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Orissa Review

They faced bullets, suffered Samiti. It had the primary Participation imprisonment and bore membership of a few prominent hardship along with their male ladies from the elite class of Women of comrades to win independence. involved exclusively in the It was the national liberation literary activities of women. movement and mainly the effort This association gave of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father recognition to women’s talent District in the of the Nation which led to the and creativity. At this point of emancipation of Indian women time the Congress party, largely Freedom in the 20th Century. because of Gandhi, made Movement of As no detailed study inroads into the public mind of relating to the role of women in the State. In 1921, the first nationalist struggle has been Utkal Pradesh Congress conducted, it will be worthwhile Committee was founded under the Presidentship of Pandit Dr Dasarathi Bhuyan to undertake a comprehensive study covering political Gopabandhu Das with forty awareness and role of women thousand members. During his The nationalist movement in Orissa. tour of Orissa, in March 1921, towards the close of the 19th Gandhi addressed various century provided the necessity Under the circum- public meetings in the process; impetus and pull to draw an stances, it is useful to see he awakened the women of increasing number of women women’s political involvement Orissa who dared to defy into the political mainstream. An in the national freedom struggle convention. These women left atmosphere for such a in a historical perspective. A their houses in large numbers in breakthrough was created by thorough highlight into Orissa’s order to participate in the the activities of the social political culture would explain freedom struggle. Into the reforms and nationalists, who the extent of women’s role and Gandhian spell, fell a large raised demand for education participation in the struggle for number of women activities. and literacy among women. As independence. They participated in various the struggle for independence The emergence of activities of the freedom gained a mass character, women into political limelight struggle, such as, Satyagraha, growing participation of coincided with the non- spinning, cottage industries and women became necessary. cooperation movement of other related programmes Since then, political 1921. Labanya Mayee Devi under the aegis of the National consciousness among women daughter of famous writer and Congress. This resurgence of has shown an incessant advocate Gopal Chandra women not only influenced increase in both extent and Praharaj and wife of a individual men and women but depth. In India’s fight against distinguished Advocate also the whole family and this the British Raj women came Lokanath Bahadur of eventually created an forward in their thousands to founded a women’s association atmosphere for a new social sacrifice anything they could. at Puri named Mahila Bandhu order. In the year 1929, Orissa

18 August - 2010 Orissa Review was the last state to enfranchise lady. She studied her primary She took part in the women. This belated act served education at Brahmapur and freedom movement by to accelerate women’s after that she joined the participating “boycott Foreign emancipation. Theosophical Society at Kasi. Goods” and picketing before The emergence of the She completed her graduation the liquor shops. For her women from South Orissa in at Dayacician College at activities she was first arrested th the struggle for India’s freedom Calcutta. She studied Medicine on 18 January, 1932 and she was a sensational episode. at Vellore Medical College but was sentenced one year Their burning patriotism, her ill health could not support rigorous imprisonment with a supreme valour and gifted to be a doctor. Therefore she fine of Rs. 700/- by organizational abilities are discontinued her studies and Court. Later on she was sifted written in the letters of gold in returned to Brahmapur. She got to Vellore jail for one and half the history of Indian Freedom married to Adruti Venkateswar year. She took active part in the Movement. Rao of Rajmundry. As ill luck Quit India Movement of 1942. would have it, her husband met She was a prominent activist in It is important to note the Khadi Movement. She that even the scheduled caste a premature death within a year of marriage. Due to early distributed Khadis free of cost and scheduled tribe women to the poor people. She was an participated in the freedom demise of her husband she returned back to her parental active member of the Congress movement. In the hills of during 1930-40. She was the abode at Brahmpur plunged Ganjam district yet some tribal Vice-President of Ganjam into the freedom movement by women raised their voices by District Congress Committee the call of Mahatma Gandhi. jumping into the freedom and President of Brahmapur struggle. History hardly Giri family was hub of Town Congress. She was also recorded their great sacrifice. freedom fighters particular in an active member of the State However, this would not Brahmapur and Ganjam District Congress Committee. Her minimize the magnitude of their in general. National leaders like activities during the Quit India sacrifices for the independence Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Movement are remarkable. of their motherland. A profile of Nehru, Babu Rajendra Prasad, She was the President of Ryots women freedom fighters of Meeraben during their visit to Mahasabha of Ganjam district. undivided Ganjam district have the district used to stay at the She presided over at the Ryots been discussed below. residence of Giri. As a family Mahasabha of Ganjam district Adruti Laxmibai member Laxmibai got ample held at Kullada in 1935. India Adruti Laxmibai, sister opportunity to serve these got her Independence when she of V.V.Giri former President of leaders. She had a fair was in jail. India was born at Brahmapur knowledge of classical music. She was elected to the on 12th October, 1899. Her She sung the prayer song of Orissa Assembly without any father was Varahagiri Venkat “Jay Gandhibad Mangalam” at contest from the Brahmapur Jogesh, a leading advocate of the time of Gandhi’s visit. Their Assembly Constituency in 1937 Brahmapur and mother Smt indelible impact on Laxmibai first general election and Varahagiri Sovama was a pious made her a true freedom fighter. continued as MLA constantly

