Odisha Review August - 2013

Participation of Women in the Freedom Struggle during the Gandhian Era: A Comparative Study between Odisha and

A. Sobha Rani S.C. Padhy

Participation of women in the freedom struggle Role of Odia women in the Freedom forms an important and interesting aspect of the Movement: The Non-Cooperation History of Modern . It is of great significance Movement: because it brought mass participation for the Women were more enthusiastic and political independence of the country. On Gandhi’s active in the Non-Cooperation movement in call large number of women joined the National Odisha. During his visit to Odisha, Gandhiji Congress and acted upon the advice by attended a meeting at Binod Behari. It was participating in the Movement. Gandhi opined that attended by forty women. Gandhi made a direct women were most suited to fight with the new 1 appeal to Odia women to join in the Non- weapons of non-violence and truth. When we 2 go through the history of freedom movement we Cooperation Movement. His speech had so see that his faith in women was true. They lived much inspired the Odia women present there that up to his expectation by actively participating in in response to his appeal many of them had the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil donated their golden ornaments to the Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Fund for freedom struggle. It may be worthwhile Movement. to note that after the speech many Oriya women had decided to join the national movement. One In the present study the two states of of them was Ramadevi, the wife of Gopabandhu Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are taken into Choudhury. Ramadevi had declared her decision consideration to study the work of women to join the freedom movement and had handed freedom fighters. Present Odisha remained under over all her golden ornaments to the Mahatma four separate British units, i.e., Bengal, Bihar, for the National Fund.3 ln addition to Rama Devi, Central Provinces and Madras. Likewise Andhra the other women leaders included Sarala Devi, Pradesh till its formation as a separate State was Godabari Devi, Haimavati Devi and host of others, a part of Madras Province and the Princely State mostly hailing from advanced and well-to-do of Hyderabad. Those parts which form the present families imbued with the feelings of patriotic States of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are taken nationalism.4 into consideration for the present study. A few prominent personalities in different movements of The programme of Non-Cooperation of this period are studied from both the States. A Gandhi had negative and positive aspects. The comparison is drawn basing on the study. negative aspect of the programme consisted

16 August - 2013 Odisha Review boycott of British goods, legislative councils, minds of rural mass, particularly among the offices and educational institutions.5 The positive women folk of Ganjam.10 Educated women aspect included the promotion of swadeshi, belonging to high families came out of their homes removal of untouchability, prohibition, national and joined Congress demonstrations and in education etc. When the Movement was launched manufacture of salt. At least one thousand women in Odisha, very few women participated. Their participated in the movement from this area. participation was mainly in the programme of Kundalata Devi and Kishorimani Devi were Charkha and Khadi. imprisoned for disobeying the salt law. Kundalata The women of Cuttack organized public Devi helped Sarala Devi by donating all her golden bonfire of foreign goods at the call of Gandhiji. ornaments at Gobra meeting. She moved to The women Satyagrahis called upon the general different places of Ganjam with Sobhabati Panda public to boycott schools, colleges, law courts and Purnabasi Devi to popularise the Congress 11 and to non-cooperate with British administration ideals. Kishorimani Devi set up ‘Pragati Ashram’ in all possible manners. The women in Odisha at Berhampur for the purpose of providing training courted arrest in large numbers and filled the jails. and orientation to the young satyagrahis. She led In the town of Jharsuguda, one woman processions and addressed public Satyagrahi, Tulasi Devi was caught by the police meetings and rallies in support of the universal and arrested while influencing the women of some demand for national independence. She played a neighbouring villages to join the national significant role in spreading the message of freedom movement all over Odisha. Women movement.6 In Berhampur several brave women of Giri family including the mother of V.V. Giri, Satyagrahis helped their male counterparts when Subhadramma played their selfless role in the Non- the Satyagrahis attacked the government Salt Cooperation Movement, supporting the active godown at Huma. At Berhampur the women male members.7 satyagrahis went on a procession around the town singing patriotic songs and then condemning Thus Odia women remained at the British apathy. Thereafter another women forefront of Non-Cooperation Movement till such procession was taken around the town with V.V. time it was withdrawn by Gandhiji as a protest Giri’s mother Subbadramma, her daughter-in - against . law Saraswathi and two daughters Laxmi Bai and Civil Disobedience Movement: Sarojini to protest the sale of Toddy in the town.12 All of them were arrested for joining the Civil In Odisha the Salt Satyagraha was Disobedience Movement. launched with the commencement of the National Week on April 6, 1930.8 A noble feature of this In the district of Cuttack, the places where movement was the participation of women in large salt was made in defiance of Salt law by the number. The women picketed before the shops Satyagrahis were Chatera, Kalipat, Paradip, selling foreign goods and liquor. In Ganjam women Erasma, Kakkardia and Daradia. In the Puri leaders like Sarala Devi, Malati Devi and District Salt campaign was undertaken at several Kishorimani Devi (the wife of Niranjan Patnaik) centres like Astaranga, Chilika, Latra, etc. Kujang did extensive tours to the interiors of the district was another important centre of Salt Satyagraha enrolling volunteers and collecting funds.9 They in Odisha. The public meeting of women held at in fact drilled the ideals of Satyagraha into the Cuttack on 22nd April, 1930 under the

