International Inventive Multidisciplinary Journal Dr. Manas Kumar Das

Odia Women in the Freedom Struggle of India

Dr. Manas Kumar Das

Lect. in History

Department of History

KIIT School of Social Sciences

KIIT University, Bhubaneswar-24

The Gandhian period witnessed a promising participation of masses in general and women in particular in the freedom struggle of India. The women, who were confined to the four walls of the house, came out at the clarion call of Mahatma Gandhi and made active participation in the national movement.1 Once Gandhiji said to Mridula Sarabhai, a vallian fighter for his causes of women and freedom, “I have brought the Indian women out of the kitchen, it is up to you (the women activists) to see that they do not go back.”2 Earlier there were women like Rani Laxmibai and others who had fought bravely against the British for their personal reasons.3 Of course the purpose was to oust the British from their territory but not from India. However, it was during the Gandihan period, the national movement witnessed the participation of masses as well as women in the freedom struggle of India. In this context, the women of Odisha were not lack behind. History will remember in its golden letters the valour and sacrifice of the women of Odisha for all times to come.4

During pre-Gandhian era, barring a few ladies of royal, aristocratic and political families, Odia women in general were not taking part in politics. But Gandhiji's leadership aroused self reliance and self-confidence amongst them and they came out of their seclusion to join the movement despite opposition from the family. This mass participation of women in the freedom struggle provided renewed momentum and vigour to the national movement.

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The Women Freedom Fighters of Odisha

The women of Odisha who had played very important role in the freedom struggle of India were Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Malati Devi.5 However, the commonest of the common woman Pari Bewa also faced the police bullet at Eram in the struggle for freedom against the British.

Participation from Undivided Balasore

From the undivided Balasore district women like Kokila Devi, Nirmala Devi, Janhabi Devi, Kshetramani Devi, Subhadra Mahtab, Sulochana Devi, Purubai, Kundalata Dev, Hemalata Devi, Gauri Devi, Krushnapriya Devi, Bishnupriya Devi etc were participated. 6

Undivided Cuttack District

From Cuttack women like Kuntala Kumari Sabat, Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Malati Devi, Kshetramani Devi, Kiranbala Sengupta ,Priyambada Devi, Mangala Sengupta, Sashibala Kanungo, Sakuntala Devi, Adharamani Devi, Kiranlekha Mohanty, Ratnamali Jena, Bimala Dutta, Haramani Kanungo etc had paticipated.

Participation from Undivided Ganjam District

From undivided Ganjam district participated Sobhabati Panda, Kishorimani Devi, Kundalata Devi, Champa Devi, Baralakshmi Devi, Hemalata Samanta, Suryama, Apurba Devi, P. Taramma, A. Laxmi Bai., T. Arahalu, T.V. Narayani, Sitadevi Khadanga, Malati Panda, Haramani Bisoi, Rasamani Devi have participated.

Undivided Koraput District

From undivided Koraput district participated Chitrabhanu Devi, Koyarani Banqara Devi, Budwal Devi, Khara Parbati have contributed for the sake of the nation.

Participation from Undivided Puri District

From undivided Puri district Saraswati Devi, Sunarnan, Devi, Radhamani Devi, Dhanamani Devi, Gunamanjari Devi, Nishamani Devi, Bimala Devi etc had participated. Labanya Devi, the wife of advocate Loknath Bahadur of Puri founded a Women's Association at Puri called Mahila Bandhu Samiti. It had the primary www.inventivepublication.com Mail iiej2012gmail.com, Volume III, Issue-VI, June,2015. Page 17

International Inventive Multidisciplinary Journal Dr. Manas Kumar Das

membership of a few prominent ladies from the elite classes. Involved exclusively in the literacy activities of women, this association gave recognition to women's talent and creativity. 7

Participation from Undivided Sambalpur District

From undivided Sambalpur district Jambhubati Devi, Pravabati Devi, Parbati Giri, Haramani Devi and Rukmini Devi etc. took part in the freedom struggle of Odisha.

Besides the above known figures, there were also many common women of Odisha who have contributed a lot for the freedom struggle of India which history has not remembered. Mahatma Gandhi could become a great leader because of those common men who had sacrificed their life for the cause of the nation. However, we must salute them for their participation and contribution to the freedom struggle of India.