August - 2010 19 Orissa Review till 1953. Only two women leader, a freedom fighter, a secretary of the Congress cell members were elected to the social worker, reformer and a of Ganajam District. Assembly in 1937 and she was state leader. She remains as a In order to invigorate the only lady member from role model for every Indian the freedom movement, a South Orissa. She became the woman. meeting was called at Deputy Speaker of Orissa Hemalata Devi Legislative Assembly and later in 1935. The became the Speaker of the Hemalata Devi was meeting was presided over by Orissa Legislative Assembly born in the family of Kapil Das Biswanath Das. Gouri Shankar from 29.5.1946 to 20.2.1952. and Smt. Laxmi Das of and Hemalata took active part in Ganjam District in that meeting and gave She attended the on 8 August 1911. She plunged enthralled speech to make the Deputy Speaker’s national into the freedom movement freedom movement dynamism. Conference held in Kerala and when she was reading in class For their speech against the in that conference she British they were arrested and inspected the education policy seventh. She was greatly intensely. For the empower- influenced by a prominent imprisoned at the Brahmapur ment of women she introduced freedom fighter Sri Gouri jail and later on sifted to the free education to the girls in the Shankar Samant of Khallikote. Vellore jail. During the jail Orissa. For her sincere Sri Gouri Shankar Samant was period health condition of Gouri endeavour the strength of girl a Kshatryia by caste and Shankar deteriorated severely. students in the schools of Orissa Hemalata was a Brahmin. They were freed after 18 significantly improved. She was Ignoring the parochial caste months in that jail. Soon after an active member of Orissa system Hemalata married to their release the ill-health Gouri wing of “Central Welfare Gourishankar at Brahmapur in Shankar died. Notwithstanding Society”. She was also the 1934. Prominent freedom her husband's premature death President of the “Kasturaba fighters of Ganjam, Sri Dibakar Hemalata decided not to Memorial Fund” of Orissa Patnaik, Umacharan Patnaik, distance from the freedom Branch. She served as an Banamali Maharana were movement. She was in contact adviser for the “Government present in her marriage with the prominent freedom Girls High School Committee” ceremony. After marriage fighters of the state. She had a Gourishankar and Hemalata in Orissa. She was a member cordial relationship with the stayed at the residence of Rama in the State Social Welfare illustrious Raj Parivar of Devi and Malati Devi and Board and extended her Khallikote who were contributed their might for the services in various fields of committed for the formation of cause of freedom movement. welfare activities. She visited . Hemalata Ganjam, Boudh and Phulbani Influenced by the activities of took part in the movement for districts and took efforts for the notable freedom fighter the amalgamation of Oriya development of poor students. Harekrushna Mahatab, tracts into Orissa. The great She used to help the girls staying Hemalata had taken training at soul of the district died on 21 in the Jaya Mangalam Ashram. Puri Azad Sevashram. Gouri A. Laxmibai was an ideal Shanakr was appointed as the October 1998 at the age of 87.