17 Odisha Review August - 2013 chairmanship of Mrs Kumudini Dasgupta involvement and participation of women was seen generated patriotic urge among the women to during the period of the Civil Disobedience enrol themselves as civil resisters.13 Movement. Ramadevi and Malati Devi worked with vigour and dedication for the success of the After the failure of the , movement. It received great impetus as soon as Quit India Resolution was passed by the All India Rani Bhagyabati Patamahadevi, prominent Congress Committee in Bombay. On 8th August woman of Kujanga joined the Salt Satyagraha. 1942, Indian National Congress held its session Despite the vigilance of one magistrate and the at Gwalior Tank Field in Bombay. It was attended police party Rani Patamahadevi, Rama Devi and by 250 representatives from States. Malati many other volunteers prepared contraband salt Choudhury was one among the five there. Hundreds of women following the ideal of representatives from Odisha. They returned with their patriotic Rani came forward to join them.14 Gandhiji’s message that “Our Country is Most of the prominent Congress leaders including independent from today, follow the peaceful leading women like Sarala Devi, Malati Devi and method, paralyse the Government. You yourself Rama Devi were put in the prison. Though become a leader. This is the struggle. In it there is government tried vigorously to suppress the civil no compromise.” While spreading this “Do or liberties in various ways, there was no sign of Die”, message among the people in Odisha, 24 retreat of the struggle. Besides salt, issues like Congress leaders including the gallant Rama Devi boycott of foreign clothes, no revenue campaign, were arrested who exercised effective control non-payment of Chaukidari Tax, picketing in over the public in the State.16 The Ashram at Bari liquor shops and boycott of forest department was declared illegal by the British Government. auction, peaceful mass violation of grazing and She had to undergo nearly two years of timber restrictions, change of forest laws and 17 boycott of the September 1930 Legislative imprisonment in Cuttack jail. Assembly elections were taken up to galvanise Malati Choudhury took an outstanding popular enthusiasm and mass mobilization. While role in the underground activities in the 1942 leading picketing at liquor shops and foreign Revolution. As an underground leader she guided cloths shops at Cuttack, Rama Devi and Malati the progress of the Movement at different parts Devi were beaten up with canes. But they never of Odisha. She remained a leading woman in the retaliated. Many women workers of Odisha movement. suffered police atrocities while a few thousand Shobabati Panda also dynamically took persons including 700 women were returning part in the Movement. She was arrested for her from Eram Salt centre at Balasore, the police dynamic activities. Smt. Champa Devi delivered attacked them and lathicharged several women an impressive speech at Russelkonda criticizing inflicting blows at their backs and legs. The women the Brithsh. She was arrested and sent to jail for volunteers who were distributing Congress her explosive speech against the British. Bulletins were beaten by the police. Even the girls of an orphanage in Cuttack were found to have In addition to them a host of other women distributed the Congress Bulletins like, “Bidrohi like Sunamani Devi, Susila Kanungo, Dela Devi, and Biplabi” taking great risk.15 Thus much greater Nisamani Devi, Bilasi Devi, Usha Devi,

