Partition of Bengal 1905: Reasons, Consequences, Objectives, When the Partition was Canceled, Partition Movement, Swadeshi Movement

 

Contribution of women to the Indian independence movement

 

Contribution of women to the Indian independence movement-The history of the Indian freedom struggle would be incomplete without mentioning the contribution of women. The sacrifice made by the women of India will find a leading place in history. They fought with true spirit and indomitable courage and faced various tortures, exploitations, and hardships to bring us freedom.

When most of the male freedom fighters were in jail, women came forward and took charge of the freedom struggle. The list of great women whose names are recorded in history for their dedication and undying devotion to the service of India is a long one.

The participation of women in India's freedom struggle started in 1817. Bhima Bai Holkar fought bravely against British Colonel Malcolm and defeated him in a guerrilla war. Several women fought against the British East India Company in the 19th century, including Rani Channama of Kittur and Rani Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh; 30 years before the "First War of Independence of 1857"

The role played by women in the freedom struggle of 1857 (Great Revolt) was creditable and it also brought laurels to the leaders of the rebellion. The Rani of Ramgarh, Rani Jindan Kaur, Rani Tase Bai, Baija Bai, Chauhan Rani, and Tapaswini Maharani courageously led their troops to the battlefield.

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi whose valor and brilliant leadership set a classic example of true patriotism. Indian women who joined the national movement were from educated and liberal families as well as from rural areas and all walks of life, all castes, religions, and communities.

In the 20th century, Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba Gandhi, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, and Annie Besant are names who are still remembered for their extraordinary contribution to the field of struggle and in the political field.

Let us highlight the role of Indian women who participated in the freedom struggle against the British East India Company and the British Empire and made a great and rich contributions in various ways.

First War of Independence (1857-58)

First War of Independence (1857–58) It was the first general movement against the rule of the British East India Company. The theory of omission, the issue of cartridges filled with cow and pig fat for the Indian soldiers in the Barrackpore cantonment 'kindled a fire' and the mutiny began in Meerut. Furthermore, the introduction of the British system of education and several social reforms enraged a large section of the Indian people, soon becoming a widespread movement and a serious challenge to British rule.

As a result of this movement, the East India Company was brought under the direct rule of the British crown. Even though the British were able to crush it within a year, it was certainly a popular rebellion in which the Indian rulers, the populace, and the militia participated so enthusiastically that it came to be regarded as the first war of Indian independence. Rani Lakshmi Bai, Begum Hazrat Mahal was a great heroine of the first war of Indian independence. Lakshmi Bai showed the embodiment of patriotism, self-respect, and bravery. She was the queen of a small kingdom, but the empress of an immense empire of splendor.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of General Dyer followed the strike wave when an unarmed crowd of 10,000 Baisakhi celebrants was mercilessly attacked with over 1600 rounds of ammunition. Nevertheless, Gandhi continued to advocate cooperation with the British in December 1919, even as resistance from ordinary Indians continued.

The first six months of 1920 saw a high level of mass resistance, with at least 200 strikes involving 1.5 million workers. It was in response to this rising mass revolutionary tide that the Congress leadership was forced to confront its orthodoxy and give a more militant face to its program. Thus the "Non-violent Non-cooperation" movement was started under the leadership of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Lajpat Rai, and Motilal Nehru.

Non-cooperation movement started (in 1920)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and raised the demand for self-government and non-cooperation movement. Sarala Devi, Muthulakshmi Reddy, Sushila Nair, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Sucheta Kripalani, and Aruna Asaf Ali are some of the women who participated in the non-violent movement. Mahatma Gandhi's wife Kasturba Gandhi and women of the Nehru family Kamala Nehru, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, and Swaroop Rani also participated in the national movement. Lado Rani Zutshi and her daughters Manmohini, Shyama, and Janak led the movement in Lahore.

Civil Disobedience Dandi Salt March (1930)

 Gandhiji started the civil disobedience movement through the historic Dandi Salt March, where he broke the salt law imposed by the British government. Accompanied by a group of sixty-nine people from the ashram, Gandhi embarked on a 200-mile journey from his Sabarmati ashram to the remote village of Dandi, which is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea.

On 6 April 1930, Gandhi, accompanied by sixty-nine (69) Satyagrahis, violated the salt law by picking up a handful of salt lying on the seashore. The Civil Disobedience Movement was an important milestone in the history of Indian independence. The aim of this movement was complete disobedience to the orders of the British Government.

During this movement, it was decided that India would celebrate 26 January as Independence Day throughout the country. On 26 January 1930, meetings were held all over the country and the tricolor flag of the Congress was hoisted. The British government tried to suppress the movement and resorted to brutal firing which killed hundreds of people. Thousands of people were arrested along with Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru. But this movement spread to all four corners of the country.

Quit India Movement (1942)

In August 1942, the Quit India Movement was launched. "I want freedom immediately, before dawn tonight if it can. We will free India or die in the attempt, we will not live to continue our slavery", declared the Mahatma, as That the British had resorted to cruelty. Repression against non-violent Satyagrahis The Quit India resolution taken against the British directly addressed women as "disciplined soldiers of Indian independence", essential to keep the flame of war going.

Usha Mehta, a committed patriot set up a radio transmitter called "Voice of Freedom" to spread the "mantra" of the freedom war. News of protests and arrests, the actions of young nationalists, and Gandhi's famous "do or die" message to the Quit India Movement were disseminated among the public. Usha Mehta and her brother continued with their work of broadcasting till their arrest.