20 August - 2010 Orissa Review

Smt. Sobhabati Panda India Movement. During this Orissa who believed in the Smt. Sobhabati Panda period he came very close to natural equality of women with was a dynamic and the ideology of Gandhi. She man. Influenced by illustrious revolutionary genius of Ganjam. took active role in the political women freedom fighters of She was a woman of courage. procession, demonstration, and Orissa.like Rama Devi, Sarala She was born in 1913 in an provoked the people to Devi, Malati Devi and Kuntala established Brahmin family of disobey the British rule and Kumari Sabat, she was a . Gandhi’s very regulations. She was again champion of women liberty. first visit to Brahmapur in arrested and released. She sought liberty for women March 1921 gave a Smt. Champa Devi not only in political sphere but tremendous impetus to also in other sphere. As a true Champa Devi was Freedom Movement in Orissa. freedom fighter she organized born in 1904 in village Dura in Sobhabati Panda along with her the women against the British the Suburban area of husband Antaryami Panda for the liberation of motherland. Brahmapur. She was an attended the first public meeting During the Quit India outstanding freedom fighter of of Gandhi in Brahmapur in Movement in 1942 she the district. She was a sufferer 1921. Gandhi’s speech had delivered an impressive speech of child marriage. The indelible impact on her mind. at Russelkonda criticizing the Very soon she affianced herself conservative Hindu society British. For her speech in the freedom movement and considered marriage as a explosive speech against the joined in Alaka Ashram of sacramental bond between the British she was arrested and Gopabandhu Choudhury at husband and the wife. It is a sent to Russelkonda jail for 6 Jagatsinghpur. She took active bond once for all and not to be months. broken at any costs. Wife is the part in the Hindustani Seva Dal Smt. Kundalata Devi training. During the Salt life-partner of the husband not Satyagraha in 1931, she could only in the temporal world but Another female organize the nearby village also in the heaven and in the protagonist of the Indian women and proceeded next birth. Therefore when the Freedom Struggle was towards Huma along with 1000 husband died, the wife had to Kundalata Devi. She was the women. They prepared Salt at live an ascetic life devoting wife of great freedom fighter of Huma violating the Salt Law herself to the soul of her the district, Sri Banchhanidi imposed by the British deceased husband. Soon after Patnaik of Gobara village of government. For the violation her marriage her husband died Ghumusar.She married to of Salt law she was arrested and she became a widow at the Banchhanidhi Patnaik in 1925. and imprisoned for 6 months. midst of her adolescence. After two years of her marriage After her release she dedicated Suffered by conjugal life she Gandhi visited to Gobara in herself to Charakha and determined to follow the life of 1927 and his address to a Harijan Movement and other a social activist. She was very mammoth gathering produced constructive programmes of much influenced by Sribatcha unprecedented enthusiasm in Mahatma Gandhi. In 1942 she Panda-an architect of Arya the mind of Kundalata Devi. took a leading role in the Quit Samaj, a social reformer of The Pradesh Congress