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Shakuntala Devi, Kshetramani Devi, Uttara duty and religion. If there is a dancing girl amidst Choudhury, Godavari Devi, Mangala Devi, you, I ask you to make her life not one of shame. Prabhabati Devi, Bimala Devi, Parbati Giri, Susila Take up the spring wheel and take the few paise Devi, Champa Devi, Baralaxmi Devi, Hemalata that the work brings you, and it will bring God Sumanta, Apurba Devi, Suryamma and Timulu into your house. I ask you to discard all your fine Arhalu led the movement. Their dedication, garments and ornaments if only for the protection sacrifices and sufferings for the motherland have of these dancing girls. Take up the spinning wheel no parallel in the history of our Freedom for the sake of purity of India. I ask you to Movement.18 consider that to wear fine foreign sarees is a sin.”19 Thus the women of Odisha played their Subbamma who paid a visit to most glorious and heroic role in all phases of Vijayawada with a group of women to seek the freedom movement. blessings of Gandhi took the plunge notwithstanding the various social constraints Women participation in the Freedom Struggle prevalent in those times. She happened to be the in Andhra Pradesh: first woman of the region to participate in the Andhra Pradesh, like any other part of National Movement. She also succeeded in the country, played a significant role in the freedom motivating other women of the region to struggle. Men, women and children did their best participate in the freedom struggle. She spoke to fight for the common cause. Great leaders like powerfully as early as 1921. During the time of Duvvuru Subbamma, Durgabhai Deshmukh, the Non-Cooperation Movement she worked Sangam Lakshmi Bai, Yellapragada Sitkumari, with Ponakka Kanakamma and Unnava Ammanna Raja, Arutla Kamala Devi and others Laxmibayamma. are well known. Large number of women Another woman who was deeply participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, influenced by Gandhi was Durgabai. She attended Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India the meeting on 6 April 1921. Seeing the volunteers Movement. In the constructive programme, collecting money and other valuables for the Tilak especially in the manufacture of Khadar, women Swaraj Fund, Durgabai too climbed the dais to in Andhra did more work than men. They became offer her collection to Gandhi. Holding the little victims of repression as much as men. But they girls hands (she was eleven years old then) Gandhi braved all this with patience and heroism. asked, “Why don’t you contribute your golden Non-Cooperation Movement: bracelets too?” Durgabai readily parted with her bracelets for such a noble cause.20 Gandhi visited the East Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh during the time of the Non- To a certain extent, credit for the success Cooperation Movement. A meeting was held at of the Non-Cooperation Movement in Andhra Vijayawada in 1921. His speeches in Andhra goes to women. A recent study says that “if the proved to be a big source of inspiration for women Non-Cooperation Movement made relatively to participate in the struggle for freedom. In a more progress in Andhra than in Madras 21 speech delivered to women at Rajahmundry on Presidency, the credit goes partly to women.” 3 April 1921, Gandhi said, “You my dear sisters However in 1922, Gandhi called off the I want to warn you and to bring you to a sense of Non-Cooperation campaign, all of a sudden

