Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

The Indian Freedom Movement is a landmark fighters were not only in the history of India but also in the history in prison, the of Asia. It has set a unique example to the posterity women of and by its techniques and methods, has served India came as an eye opener to many countries of South Asia forward and in their endeavour towards the achievement of took charge freedom. Though initially it started with the elites of the and urban educated people endowed with struggle. The affluence and prosperity, gradually it became a history of mass movement encompassing the women as well I n d i a n as the poor and the downtrodden. The Indian Freedom Freedom Movement became a true mass Struggle, in movement only after the participation of women fact, would be in it. The women of India played a significant role incomplete Kuntala Kumari Sabat in it and shouldered critical responsibilities. They without

Role of Odia Women in the Freedom Movement of India

Sunita Panigrahy

broke the age-old traditions of confining mentioning the contribution and role of women. themselves into the four walls of their homes and Odihsa, its people and particularly the women household activities; they held public meetings, have played a significant role in the history of Indian organized picketing of shops, selling foreign Freedom Movement. The services, sufferings and alcohol and articles, sold Indian khadi and sacrifices rendered by the Odia women in the dedicatedly took part in the national movement. Indian National Movement forms a significant They bravely faced the baton of the police and aspect to be studied in the historical perspective. went behind the iron bars for the liberation of In the present paper, a sincere endeavour has been their motherland. They fought with true spirit and made to trace out and analyze the role and formidable undaunted courage and faced various contribution of Odia women in the Freedom tortures, exploitations and unbearable hardship. Movement of India. The sacrifice made by them will occupy the foremost place. In course of the national The women of India contributed movement, when most of the male freedom significantly to the freedom struggle of India. The

AUGUST - 2018 33 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review first notable woman whose cooperation Movement, Civil heroism and superb leadership Disobedience Movement and ignited the Indian women and laid the Quit India Movement by an outstanding example of true demonstrating their indomitable patriotism for the noble cause of courage and unflinching India’s independence was Rani patriotism. Though the Odia Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi. She is society is considered a remembered in the Indian minds conservative society, its as a symbol of bravery, women, with the passage of patriotism, self-respect, time and under varied perseverance, generosity, and circumstances, took a very resistance to the British rule. active role in the annals of Subsequently many Indian India’s liberation struggle women jumped into the national Sarala Devi against the British Raj with high movement in spite of numerous sense of emancipation and restrictions and hindrances and played significant participation.1 Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, role in the India’s struggle for independence. Annapurna Devi, Malati Chouhdury, Kuntala Some of the notable women leaders who Kumari Sabata, Kundalata Devi, Kishorimoni dedicated and sacrificed their family life for the Devi , Sailabala Das, Avanti Devi, Pratibha Kar, sake of the country's independence were Suprabha Kar, Sukhalata Rao, Sudhanshubala Kasturba Gandhi (1869-1944), Sarojini Naidu Hazra, Nirmala Devi, Sundaramani Parija, (1879-1949), Kamala Nehru (1899-1936), Haimavati Devi, Haramani Kanungo, Rasamani Vijaylakshmi Pandit (1900-1990), Annie Besant Devi, Radhamani Devi, Parvati Giri etc., are some (1847-1933), Madam Cama (1861-1936), of the prominent women freedom fighters of Aruna Asaf Ali (1909-1996), Usha Mehta (1920- Odisha. Pari Bewa, an ordinary woman who 2000) etc. Some of the women leaders not only faced the police bullet at Eram is an example of belonged to educated and liberal families but also the participation of common women in the national were from all walks of life irrespective of their struggle in Odisha. castes, religions, communities etc. Their participation, however, was not smooth sailing; The growth of political consciousness they faced various tortures, exploitations and among the Odia women was not deep and hardships to earn us our freedom that we are widespread as among men. It so happened enjoying today. because of intense conservative nature of the Odia society and slow progress of women’s education. Odisha, like some other parts of India, However, the factors that created political played very significant role in this struggle. The consciousness and awakening among the Odia Odia women were not lagging behind others; they women were the spread of modern education, had made momentous contribution and showed impact of socio-religious reform movements, their might in every step of the National Movement growth and role of press and literature, role of including the Gandhian Movements like the Non- the formation of associations and especially the

