta is remembered for broad casting the Congress Radio, and called her the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which was functioned for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942. She is also known as child leader as in 1928, eight-year-old Usha participated in a protest march against the and shouted her first words of protest against the : “Simon Go Back.” As a child, she did not comprehend the significance of her actions except that she was participating in a movement to free her country under the leadership of Gandhi. She and many other children participated in morning protests against the British Raj and picketing in front of liquor shops. During the Quit India Movement, Usha quickly became a leader. She moved from New to , where she hoisted the tricolor on 9th August, 1942 at Gawalia Tank Ground.

All these women freedom fighters with their contribution made the Indian freedom struggle successful, memorable and inspirational.

PROMINENT WOMEN FREEDOM FIGHTERS IN

Dr. MUTHULAKSHMI

Dr. (30th July, 1886 Madras – 22nd July, 1968) was an eminent medical practitioner, social reformer and awardee in India. She was the first woman legislator in India and first women member of the Madras Legislative Council. For her, this nomination marked the beginning of her lifelong effort to "correct the balance" for women by removing social abuses and working for equality in moral standards. She was one of the women pioneers who stood for the cause of liberating India from the British. She was a women's activist and a social reformer. Muthulakshmi had many firsts to her recognition. She was the first female student to be admitted into a men's college, the first woman House Surgeon in the Government Maternity and Ophthalmic Hospital, the first woman legislator in British India, the first Chairperson of the State Social Welfare Advisory Board, the first woman Deputy President of the Legislative Council, and the first Alderwoman of the Madras Corporation and Avvai Home. She was nominated by Sakthi Hari Haran to the Madras Legislature as a member of the legislative council in 1926, and became the first woman to be a member of any legislature in India. When she was elected as the deputy chairperson of the legislative council, she became the first woman in the world to become the vice president of a legislature. She was the prime mover behind the legislation that abolished the system and played a keen role in raising the minimum marriage age for women in India. In 1930, she resigned from the Madras Legislature as a protest following the imprisonment of Mahatma Gandhi. She argued for the removal of the Devadasi system that was widely prevalent in Tamil Nadu at that time against stiff resistance from the Congress lobby led by Sathyamoorthy Aiyar. She was the founder-president of the Women's Indian Association (WIA) and became the first alderwoman of the Madras Corporation.

Dr.Reddy was actively involved with setting up of several toilets and women's toilets, and initiated measures to improve the medical facilities given to slum dwellers. In 1930, she founded Avvai, a home for destitute women and orphans at Besant Avenue, Adyar. As an MLC, she introduced a scheme of free education for girls up to class eight. CAPT LAKSHMI SEHGAL

The most well known of the lot is Capt Lakshmi Sehgal, who was part of Netaji’s , and also served as Minister of Woman Affairs in the provisional Government. She was born into quite a well to do family, her father Swaminathan, was a leading criminal lawyer at Madras High Court, while her mother Ammu, was a social worker and freedom fighter, hailing from a rich Nair family. She did her medicine in 1938 from , and worked as a doctor at the Govt Hospital in Triplicane, . After a failed marriage she left for Singapore in 1940 where she established a clinic for poor migrant labourers from India. It was at that time; she met some members of INA, and played an active role in the Indian Independence League. When Netaji announced his intention to form a woman’s wing on his arrival to Singapore in 1943, she met him and requested to form a new woman’s regiment. The Regiment in Indian National Army (INA) was the first all woman brigade from India, and she headed it as Captain Lakshmi. When the INA was defeated, she was arrested in 1945 in Burma and remained there till 1946. She later married, Col Prem Kumar Sehgal, one of the three INA officers tried in the Red Fort by the British Govt. She joined the CPM, and continued to do yeoman service, especially to the refugees during Partition and later those during the 1971 war.

RUKMINI LAKSHMIPATHI

Rukmini Lakshmipathi, was born in Chennai, and she did her BA from Women’s Christian College. She later married, Dr.AchantaLaxmipathi. Joining the Congress in 1923, she attended the International Woman Suffragettes Alliance Conference at Paris in 1926. Was arrested during Salt Satyagraha at in 1930, becoming the first lady prisoner of that movement. She also was the first woman to be elected to the Madras Legislative Council in 1934 and later the Legislative Assembly in 1937 elections. Marshall’s Road in Egmore, Chennai has been renamed in her honour.

Ambujammal was born on 8 January 1899 to S. Srinivasa Iyengar and his wife Ranganayaki. Srinivasa Iyengar was one of the foremost leaders of the Indian National Congress in the and had served as the President of the Party. Ambujammal's maternal grandfather was Sir V.Bhashyam Aiyangar, the first Indian to be appointed Advocate-General of the Madras Presidency. Ambujammal qualified as a teacher and taught at Sarada Vidyalaya Girl’s School part-time. She was a committee member of Sarada Ladies’ Union from 1929 to 1936. She worked very closely with Sister Subbalakshmi. In 1929, she was nominated Treasurer of the Women’s Swadeshi League, Madras. This League was a non-political wing of the Congress, implemented Gandhi’s social and economic programs. She was a strong proponent of Swadeshi, and embraced Khadi. Her entry into political life was in 1930, during the civil disobedience movement. She joined the Salt Satyagraha, and courted arrest. In 1932, she was hailed as the "Third Dictator" of the Congress, and led the Satyagrahis to boycott foreign cloth. She was arrested and sentenced to six months of imprisonment.