19 Odisha Review August - 2013 taking all concerned by surprise. But despite the she vowed that she would work for enlightening suspension of the movement, the atmosphere in the women folk of India. She was arrested thrice the Godavari area remained charged and women during the Movement. like Subbamma continued to conduct meetings Quit India Movement: to popularise khadi and the concept of the abolition of untouchability, the two most important Gandhi’s call of ‘Do or Die’ spread the items of Gandhi’s constructive programme.22 magic amongst the people of Andhra as was the case in other parts of the country. Prominent Civil Disobedience Movement: women leaders who had already been playing Gradually the number of women significant part in the Freedom Struggle intensified participating in the Indian struggle swelled and their campaign for complete freedom. Subbamma, started playing a more diversified and militant role. an active participant of the Salt Satyagraha By the time, Civil Disobedience Movement was condemned the British apathy and tried to build launched women activists were already playing sympathy for the cause of Freedom among the bigger and more militant role. In the course of the people of Andhra Pradesh.23 movement thousands of women discarded Padmaja Naidu, daughter of Sarojini Purdah. They broke salt laws, picketed liquor Naidu, devoted herself to the cause of the nation vends and foreign goods shops. A number of like her mother. She was the joint founder of the women courted arrest and went to jail. Sarojini Indian National Congress of Hyderabad. She Naidu a women leader born in Hyderabad had spread the message of Khadi and inspired people been playing prominent role in the movement by to boycott foreign goods. She was imprisoned that time. After the arrest of Gandhi, Sarojini for taking part in the Quit India Movement.24 Naidu led the Dharsana Salt Depot, which was a Mrs. S. Amaravati Devi wife of Shri historic demonstration of the power of non-violent Nagappa, an active participant of national freedom Satyagraha. struggle, played a prominent role in the Quit India Davvuri Subbamma propagated the Movement. She was detained in jail along with ideas of freedom and commitment during the her infant son. She along with her husband offered period of Civil Disobedience Movement for which Satyagraha and courted arrest for several times.25 she was arrested and jailed. Durgabai’s patriotism Like Amaravati Devi many women was recognised in 1930 when the Salt Satyagraha members who were the wives of prominent was launched. She, with the help of two other members of AICC took active part in spreading prominent nationalists (A. K. Prakasam and the movement. Women participation may not have Desodharaka Nageswararao), organised the been as high as the male participation Movement in Madras. She was arrested and quantitatively but qualitatively their participation imprisoned for her involvement in a movement was significant in Andhra Pradesh. that had been banned. She was imprisoned during the Salt Satyagraha and was sent to Vellore Jail A Comparison of Motivational Factors where she mingled with other women prisoners. Between the two States of Odisha and To her shock, she found that many of them did Andhra Pradesh: not even know for what reason they were From the above study it is clear that the convicted. Touched by their ignorance and misery, motivational factor was high in both the States as

20 August - 2013 Odisha Review we can see the number of women Participants the socially backward classes gave way to every have swelled from one movement to another. section of the country to take part in the freedom In Odisha women from educated classes movement. This is a common phenomenon for like Rama Devi and the women of Giri family both the States. became leaders of the Movement. Kuntala Devi When we observe the socio-economic and Sarala Devi26 were poets and novelists also. background of the women participants, most of At the same time we see that there were many them are from well-to-do families and did not have women who followed them were uneducated. In any economic constraints. Subbamma from Andhra Pradesh also eminent women leaders like Andhra Pradesh was an exception to this.31 She and Durgabai Deshmukh were came from a very poor Brahmin family. Though educated.27 Sarojini Naidu is famous as a poet the leaders hailed from either middle or well-to- and writer.28 Her writings depicted the picture of do families, the followers belonged to all classes a typical Indian. But Subbamma though became even to the poorer section of the society. a powerful leader from Coastal Andhra was It must be mentioned here that in both denied of formal education.29 She was married at an early age and then widowed just after a the States the change in the social life of women decade. The little education she had afterwards is clearly visible. Women, who were confined to was meagre. Like her there were many women their homes and to the domestic duties of the who followed her in the Movement were house, have come out of their houses, participated uneducated. But the spirit of nationalism was no in bonfires, picketing hartals etc. They suffered less than the educated women of the State. the lathi charge and imprisonment along with the male participants of the movement. They were In Odisha during the Quit India not afraid of the atrocities of the British. Movement in the tribal areas of Koraput and Garhjat, uprisings were seen.30 In the same way Finally, male members of that period Alluri Sitarama Raju led a Tribal uprising against should be appreciated for encouraging the female the British in Andhra Pradesh. Though the leaders participants, whether a mother, a sister or a wife. of these movements were not women, a number The encouragement received by the women of women took part in the uprisings. A common helped them to go a long way in the national feature of both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh was movement. Though we find some cases where that there were women leaders and followers in women rebelled in the houses to take part in the the movement. Women leaders like Rama Devi, rebellion, in most cases, they received the Malati Devi, Sarala Devi from Odisha and Sarojini permission and encouragement which made their Naidu, Durgabai Deshmukh and Duvvuri way into the movement easy. Subbamma from Andhra Pradesh led the people Thus we see that though the places of in different phases of the national movement. study are different, we find very little difference in Similarly the sacrifices of women followers are the movement led by women in these areas. This noticed. reminds us the fact that geographical boundaries Religion and Caste did not become a did not bring any difference in the spirit of constraint for participation in the freedom struggle. Nationalism. Both the women of Odisha as well Gandhiji’s Harijan Movement and his support to as Andhra Pradesh are equally enthusiastic and