34 AUGUST - 2018 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 influence of Mahatma Gandhi and the selfless door for women to get integrated to the National devotion of Gopabandhu Das. Being influenced Liberation Struggle. and inspired by these developments, many Odia Non-Cooperation Movement and the Odia women came forward to take active part in the Women Indian National Movement.2 The political activities which were going on in different parts of India The Odia women for the first time took and that of Odisha also encouraged and inspired an active role in the Non-Cooperation Movement the Odia women to take active role in India’s of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s dynamic and struggle for Independence. It is found that during daring leadership aroused self-reliance and self the First World War the confidence amongst the women were appealing to Odia women who came the Odia youth to join the out of their secluded life to army in order to serve the join and took active part motherland.3 The anti- in the National Movement partition of Bengal despite opposition from movement or the their family members. Swadeshi Movement and Gandhiji visited Odisha for rd the activities of Utkal the first time on 23 Union Conference March 1921and first attracted the attention of reached at Cuttack city. On that day before the patriotic Odia women addressing a public to participate in the meeting in the city, he Freedom Struggle. spoke to a small gathering Labanya Devi, the wife of Odia women at Vinod of Lokanath Bahadur (an Vihari. This gathering was advocate) of Puri, the first public meeting founded a women’s Rama Devi Odia women had ever association at Puri called attended and this was also Mahila Bandhu Samiti the first occasion where Gandhiji addressed them in which few prominent Odia women from the separately. The Odia women for the first time elite classes became its primary members. This experienced such type of meeting where a great association, though exclusively involved in literary leader like Gandhiji gave them so much of activities gave recognition to the talent and importance, which inspired them tremendously to creativity of Odia women.4 The real political participate in the National Movement. The participation of the Odia women in the Freedom prominent Odia women who were present in the movement, however, began with the visit of meeting were Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Sarojini Mahatma Gandhi in 1921, during the course of Devi, Haimabati Devi and many others to name. the Non-Cooperation Movement. It can be said It was the first political conference of the Odia that the visit of Gandhiji to Odisha opened the women. Here Gandhiji made a direct appeal to

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Odia women to join the Non-Cooperation Kumari Sabat, a Movement. He discussed about the causes of revolutionary poet backwardness and low status of women in the par excellence society. His address had so much inspired the challenged the Odia women that in response to his appeal many British hegemony of them had donated their gold ornaments to the through her poetic Tilak Swaraj Fund to be utilized in India’s works like Anjali, struggle for freedom.5 Being influenced by Gandhi Archana, Awahan ji many Odia women were determined to join the and Sphulinga, National Movement. One such prominent woman arousing national was Rama Devi, the wife of Gopabandhu consciousness and Choudhury who declared her decision to join the patriotism. Through Freedom Movement. She, with patriotic spirit, her works, she Prabhabati Devi handed over all her gold ornaments to Mahatma raised her voice Gandhi for the cause of nation. Rama Devi was against the injustice, inequality and exploitation followed by other Odia women who also had followed by the British Government. In fact, her given all their gold belongings to the Swaraj Fund. powerful writings inflamed nationalism among the Women were advised on how to lead the Odia women.7 movement against the British Raj and received training on how to prepare khadi. Not only in Odisha, the Odia women also participated in different sessions of the Indian On 27 March 1921, Gandhiji addressed National Congress to equip them with the another women’s meeting at Puri, the seat of Lord advanced knowledge and methodologies. Rama Jagannath.6 This meeting of Gandhiji was a turning Devi and Hiramani Devi, the mother of Niranjana point in the participation of Odia women in the Patnaik, attended the Gaya Session of the Indian Freedom struggle of India. Here, on his arrival he National Congress in 1922. In December 1928, was greeted by a large crowd of men and women the Annual session of the Indian national Congress amidst sounds of conch shells and hulahuli by was held at Calcutta. Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, women. The women, by the inspiration of Gandhi, Sarojini Choudhury, Janhavi Devi, Kokila Devi resorted to various activities against the British and Rasamani Devi participated in this session. rule. They organized picketing before the shops In March 1931, the annual session of the Congress selling foreign clothes and foreign liquor. Hence, was held at Karachi where fourteen women the Non-Cooperation Movement became quite delegates from Odisha were also present. active and popular by the active participation of women by the inspiration of Gandhiji. The use of Civil Disobedience Movement and the Odia charkha became very popular with women. Women However, these Odia women initially participated The women of Odisha had actively in positive programmes like charkha and khadi participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement etc. Sarala Devi also played an active role during of Gandhiji launched in 1930. In 1929, at the the Non-Cooperation Movement. Kuntala Lahore session, the Indian National Congress