Role of Odia women in the Non-Cooperation Movement

Mahatma Gandhi reached Cuttack on 23 March, 1921 and addressed a meeting at Kathajori and appealed people to participate in the Non-Cooperation Movement. At evening, he addressed a meeting at Cuttack. The ladies like Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Sarojini Devi and many others had participated in that meeting.8 The Gandhian thought had appealed the women so much had contributed their ornaments to the 'Tilak Swaraj Fund'. Surprisingly, the contribution to the Tilak Swaraj Fund was highest in the country. Further women further women were given training for the preparation of Khadi. Berhampur took a leading role in this regard and se g he e market. Sambalpur also contributed a lot in weaving cloth. Picketing before the foreign cloth shops and liquor shops formed another part of the Movement where women participated and made it successful. Of course the British Government suppressed this movement.

However, in his third visit to Odisha, Gandhiji came to Sambalpur with Kasturba and Debdas Gandhi. He addressed a meeting at Sambalpur organised by the women. Even the two daughters of Chandra Sekhar Behera a veteran freedom fighter donated their gold rings to Gandhiji. Gandhian Movement had gained momentum not only among the male freedom fighters of Odisha but also from the women of Odisha.

Participation of Odia women in the Civil Disobedience Movement of India

During the Civil Disobedience Movement which started from 1930, women played a vital role in the preparation of salt at Inchudi of Balasore district. After the www.inventivepublication.com Mail iiej2012gmail.com, Volume III, Issue-VI, June,2015. Page 18

International Inventive Multidisciplinary Journal Dr. Manas Kumar Das

arrest of Gopabandhu Choudhury on 8th April 1930 near Chandol, Acharya Harihar marched to Inchudi. The arrival of Rama Devi with Malati Devi and Krishnabala Sen at Inchudi galvanized the Salt Satyagraha and made it more effective. A few weeks after the Dandi March began. Gandhiji said, "the impatience of some sisters to join the good fight is to me a healthy sign. In this nonviolent warfare, their contribution should be much greater than man's. To call women, the weaker sex is defamation. If by strength is meant moral power, then women is immeasurably man's superior" The effect was miraculous. The awakening of women redoubled the energy and activities of the Satyagrahis.

Meanwhile besides Inchudi other villages like Srijanga, Rasapur. Bardhanpur, Bhimpur, Tundra, Kuanrpur, Ratai, Boita, Parikhi, Kheranga, Mandari etc. became centres for manufacturing salt. Rama Devi after her arrival at Inchudi went to Srijang. She persuaded the women of Srijang to come forward to manufacture salt. The local women agreed to the proposal. Around 1,500 women gathered in that area to watch the endeauvor. About 60 women came with Rama Devi to take salt-soil and accomplished the task. The activity of Rama Devi gave moral boosting to the women of that area. The Satyaqrahis adopted a novel method in Balasore to manufacture salt. The ladies manufactured salt with other Satyaqrahis. A Satyagraha Committee was formed in Sambalpur and four batches of women Satyagrahis went to different parts of coastal Odisha to help the Salt-Satyagrahis9 A batch of ten ladies under the leadership of Jambubati Devi went there to Balasore district and reached at Inchudi.

After this Civil Disobedience Movement Rama Devi, Malati Devi, Kokila Devi along with Surendra Patnaik came to Srijang village of Balasore district to boost up the morale of the people of that area in the abolition of Choukidari tax. Rama Devi also influenced Pata Mahadei ot Kujang to organise Congress activities. The involvement of Rani Bhagyabati Patamahadei of Kujanga in the Salt Satyagraha drew special attention. Thwarting the vigilance of a magistrate and the police party, Rani Patamahadei, Rama Devi and many other volunteers crossed to Kaliapata in a boat in the cover of the night. Hundreds of women following the ideal of their patriotic Rani came forward to prepare contraband salt. Sarala Devi and Malati Devi made extensive tours and drilled ideals of Satyagraha into the minds of the women folk throughout Ganjam area. About one fourth of the participants were women who willingly joined the struggle. She inspired women to stage demonstrations against foreign clothes and organized picketing before liquor shops.

Odia Women after Civil Disobedience Movement

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After the end of Salt Satyagraha from 1934 to 1942, women of Odisha also engaged themselves in various programmes of Indian National Movement. The historic 'Padayatra' of Mahatma Gandhi in Odisha began on May 1934. The responsibility for its arrangements were largely rested with the women. Gandhiji advised the women to fight against the evils of liquor, boycott of foreign cloth and untouchability. Rama Devi followed the instructions of Gandhiji. She along with her husband she established an Ashram at Bari. Gandhiji named it as 'Sevaghar'. It undertook constructive works such as promotion of Khadi, service to Harijans, providing basic education, promotion of adult education, giving medicine to sick and eradication of untouchability etc.