21 Odisha Review August - 2013 committed to bring freedom to the country. 19. , 8.4.1921. Also see CWMG Vol. XIX, Women leaders from both the places of study will p.509. be remembered with great respect for their 20. Atluri Murali, “Changing Perceptions and contribution in bringing freedom to the country. Radicalism of the National Movement in Andhra, 1922-1934”Social Scientist. Vol.16, No.8 pp.8-10. References : 21. Rajan Mohan, India’s Partition, Preludes and 1. Pratima Asthana, Women and Social Justice, legacies. P.160. Ahmedabad, 1954, p. 4. 22. Sudarsini, 16 July 1922, cited in Leela Kasturi and 2. Nibedita Mohanty, Oriya Nationalism, Quest for Vina Mazumdar, (Ed) Women and Indian a United Orissa, (, 1982) p.122. Nationalism, New Delhi, 1994. P. 113. 3. Sumitra Laha, Utkal Navajivan Mandal and its 23. Davvuri Subbamma, Stree Shakti : The Parallel Role in Socio-Economic Emancipation of Force, 2009-12. Women: A Study, M.Phil Dissertation submitted to Sambalpur University. 1987, p.31. 24. C. Sindhu, Women in the Quit India Movement, Prajnya, August 15, 2008. 4. H.K. Mahatab, Sadhanara Pathe (Oriya) Cuttack 1972, pp.120-129. 25. Ramachandra Kshirasagara, Dalit Movement in India and its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. 5. B.N. Puri ,The Indian Freedom Struggle: A Publications (New Delhi). Survey, pp. 84-85. 26. Dr. Ajay Kumar Mishra, Sarala Devi, Sahitya 6. Young India, 2 March 1930. Academy, Sanskriti Bhawan, 2004, p.91. 7. Personal Diary of G. Sivakanthamma (Freedom 27. Rama Chandra Pradhan, Raj to Swaraj: A Text fighter from Giri family). Book on Colonialism in India, p.290 8. S.N. Mishra, Salt Satyagraha in Orissa, Orissa 28. M.G. Agrawal, Freedom Fighters of India, Isha Review, October, 2012, p. 31. Books, Delhi,2008, pp.142-143. 9. Asha, 7 April, 1930. 29. Anup Taneja, Gandhi, Women and the National 10. Ibid. Movement. P.105 11. The Samaj, 25 November 1930. 30. Kasinath Misra, Tribal Women in History, Koraput, 1977, (Oriya) 12. B.K. Sarma, Role of Women in the Freedom Movement in South Orissa, ‘Some aspects of the 31. Amrita Basu (ed), Women’s Movements in the History of South Orissa. (Berhampur University, Global Era, Accessible Publishing Systems, 2010, 1997) p.45. p.233. 13. Young India, 8 May 1930. 14. Utkal Dipika, 14th June 1930. 15. Sasmita Tripathy, “Role of Oriya Women in the Civil Disobedience Movement: 1930-32”, Proceedings of the Orissa History Congress,XIX Annual Session. 9-10 September 1994, pp. 61-62. 16. Orissa Review, Vol.XVI, No.l, August 1989. 17. Balabhadra Ghadai, “Rama Devi, the Mother of A. Sobha Rani, Field Assistant, P.G. Department of the masses” Orissa Review, April, 2011. History, Berhampur University, Berhampur – 760007. 18. B.K. Sarma, Swadhinata Sangramare Utkaliya S.C. Padhy, Professor, P.G. Department of History, Nari, Berhampur, 1990, pp.100-127. Berhampur University, Berhampur – 760007.

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