36 AUGUST - 2018 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 passed the resolution for the attainment of purna Gandhiji’s satyagraha movement and appealed swaraj and to achieve this goal, Mahatma Gandhi to boycott the foreign goods.8 Rama Devi along started the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 with other women satyagrahis reached Inchudi in the shape of salt satyagraha. The Odia women and inspired the women of other villages like were very active in this movement and they played Srijang, Rasalpur, Bardhanpur, Bhimpur, Tundra, quite remarkable role in it. The freedom fighters Kuanrpur, Ratai, Boita, Parikhi, Kherang, of Odisha, led by Gopabandhu Choudhury who Mandari etc. to manufacture the salt breaking the started their march from Cuttack on 6 March British law. From Inchudi, Rama Devi went to 1930, selected a place named Srijang and persuaded the Inchudi on the Balasore coast women of that village to come for breaking the salt law of the forward to manufacture the British government. The salt. As a result, around 1500 women of Odisha actively women gathered there to see supported this Salt the novel endeavour of Satyagraha movement breaking the salt law. Sixty declared by Gandhiji and women along with Rama Devi participated in the movement broke the salt law at Srijang led by Gopabandhu which gave moral boosting to Choudhury. They held a the ladies of the locality. Then meeting in the house of the women of the locality Gopabandhu Coudhury and along with other satyagrahis chalked out the programmes manufactured salt at and methods to be undertaken Balasore. Meanwhile, a in course of the satyagraha Satyagraha Committee was march to Inchudi. It was here, formed at Sambalpur, which Malati Choudhury at the end of the meeting that dispatched four batches of Rama Devi and Malati Choudhury decorated all women satyagrahis to different parts of coastal the satyagrahis with sandal wood paste. Some Odisha to help the salt satyagrahis. Therefore, women here also gave their gold bangles and other the women of Odisha played a very significant ornaments to raise the fund for the cause of the role in leading the salt satyagraha movement in nation. The participation of women in this Odisha during the Civil Disobedience Movement. satyagraha, in fact galvanized the salt satyagraha and made it more effective. On 18th With the decline and end of the Civil April, Rama Devi and Malati Devi reached at Disobedience Movement, their activities did not Balasore and organized a meeting there where die or suppress. Even after the Civil Disobedience Rama Devi addressed the women volunteers and Movement Rama Devi, Malati Devi, Kokila Devi made them conscious about their duties and along with some male satyagrahis like Surendra responsibilities in the society as well as the Patnaik came to Srijang village of Balasore district oppression of the British rule in India. She urged to boost up the morale of the people of that area the women to break the salt law in support of the in the abolition of the chaukidari tax. Rama Devi