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Committee enrolled 39000 died broken hearted on 13th great impetus to the women folk members and collected nearly January 1948 when she heard of the district. 21000 rupees. Smt. Kundalata the news of assassination of Smt. Kishoremani Devi Devi was the only women Mahatma Gandhi. freedom fighter of district who Kishoremani Devi was Smt. Sitadevi Khadanga donated all her ornaments to an extraordinary woman the Tilaka Swaraj Fund at a Born in 1902 at Aska, freedom fighter of Ganjam meeting at Gobara. During the Sitadevi Khadanga was district. She was the wife of a Salt Satyagraha, she was in another female freedom fighter notable freedom fighter Sri charge of Udyoga Mandir at of the district. She was the Niranajan Patnaik of Aska. Brahmapur, who motivated the daughter of Harihar Panda of Influenced by her husband's women activists of the district Aska. Sri Panda was a time- nationalist activities she plunged by travelling from village to honoured Lawyer of the district into the freedom movement. village. She also dynamically and the famous leader of Oriya Gandhiji paid second visit to took part in the Quit India movement. She had not Brahmapur on 24th December Movement of 1942 and received any formal ecucation 1927 and addressed meetings participated in Seva Dal from any institution. She was at Chatrapur, Badakhemundi, Training centre. For her inspired by her husband Sri Samantarapur, Patpur, nationalistic activities she was Banchanidhi Khadanga. She Russelkonda, Gobara, Boirani, arrested and put behind the was a multifaceted personality. Purusotampur, Polasra, Kodla, bars several times. She was a poet, essayist, story and Khallikote. He emphasized Smt. Surjyamma writer, novelist, biographer, the use of Khadi , Charakha translator and dramatist. She and advised the people to give Smt Surjyamma was had penned a number of novels up foreign goods. The call of wife of prominent freedom in Oriya such as Posyaputra Gandhiji and the inspiration of fighter master Soneya of (adopted Son), Pratyabartan her husband provided a new Brahmapur. She has an (come back), Agraj (Elder turn to her life. She was very honourable place in the names Brother), She had also written much influenced by Gandhi and of the Orissan Freedom a number of dramas like joined in the Salt Satyagraha on fighters. She associated herself th in different activities of freedom Sahodar (Brother), Mandir 7 May 1930. She was active movement like the Civil Prabesh (Temple Entry), Naree in motivating hundreds of village Disobedience Movement, (Woman), Naistik (Orthodox), women of the district to take Harijan Movement, and Quit Nispati (Decision), Prachina, part in the Salt Satyagraha at India Movement. She took Pantha (Old Method), Huma. Along with hundreds of active part in picketing before Basudhara Pida (Agony of the women she collected the Salt the liquor shops and motivated Motherland), and Matruhina at Huma and violated the Salt people to boycott the foreign (Motherless). She was an Law. She was always in the goods. For her anti British active member of Ganjam vanguard of women freedom activities, she was arrested Disrtict Board and Congress fighters. She was the forefront twice and sent to jail for years Party. Her joining in the of women satyagrahis together. It is believed that she freedom movement gave a picketed before the liquor

22 August - 2010 Orissa Review shops and boycotted the in vain. Then the British sent Devi joined in that movement. foreign goods. Buckster to capture Hiramani. She was a famous woman The first attempt of Major freedom fighter. Smt. Hiramani Bisoyi Buckster was futile. Hiramani’s Role of women freedom Hiramani Bisoyi was bold fight against the British fighters of Ganjam in Social the wife of Krushna Chandra concerned them furiously. After Reconstruction Bisoyi who was the protector an elongated fight with the of Gumma fort of Parlakhmundi British, finally she was shot During Gandhi’s estate. In 1766 when the dead by Russell. Hearted by Padayatra programme in 1934, Ganjam district was given to the her death Mr Russell intoned “I women were called upon to British East India Company, have never seen such type of fight the evils of liquor, boycott the British sent Mr Kits Ford revolutionary woman. For her foreign clothes and discard to take the administration of bravery, sincerity, soberness untouchability. Gandhi’s Ganjam. But the King of she was positioned in my heart constructive programme had in Parlakhemundi, Sri Narayan as an extraordinary woman. its objectives, the training and Gajapati and the Bisoyis started She was illustrious for her education of women in the military operation against the activities as a freedom fighter fundamentals of organized British. Narayan Gajapati was in Ganjam.” activity and propaganda. Moreover, the participation defeated by the British Colonel Smt. Krushna Priya Devi Pitch but the Bisoyis of enabled men to organize social Parlakhemundi did not pay Mahuri Queen Smt. reform on a local plane. The allegiance to the British. In Krushna Priya Devi was programme included several 1978 onwards Krushna another notable freedom fighter social reform activities. of the district. She participated Chandra Bisoyi and his wife Inspired by Gandhi’s in the pre-protest movement of Hiaramani Bisoyi, in different teachings, some women 1872. She was wife of forests strategies, attacked the freedom fighters participated in deceased king Harihar Dev. British. The couple attacked the development of khadi and and imprisoned the British Her brother’s son Sri Gopi Martha and Sura Singh Martha village industries. They incessantly for a period of organized boycotting of foreign twenty years. Unfortunately, were fought against the British in support of her sister. Not clothes and picketing before spouse Krushna Chandra met only in Brahmpur town, but liquor shops. Some women a sudden death. Despite the sad also in whole district of Ganjam made an extensive tour by foot demise of her husband, there was a staunch fight against all over the district to inspire the Hiramani shouldered the the British by her leadership. women community, awaken responsibility of Guma Fort. their consciousness against She ceaselessly attacked the Smt. Apurba Devi bondage, and finally draw into British soldiers; and caused Smt. Apurba Devi was the fray of the freedom struggle. terror in them. As a result the the wife of Sri Ballav Nayak, Conclusion British Magistrate became of village Padmapur Nuagaon worried and sent George near . There was a non- The nature and Russell to incarcerate her. But paying tax movement by the background of women’s the costly effort of Russell went Khalikote Raja and Apurba participation in the Nationalist