On the other hand, Parbati Giri and Pravabati Devi were taken to the 'Sevaqhar' by Jambubati Devi and Bhagirathi Patnaik of Barapali. The inmates Of the Ashram like Rama Devi, Godabari Devi, Sushila Devi, Tulsi Devi, Annapurna Devi, Margal Sengupta welcomed them and made them thorough in Gandhian programme. Gandhiji established 'Kasturba National Memorial Trust' and each state sent one representative to manage it. Rama Devi represented Odisha.

Role of Odia Women in the Quit India Movement

The role of the women of Odisha in the Quit India Movement was also very much significant. The political activities of the Odia women reached its zenith during the period of Quit India Moment. On the 8th August, 1942 the All India Congress Committee at the Bombay Session resolved to launch the Quit India Movement to cast a final blow against British Imperialists. Many Congress workers including Malati Chowdhury represented Odisha. The next day all the Congress leaders from various part of India who had assembled at Bombay were arrested. Malati Choudhury along with Surendranath Dwivedy escaped the police dragnet and went into hiding in order to keep up the moment active and energetic. On the same day in Cuttack and some other places of Odisha 24 leaders including Rama Devi were arrested. The Government through Notifications Nos.137 and 147 dated 9 August, 1947 declared all Congress institutions in Odisha as illegal. With much difficulties Malati Chowdhury arrived in Cuttack on 12 August, 1942 and laid the foundation of the August Revolution in Odisha. On account of the revolutionary activities and tireless efforts of women the August Revolution became very popular and energetic. The British Government followed the policy of suppressions like the arrests, convictions, lathi charge, imposition of fines, beating etc. Eminent women like Malati Choudhury, Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Annapurna Maharana, Mangala Devi, Suryamani Devi, Gunamanjari Devi, Champa Devi, Pravabati Devi, A. Laxmibai and many others contributed immensely in making the Quit India Movement a grand success. 10 www.inventivepublication.com Mail iiej2012gmail.com, Volume III, Issue-VI, June,2015. Page 20

International Inventive Multidisciplinary Journal Dr. Manas Kumar Das

Besides the active participation, the women writers also inspired the common women through their writings of to carry forward the freedom struggle in Odisha. Sarala Devi wrote poems with a view to create political, social and national awareness among the people of Odisha. In her essays like 'Utkalare Nari Samasya', 'Nari Jagat', 'Nari Dabi', 'Nari Swadhinata' she wrote for the upliftment of women. Kuntala Kumari Sabat's writings inflamed nationalism among the women of Odisha. Her famous poems included 'Anjali', 'Archana', 'Sphulinga', 'Ahwana' etc. Among other women writers of Odisha, Sita Devi Khadanga wrote a play named Mandira Prabesha which was based on the Harijan Movement of Gandhiji. Other women writers like Kalpalata Aparna Devi, Kanak Manjari Devi, Harapriya Devi enriched Odia literature by their writings which had some impact on the freedom struggle of Odisha.11

Thus, the women of Odisha had played a significant role in the freedom struggle of India. Analyzing the mode of response and participation of women in the freedom struggle, it is evident that the force which was away from the National Struggle added strength and vitality to it. The advantage of women participation was specially marked by the wave of sympathy and appreciation aroused among the common people. This inspired male compatriots to make the Movement more intensive and vigorous. The women of Odisha through their sacrifice, hard work, support to their male counterparts encouraged the common man to participate in the freedom struggle of India. They carried out the Gandhian programmes successfully in Odisha. In fine, it can be said that the contribution of the Odia women to the freedom struggle of India in Odisha was a grand success indeed.

References

1. Chandra, B., India’s Struggle for Independence , New Delhi,1989.pp184-196 2. Chandra, B., India Since Independence, New Delhi,2008, p. 641 3. Chand, T., History of Freedom Movement in India, New Delhi, 1972, p. 189. 4. Acharya, S.R., British Policy towards the Indian states, 1905-1939, London,1982, p. 45. 5. Das, S.N., Odisha Swadhinata Sangram Itihasa,Puri,1957,p.37. 6. Pradhan, A.C., History of Odisha,Bhubaneswar,2006, pp.301-335. 7. Samal, J.K., History of Modern Odisha, Calcutta,1989, pp.36-87. 8. Tripathy, S., Role of women in the History of Modern Odisha, 1900-1947, Cuttack, 1988., p.45. 9. Panda, H., History of Odisha, Cuttack,2008.pp.308-310 10. Ibid,p.309. 11. Ibid,p.310. www.inventivepublication.com Mail iiej2012gmail.com, Volume III, Issue-VI, June,2015. Page 21

International Inventive Multidisciplinary Journal Dr. Manas Kumar Das

Arnapurna Devi Kuntala Kumari Sabat

Malati Choudhury Ramadvi Choudhuri

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Prabhabati Devi

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