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INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, ARTS AND SCIENCE ISSN 2319 – 9202 An Internationally Indexed Peer Reviewed & Refereed Journal Shri Param Hans Education & Research Foundation Trust WWW.CASIRJ.COM www.SPHERT.org Published by iSaRa Solutions CASIRJ Volume 10 Issue 8 [Year - 2019] ISSN 2319 – 9202 ROLE OF JAMBUBATI PATTANAIK IN THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT OF WESTERN ODISHA Ms. Minatee Debata Lect. in History Jamla Degree College, Jamla Via- Padampur- 768049 District- Bargarh, Odisha The Western part of Odisha, extending from the Kalahandi District in the south to the Sundergarh District in the North West, which comprised of the present districts of Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh and Athmallik sdivision of Angul District has a great contribution to the Indian struggle for Independence. In Western Odisha women played a vital role in the freedom movement. The notable women leaders who stand in the fore front during the national movement were Jambobati Devi (wife of famous freedom fighter Bhagirathi Pattanaik), Prabhabati Devi (daughter of Dhanpati Dash of Bargarh), Parvati Giri (The Mother Teresa of Western Odisha), Gurubari Meher (a valiant women freedom fighter of Sonepur), Saraswati Mirdha, Rukmini devi Lath (the wife of Sri Prahallad Rai Lath of Sambalpur), Gandharvi Devi (daughter-in-law of Fakira Behera), Iia Meher (the wife of Kunja Bihari of Tukurla), Shreeyabati Devi (wife of senior freedom fighter Ghanashyam Panigrahi of Manpur, Bhaden) and many more. These women freedom fighters of western Odisha made momentous contribution to the freedom struggle by demonstrating their indomitable courage and unflinching patriotism. One of the most prominent among these freedom fighters of western odisha was Jambubati Devi. EARLY LIFE: Among the women of western Odisha Jambubati Devi has been acknowledged as the first women freedom fighter. She was born on 9th November 1886 at Binika. She had a little schooling. Having been cursed by the ruthless destiny, she was deserted and abandoned by her husband in her early age with a little son Prafulla. Then she come down to Barpali of Sambalpur district and took shelter under a philanthropist young man Mr. Bagirathi Pattanaik. Bhagirathi Babu was an enthusiastic and an active member of the Indian National Congress. As good luck bestowed her, Bagitarhi Babu got married with Jambubati Devi and accepted her son as his own. Her life took a different turn. RISE OF NATIONALISM IN JAMBUBATI Then Jambubati Devi decided to participate in the freedom movement of India. She was motivated by the ideas and works of Gandhiji and Rama Devi, Sarala Devi of Orissa who were then the leading women figures in the movement. The opportunity came on 26th January 1931, when she boldly hoisted the tricolor flag at the local market place of Barpali against the opposition of the British forces. She manifested her immense love International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 71 CASIRJ Volume 10 Issue 8 [Year - 2019] ISSN 2319 – 9202 for independence. This incident unveiled a new chapter of her revolutionary life and secured for her an important position in Sambalpur. Jambubati Devi, Bhagirathi Pattanaik and Prafulla along with other co-workers moved from door to door of every village of Sambalpur areas to spread the ideas of nationalism. They called upon the people to use Indian goods and swadesi cloth made through hand spinning and hand weaving. They raised their voice against untouchability and against the use of foreign liquors. Jambubati Devi donated all her valuable ornaments to the fighting funds of the freedom movement of India. They went to visit the places of kumbhari, Manpur, Bargarh, Remunda, Tukurla, Bhatli to enlist the support of the people. Everywhere they spoke and convinced people about the message of Gandhiji. After their arrival at Sambalpur they stayed in the house of kuldhar at Budharaja in Sambalpur. Subsequently the house was turned into an Ashram that happened to be the first congress Ashram of Sambalpur. Later on she established many women Associations and Ashrams at Balitikra, Tukurla(Bargarh) and also at Jharsuguda. JAMBUBATI AND THE SATYAGRAHA MOVEMENT For the first time Jambubati Devi participated in the Civil-dis-obedience movement and got imprisoned in Sambalpur jail. Under her leadership ten women joined the national movement of salt satyagraha in Balasore. She could be able to create patriotic feelings among women. On 2nd March 1931, a big farmer’s rally was organized at Sambalpur where in each farmer participated with a handful of rice for their sustenance and a paise for the congress organization. It was so successful that the government arrested Jambubati