AUGUST - 2018 37 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review influenced Bhagyabati Pata Mahadei of Kujang of medicines to the sick etc., which made Rama to organize Congress activities. Under her Devi very popular among the people. Parbati Giri leadership demonstrations against foreign clothes and Pravabati Devi enthusiastically joined this and picketing before liquor shops were organized. sevaghar to render service to the humanity and In their endeavour, however, they had faced many they were gladly welcomed by the inmates like hardships and were subjected to harassment and Rama Devi, Sushila Devi, Tulsi Devi, Annapurna imprisonments. Devi, Mangala Sengupta etc, who also apprised them thoroughly about the programmes of Gandhi The women freedom fighters of Odisha ji. Rama Devi represented Odisha in the Kasturba also were active in constructive programmmes of National Memorial Trust founded by Mahatma Gandhiji; from 1934, the year of the Civil Gandhi, which had the provision that each state Disobedience until 1942, the beginning of the Quit should send one India Movement, the women representative to manage it.9 freedom fighters of Odisha remained busy in Quit India Movement and organizational works like the Odia Women popularization of khadi, promotion of national The women of education etc. They had given Odisha took active part in the 10 emphasis on the abolition of Quit India Movement. untouchability and worked Many Congress workers for the upliftment of harijans. including Malati Choudhury When Gandhi started historic represented Odisha in this padayatra in Odisha in 1934, movement. Malati Choudhury the responsibility for its was one among five arrangement largely rested representatives from Odisha with the women. Gandhiji, in who participated in the session course of his sojourn in of the Indian National Odisha, advised the women Congress held at Gwalior to fight against the evils of Annapurna Maharana Tank Field in Bombay on 8 liquor, boycott of foreign August 1942. On the same cloth and foreign goods and to try for the abolition day Rama Devi, a pioneer stalwart of the national of untouchability. Rama Devi, inspired by Gandhiji, movement in Odisha was arrested while she was along with her husband established an Ashram at spreading the message “do or die” among the Bari, which was named by Gandhiji as sevaghar. people of Odisha at Cuttack. The British The sevaghar, under the leadership and Government declared her Ashram at Bari illegal. supervision of Rama Devi, undertook various Rama Devi had to undergo nearly two years of constructive works such as promotion of khadi, imprisonment in Cuttack jail. Malati Choudhury introduction of basic education, service to the along with freedom fighter Surendra Nath Dwivedi harijans, eradication of untouchability, distribution escaped the police dragnet and went into hiding

38 AUGUST - 2018 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 in order to keep up the movement active and Lakshmi Devi and many others contributed energetic.11 With much difficulty she arrived at tremendously in making the Quit India Movement Cuttack on 12th August 1942 and laid down the a grand success in Odisha. It was for their foundation of the August Revolution or Quit India revolutionary activities and tireless efforst the Quit Movement in Odisha. Nandini Devi, then a student India Movement gathered momentum in Odisha. leader of the Ravenshaw College had also an active participation in the Quit India Movement Some prominent Odia women writers in Odisha.12 As a result, on account of also stimulated the women of Odisha to render revolutionary activities and tireless efforts of their support in the National Movement in Odisha. Sarala Devi through her poems created political, women volunteers, the August Revolution social and national awareness among the people gathered momentum in Odisha. of Odisha. She urged for the upliftment of Odia Malati Choudhury played an outstanding women through her writings like Utkalare Nari role in the underground activities in the August Samasya, Nari Jagata, Nari Dabi etc. Sita Devi Revolution of 1942. She guided and handled the Kadanga wrote a play named Mandira Prabesh, progress of underground movement in different which was based on the Harijana Movement of parts of Odisha. To suppress and vanquish the Gandhi ji.13 After the Quit India Movement, until Quit India Movement and the underground the independence of India, a large number of Odia activities of the women, the British Government women participated and contributed continuously followed a repressive policy by arresting and for the success of the Indian Freedom Movement. imprisoning the Congress leaders. Through Even after the attainment of Independence women Notification Nos. 137 and 147, dated 9 August like Rama Devi, Malati Devi, Sunamani Davi and 1942 the Government declared all the Congress Annapurna Maharana joined the Sarvodaya institutions in Odisha as illegal. The Government Movement started by Vinova Bhave. The arrested Rama Devi, Parvati Devi and Parvati Giri contribution of Odia women to the Freedom among many others. When Annapurna Maharana Movement of India, in fact, constituted an was delivering a fiery speech at Kaipadar of the unforgotten chapter in the history of India’s modern Khordha district, the police fired at the Struggle for Independence. gathering mob. The women workers boldly faced Conclusion the torture and attack of the British Government along with their male counterparts. They dared To conclude, we can say that India arrests, convictions, lathi charges, imposition of achieved her independence on 15 August 1947 fines, beating etc. In spite of British atrocities and after a century of revolutions, struggle, blood ruthless punishments, the women Congress shedding, satyagrahas and sacrifices. The workers continued their effort in the national women of Odisha, along with the men folk, not struggle. In a nut shell, we can say that the brave only fought shoulder to shoulder but also women of Odisha like Rama Devi, Malati contributed significantly in India’s struggle for Choudhury, Sarala Devi, Annapurna Maharana, independence. Their passionate and fiery Mangala Devi, Suryamani Devi, Guna Manjari patriotism, exalted courage, gifted heroism, Devi, Champa Devi, Prabhabati Devi, Sita Devi, supreme organizational abilities and capacity of