August - 2010 23 Orissa Review

Movement in Orissa during 20th man-power could actually do constructive work during the century largely tallied with the both. Thus this contributed to non-cooperation campaign and women’s movement at the the fact that women’s these were widespread during nationalist level. Four participation was restricted to subsequent campaign. characteristics reflecting the the middle and upper classes. Gandhi’s ideology and circumstances of origin can be From the beginning, techniques inspired women to identified: (i) male directions, women’s participation was participate in public activities (ii) a concept of comple- oriented towards elite and broke down opposition to mentary sex roles, (iii) absence representation and not towards their entry into social service of a radical onslaught on mass mobilization. Gandhi’s and nationalists’ movement. participation bases of Indian ideology was very respectful to Indeed, his campaigns served culture; and (iv) orientation women and supportive to their as a training ground for many towards elite representation uplift, but this was strictly in prominent women leaders. and not mass mobilization. terms of complementary sex References: Women’s participation roles. Gandhi argued that was initiated by men and women should confine their 1. F. G. Bailey, Politics and Social operated under the leadership economic role to home Change, Orissa in 1959, Beckerly, 1961, p, 176. of man. Though there were industries. Gandhi’s activities disputes over this issue, it was did provide the impetus for the 2. Kishori Mohan Patra, Orissa generally the supportive participation of Oriya women Legislature and Freedom Struggle 1912-47, New Delhi, attitudes of men of the elite that in the nationalist movement, but ICHR, 1979, p, 132. helped women to form the legacy of male direction associations. remained, with Gandhi’s 3. Asha, Oriya Weekly, 7 April, 1930. attempt mass mobilization, no There was trend of doubt it increased the number 4. Utkal Dipika, Dated, 26 April complementary sex role in of women available for 1930. regard to women’s participation in the movement. 5. Orissa Review, Vol.XLIII, No.6, participation in the Nationalist The potential contribution of January 1987. Struggle in Orissa and the women in mobilizing support 6. Mardaraj, A Souvenir to Mark national level as well. The ideas was also important. They could the Celebration of 109th Birth of women competing with men convince their family members Anniversary of Rajbahadur in the economic sphere or of Ramchandra Mardraj Deo & and others to support Gandhian men co-operating with women Mardraj Mahotsav-2009, Campaign and communicate in the domestic sphere was Khallikote, Ganjam. the religious values essential for absent in addition, the obligation 7. Orissa Review, October 1997. Satyagraha. Thus thousands of on women’s movement women left the seclusion of their 8. Aska, Souvenir, 2008 participants to serve first their home and joined the nationalist 9. Centenary Souvenir 1984-1986, family and then the community movement. A few women High School, meant that only middle class formed associations for , p, 7. women with sufficient time and

Dr. Dasarathi Bhuyan is the Head, Department of Political Science, Bellaguntha Science College, Bellaguntha, Ganjam-761119, E-mail: [email protected].

24 August - 2010