Devi, Bhagirathi Pattanaik, Prafulla Pattanaik and Krishna Devi but Jambubati Devi and Krishna Devi were released in the same evening. Thereafter Jambubati Devi moved to Jharsuguda and stayed at the house of Bihariram and organized the ladies along with Tulsi Devi (wife of Bihariram) to enforce prohibition. This effort of Jambubati Devi at Jharsuguda was remarkable for the large participation of Harijan women to eradicate a social evil. Jambubati was not only the leading lady of that locality who headed and organized the processions and innumerable meetings to inspire the people for the cause of the freedom of the country but she came in close contact with the important man and women leaders of Orissa like Fakir Charan Behera, Narsingh Guru and Hare Krishana Mahatap, Lakshmi Narayan Mishra, Malati Devi, Rama Devi etc. She stayed with Rama Devi in her residence at Cuttack and learnt the methods of different revolutionary activities. On 8th July 1932 second phase of Satyagraha began Bargarh at. All the satyagrahi’s were sent to Patna jail except Jambubati Devi who was put in Sambalpur jail. Gandhiji decided to suspend the Civil-dis-obedience Movement, although individual satyagraha continued to be launched in different parts of the country. In 1933 September 22, the British government arrested Jambubati Pattanaik, Bhagirathi Pattanaik and Prafulla Pattanaik while picketing before the foreign liquor shop at Marwadi Pada in International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 72 CASIRJ Volume 10 Issue 8 [Year - 2019] ISSN 2319 – 9202 Sambalpur. Bhagirathi and his son Prafulla were sent to Patna central jail and Jambubati Devi was sent to Bhagalpur central jail. In Bhagalpur jail Sarala Devi was undergoing a term of imprisonment. Jambubati Devi with Sarala Devi spent the days with good harmony in spinning and weaving khadi clothes and doing other reformatory works. HER ROLE IN BIHAR During that situation in 15, January 1934 there occurred the unprecedented disastrous earthquake in Bihar. Thousands of people died during this natural disaster. Jambubati Devi devoted herself in the service of the destitute and helpless. The Pattanaik family spent more than three months in the relief camps of Bihar. It was here they had the good fortune of becoming co-workers with Jawaharlal Nehru, M.K.Gandhi, Miraben, Jamunalal Bajaj, Bhagabati Devi and Dr Rajendra Prasad. Jambubati returned to Sambalpur from Bihar. In May 1934 Gandhi visited Orissa and on 4th May 1934 he reached Jharsuguda. The congress workers received him with a warm welcome. Jambubati accompanied Gandhji in all his meeting and assignments. She brought several Harijan women to meet Gandhi as Gandhi started Harijan Movement. JAMBUBATI AND QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT In the Quit India Movement started on 9th August 1942, Jambubati Devi took active part at Dumka in Bihar. She organized several meetings and delivered the inflammable speeches to the people to sacrifice their lives if needed. On 17th August with ‘do or die’ slogan Jambubati led procession holding a high tricolor accompanied by Prema Devi, wife of shri Krishna Prasad Saha. During Quit India Movement while working in Bihar she was arrested along with Prema Devi at Dumka. After her release from jail she got shelter in the house of Binodananda Jha with Mrs Pramila Jha, wife of Binodananda Jha. LAST DAYS OF JAMBUBATI DEVI The sad end for Jambubati came on 17th April 1943 on the lap of Mrs. Jha. She suffered a massive heart stroke and collapsed suddenly. Neither her husband nor son was present by her side on the deathbed to whom she loved most. They were still in jail. So the priest and Brahmanas of Baidyanath Dham carried her dead body to the cremation ground. One of the greatest congress leader Ayodhya Prasad Mishra of Bihar lit up the pyre. CONCLUSION The contributions of Jambubati Pattanaik and her family in the freedom struggle are priceless and immeasurable. She devoted and sacrificed her life for the upliftment of the downtrodden and the destitute. She got nothing in her personal life but left indelible foot prints for the succeeding generations. Jambubati’s life was one of the brightest examples of great sacrifice, service, and dedication for the motherland. References: 1- Satyagrahi Jambubati (odia) by Prof. Sukamani Meher. 2- Kumar Hassan, Sambalpure Swadhinata Sangram (odia), Sambalpur, 2001. International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 73 CASIRJ Volume 10 Issue 8 [Year - 2019] ISSN 2319 – 9202 3- Gartia Rabindra, Bhagirathi Pattanaik- The Freedom Fighter. 4- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/westernodisha 5- Jambubati Devi: A Versatile Genius by Dr. Kartik Charan Rout. 6- Ganeshram Nayak, Paschima Odishara Nari Swadhinata Sangrami o Anyanya Prabandha (odia),