AUGUST - 2018 39 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review raising the movement to the success immortalized 3. Ibid, p.76. their name in golden letters in the annals of the 4. Balabhadra Ghadai, ‘Participation of Oriya Women Indian Freedom Movement. They fought the in the Indian Freedom Movement’, Orissa Review, movement with true spirit, unafraid courage, August 2004, p.16. utmost dedication and sincerity and faced various exploitations, tortures and hardships to achieve 5. Janmejaya Choudhury, ‘Oriya Women in Gandhian Movement’, Odisha Review, August the cherished goal, i.e. freedom. They participated 2007, p.26. in all aspects and phases of National Movement and carried out the constructive programmmes 6. Ibid, p-27. of Gandhi Ji. Though initially the women in Odisha 7. Harihar Panda, “History of Odisha”, Cuttack, 1997, belonged to elite and educated families, with the p.308. passage of time they came from the lower strata irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. They 8. Namita Dixit, op.cit, p.3. held public meetings, organized picketing of shops 9. S.C. Padhy and A Sobha Rani, ‘Participation of selling foreign alcohol and articles, sold khadi, Women in the Freedom Struggle during the promoted national education and boldly faced Gandhian Era: A Comparative Study between police atrocities and torture for the freedom of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh”, Odisha Review, their motherland. The participation of Odia August, 2013, pp.16-18. women, in fact, not only provided impetus to the 10. B.C.Rath, Quit India Movement in Orissa, Cuttack, National Movement in Odisha but also gave a 1994, pp.85-88. new turn in its progress and success. Their selfless 11. Balabhadra Ghadei, op.cit, p39. sacrifice will encourage the posterity for all times to come. For all their activities and contributions, 12. B.C. Rath, op.cit, pp.85-88. they deserve a special place in the saga of Indian 13. Harihar Panda, op.cit.p-309; Tara Chand, “History Freedom Struggle. The in-depth research, of Freedom Movement in India”, New Delhi, 1972, however, is yet to be undertaken to explore and pp.189-190. unveil their invaluable contribution to the Freedom Movement of India.

References : 1. Namita Dixit “Women of Odisha in Freedom Movement”, Cuttack, 2011, p.1.

2. Sasmita Tripathy, Role of Women in the History of Modern Orissa, 1900-1947, Cuttack: Binode Sunita Panigrahy, Research Scholar, Department of Bihari, 1998, p.67. History, Punjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh.

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