Participation of Oriya Women in the Indian Freedom Movement Balabhadra Ghadai

Orissa Review * August - 2004

The Participation of Oriya women in India's Devi who came out from the seclusion of their freedom struggle is a sensational event. Their homes to join Congress demonstrations for the fiery patriotism, supreme valour and gifted manufacture of salt. A few weeks after the organisational abilities are written in letters Dandi March began, Gandhiji said," The of gold in the annals of the Indian Freedom impatience of some sisters to join the good fight Movement. is to me a healthy sign. In this nonviolent movement, their contribution should be much Labanya Devi, the wife of Advocate greater than of any man. Woman is Loknath Bahadur of Puri founded a women's immeasurably superior to man. The awakening association at Puri called Mahila Bandhu of women redoubled the energy and activities Samiti. It had the primary membership of a few of the Satyagrahis. As soon as the Satyagraha prominent ladies from the elite classes. started at Inchudi, Rama Devi, accompanied Involved exclusively in the literary activities by Malati Devi, Annapurna Devi and Kiran of women, this association gave recognition Bala Sen reached the Satyagraha Camp at to women's talent and creativity. In March Balasore. Hundreds of women came under the 1921, Mahatma Gandhi addressed various spell of their amazing enthusiasm and public meetings in Orissa. He also addressed leadership. On 20 April, 1930 they led a long a small gathering of women at Vinod Vihari, procession of women to the Satyagraha centre Cuttack. Towards the end of 1921 Sarada Devi, and violated the Salt Law. It infused new life with her husband visited Kanika, where the and lustre to the mass upsurge. Rama Devi, tenants were agitating against their pro-British Annapurna Devi, Malati Devi and other women Raja as well as the British authorities. Rama volunteers visited Srijang and encouraged the Devi (wife of Gopabandhu Chowdhury) and women folk of that area for violating Salt Law. Hiramani Devi attended the Gaya Session of Many Oriya ladies also took active part in the Indian National Congress held in 1922. The preparing salt at different centres like Tundra, Calcutta Session of the Indian National Boita, Inchudi, Kuanpur, Keligaon, Rasulpur Congress held in December, 1928 was attended and Kasha. Huge quantity of salt manufactured by Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Sarojini at different centres were brought to Balasore Choudhury (daughter of Fakir Mohan for sale. Senapati), Janhavi Devi and Kokila Devi. The involvement of Rani Bhagyabati The famous Salt Satyagraha of 1930 Patamahadei of Kujang in the Salt Satyagraha involved hundreds of women activists like drew special attention. Thwarting the vigilance Sarala Devi, Kishorimani Devi and Malati of a magistrate and the police party, Rani

16 Orissa Review * August - 2004

Patamahadei, Rama Devi and many other Quit India Movement. On the 8th August, 1942 volunteers crossed to Kaliapata in a boat in the All India Movement attempted to cast a final the cover of the night. Hundreds of women blow against British Imperialists. Many following the ideal of their patriotic Rani came Congress workers including Malati Chowdhury forward to prepare contraband salt. represented Orissa in this movement. The In the district of Ganjam, under the following day all the Congress leaders from leadership of Sarala Devi, Malati Devi and various parts of India who had assembled at others the salt campaign took the shape of a Bombay were arrested. Malati Choudhury mass upsurge. Sarala Devi and Malati Devi alongwith Surendra Nath Dwivedy escaped the made extensive tours and in fused the ideals of police dragnet and went into hiding in order to Satyagraha into the minds of the women-folk keep up the movement active and energetic. of entire Ganjam area. About one-fourth of the On the same day in Cuttack and some participants were women who willingly joined other places of Orissa, 24 leaders including the struggle. Rama Devi were arrested. The Government Through women's participation in Salt through Notification Nos.137 and 147, dated Satyagraha, Gandhiji continued to exhort 9th August, 1942 declared all Congress women to channel their political energies into institutions in Orissa as illegal. With much constructive work. Sarala Devi, Rama Devi difficulties Malati Chowdhury arrived at and Malati Choudhury were the first among Cuttack on 12th August, 1942 and laid the hundreds of women arrested alongwith the foundation of the August Revolution in Orissa. male leaders. During their time Kuntala Kumari On account of the revolutionary activities and Sabat, a patriotic poetess infused a spirit of tireless efforts of women the August revolution into hearts of the people through her Revolution gathered momentum. Eminent writings like Ahwana (calling) and Sphulinga women like Malati Choudhury, Rama Devi, (particles of fire). Sarala Devi, Annapurna Maharana, Mangala Gandhiji's Padayatra in May, 1934 had Devi, Suryamani Devi, Gunamanjari Devi, a profound impact on the women of Orissa, as Champa Devi, Pravabati Devi, Sita Devi, they were called upon to fight the evils of Laxmibai and many other contributed liquor, boycott of foreign clothes and to discard immensely in making the Quit India Movement untouchability. Inspired by Gandhiji's a grand success. teachings, Rama Devi and her associates After the attainment of Independence on participated in the development of Khadi and 15th August, 1947 women like Rama Devi, Village Industries. They organised besetting of Malati Devi, Sunamani Devi and Annapurna foreign clothes and picketing before liquor Maharana joined the Sarvodaya Movement shops. Meanwhile Malati Devi carried on the Congress Socialist Movement with her started by Vinoba Bhave. The contributions of husband. Sarala Devi became a member of the Rama Devi as a social worker and Malati Devi first Legislative Assembly of Orissa from 1937 as a saviour of the tribal people is an to 1944. In 1946 Malati Devi was elected to unforgotten chapter in history. the Constituent Assembly of India.

The political activities of the Oriya Balabhadra Ghadai is the Principal of M.K. College, women reached its zenith during the period of Khiching in the Mayurbhanj district.