VELU NACHIYAR

Velu Nachiyar was the princess of Ramanathapuram and the only child of Raja Chellamuthu Sethupathy and Rani Sakandhimuthal of the Ramnad kingdom. Nachiyar was trained in war match weapons usage, martial arts like Valari, Silambam (fighting using stick), horse riding and archery. She was a scholar in many languages and she had proficiency with languages like French, English and . She married the king of Sivagangai, with whom she had a daughter. When her husband, Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiyathevar, was killed by British soldiers and the son of the Nawab of Arcot, she was drawn into battle. She escaped with her daughter and lived under the protection of Palayakaarar Kopaala Naayakkar at Virupachi near Dindigul for eight years. During this period, she formed an army and sought an alliance with Gopala Nayaker and Hyder Ali with the aim of attacking the British, whom she did successfully fight in 1780. When Velu Nachiyar found the place where the British stored their ammunition, she arranged a suicide attack: a faithful follower, Kuyili, doused herself in oil, set herself alight and walked into the storehouse. Velu Nachiyar formed a woman's army named "Udaiyaal" in honour of her adopted daughter, Udaiyaal, who died detonating a British arsenal. Nachiyar was one of the few rulers who regained her kingdom, and ruled it for ten more years. 1790, the throne was inherited by her daughter Vellacci. Velu Nachiyar was the first queen to fight for the freedom from the British in India. She granted powers to the Marudu brothers to administer the country in 1780. Velu Nachiyar died a few years later, on 25th December, 1796.

VAITHAMANITHI MUDUMBAI KOTHAINAYAKI AMMAL

Vaithamanithi Mudumbai Kothainayaki Ammal (1st December, 1901 – 20th February, 1960) was a Tamil writer, novelist and journalist who is remembered as the first woman to occupy the editorial board of a Tamil magazine. She wrote 115 books and she published monthly Tamil magazine, Jaganmohini. In addition to being a Magazine editor, author, singer and a playwright, Kothai wore one more cap also, that of a Freedom Fighter. Through Anne Besant, Kothai befriended social worker Ambujam Ammal. She met Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturbai in 1925. This meeting produced a great impact in the mind of Kothai. Impressed by the simplicity of the Mahatma, and his powerful oration, Kothai renounced her interest in luxurious living and started wearing only Khadhi Sarees, discarding silk dresses and gold and diamond Jewelleries. She plunged into social service activities, along with Ambujam Ammal, Rukmany Lakshmipathy and Vasumathi Ramaswamy. Responding to the Mahatma's call in 1931, she participated in the Satyagraha agitation against Toddy and Liquor shops and was arrested by the Police and received a prison sentence for 6 months which was increased to 8 months when she refused to pay the fine that was imposed on her by the court. In 1932 she was again sentenced for participation in the agitation against Lodhi Commission and the stir for the boycott of foreign clothes. While serving her sentences in prison, she continued her passion for writing novels, many of which contained the true life incidents of co-prisoners as themes and main plots. Her husband Parthasarathy managed the magazine Jaganmohini during her imprisonment periods.

THILLAIYADI VALLIAMMAI

Thillaiyadi Valliammai was born to Munuswamy and Mangalam, a young immigrant couple from a small village called Thillaiyadi in Thanjavur in the year 1898. Valliammai grew in an environment that was rather hostile to Indians. Indians were treated as slaves in South Africa. Gandhi, who was appalled by pathetic conditions of coloured people and discrimination against the Indians and South Africans, adapted a new method of light against the British rulers. The young Indian lawyer Mohandas Gandhi began his protest march against the discrimination of Indians and other South Africans. Kasturba, Valliammai and her mother joined this march of women from Transvaal to Natal, which was prohibited by the Government of South Africa. Valliammai, 16 years of age was arrested by the South African police while she was in the protest march and spent three months in jail. She suffered a fatal fever in jail, when she was released in 11.2.1914 she was very weak and could barely walk. She breathed her last in 22.2.1914, within 10 days after released from jail.

JANAKI AMMAL

K.P.Janaki Ammal was a politician from Communist Party of India (Marxist) and president of All India Democratic Women's Association. She represented Madurai East in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly in 1967. She was born in 1917; she was the only child of Padmanabhan and Lakshmi. Her early life was spent in poverty. Her mother died when she was 8 years old, and she was raised by her grandmother. She dropped out of school in the eighth grade, in order to pursue music. She become the lead actress and earned over Rs.300/- per performance. She teamed up with S.S.Viswanathadas on stage, to engage with the issue of caste based untouchability. Janaki Ammal married a harmonium player from the troupe, Gurusamy Naidu. She is known as the first South Indian woman to be arrested by the British. She was first arrested in 1930 while performing in Tirunelveli and spent one year in jail. She was arrested for participating in anti-war propaganda in Trichy, under the defense of India Rules. She was one of the active political members of the Individual Satyagraha Movement. In 1936, she joined Congress party and worked as the office bearer in the Madurai Congress Committee She then shifted to the Congress Socialist Party. She joined Communist Party of India in 1940. After the party's split, she moved to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Janaki Ammal and Ponmalai Paapa Umanath were founders of the Tamil Nadu Democratic Women’s Association in 1974, where the former became its first president

KRISHNAMMAL JAGANNATHAN

Krishnammal Jagannathan, born into a landless Dalit family. She however managed to study university and joined in Gandhiji’s Movement. This is where she met Sankaralingam, who hailed from a much richer family. He however gave up his riches, to fight for freedom, was arrested during the Quit India movement. They fell in love, and promised to marry after independence, which they did in 1947. Post independence, she along with her husband, played an active role in ’s Bhoodan Movement, and managed to distribute around 4 million acres to landless peasants. She also started the Land for Tiller’s Freedom in 1981, along with her husband, which was for the landless poor to buy land. She also set up many NGOs for the poorer sections of society.

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