These actions proved that it was only through widespread agitation that the British could maintain their empire at a heavy cost.

Early 19th century

When the freedom struggle was in full swing in the early 19th century, women of all castes and classes took command to be equally responsible and dedicated to the national cause. While men of stature, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Chandrashekhar Azad emerged as leaders in their own right, women stalwarts also supported them step by step. In fact, there is no doubt that women freedom fighters have made a significant contribution to the freedom movement and in many ways, the synergistic interaction between the two has been an important milestone in the attainment of Indian independence.

Contribution of women to the Indian independence movement

Sarojini Naidu

 

Sarojini Naidu, also known as the Nightingale of India, was a notable poet and writer. She traveled across India from 1915 to 1918, delivering lectures on social welfare, women's empowerment, and nationalism. She has also made the women of India aware and brought them from the kitchen to work and fight for the country. She also contributed to the establishment of the Women's India Association (WIA) in 1917 and founded it. She was the president and an outstanding leader and leader on the front lines in the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Salt Satyagraha Movement.

Annie Besant

 

Annie Besant was a notable British theosophist and reformer and supporter of Indian independence. She became interested in Theosophy, a religious movement formed in 1875 by the Hindu concepts of karma and rebirth. Besant was a member and later a leader of the Theosophical Society, spreading its beliefs around the world, especially in India.

Besant visited India initially in 1893 and later settled there participating in the nationalist struggle in India. In 1916, she founded the Indian Home Rule League and became its president. She was also a prominent member of the Indian National Congress. A social reformer, labor organizer, and strike leader, she was also actively involved in establishing schools and colleges to support educational activities.

Madam Cama

 

Madam Cama or Bhikaji Cama was an ardent freedom fighter who contributed greatly to the early years of the Indian fight for independence and campaigned for the role of women in society. She has drawn attention to the Indian struggle as an ardent nationalist. Although she was exiled for 35 years, her quest for liberation did not give up.

On August 22, 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama became the first woman to hoist the Indian flag on foreign soil in Stuttgart, Germany. She recounted the horrific effects of the famine that had ravaged the Indian subcontinent while demanding human rights, equality, and autonomy from Great Britain.

Kamala Nehru

 

Kamala Nehru joined the country's fight for independence in 1921 with the Non-Cooperation Movement. Once known as a quiet person, she emerged as a strong woman and broke all stereotypes in the Indian freedom struggle by uniting with her husband in the movement. She launched a major protest, along with other women pioneers, against shops selling liquor and foreign cloth in Allahabad.

When her husband Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned by the British for delivering a speech deemed 'seditious', she went to his place to deliver it. Although her husband had been jailed months earlier, Kamala Nehru continued her fight for independence and set up a dispensary for wounded warriors at Nehru's mansion—Swaraj Bhawan. Along with other women volunteers, Durgabai and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, she also campaigned for non-payment of taxes.

Vijay Lakshmi Pandit

 

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the first woman to become the President of the United Nations General Assembly, had an illustrious career spanning decades. She was among the few to revolutionize the role of women in the national building as a campaigner, minister, ambassador, and diplomat, which was then generally regarded as a male pursuit.

During the British period, she was one of the first women cabinet ministers who called for the Indian Constituent Assembly to frame the constitution. When the resolution approved by the United Provinces Congress was introduced in 1937, she did not mince words and declared the Government of India Act of 1935 as "wholly unsatisfactory". She was arrested and imprisoned thrice by the British in connection with the civil disobedience campaigns of 1932–1933, 1940, and 1942–1943.

Aruna Asif Ali

 

Aruna Asaf Ali played an important role in the Quit India Movement, hoisting the flag in Bombay to mark the beginning of the movement. She edited Inquilab, the monthly magazine of the Indian National Congress, and was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award. During the Salt Satyagraha, Aruna Asaf Ali participated in several non-violent riots. For this, the colonial authorities promptly arrested her.

 In 1931, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact guaranteed that all persons detained during the Salt Satyagraha would be released. However, Aruna Asaf Ali was not involved in this. Only vigorous opposition to her release by other women independence activists and Mahatma Gandhi helped her case. She was not involved in politics when she was released but became an active member of the underground movement by late 1942.

Kalpana Dutta

 

Kalpana Dutta joined Surya Sen's Republican Indian Army in 1931, which had been engaged in the Chittagong attack a year earlier. She used to make bombs for the revolutionaries and worked as a courier agent. She had the duty of attacking a European club in Chittagong in the same year, which also included Pritilata Wadedar. However, a week before the raid, Kalpana was detained during a reception in the area. After being released on bail, she went underground.

However, in 1933, Kalpana was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mahatma Gandhi met him in jail amid public protest. Kalpana was released from prison after six years. Kalpana devoted herself to relief efforts after her release from prison during the Bengal famine and the Partition of Bengal in 1943.

In 1940 she joined the Communist Party of India and three years later married PC Joshi, a prominent party leader. She died at the age of 81 in Kolkata. The principles of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had a great influence on him.

Kasturba Gandhi

 

Kasturba Gandhi worked with Mahatma Gandhi throughout her life and was a leader of the Women's Satyagraha. She always helped her husband in almost all his activities. A major difficulty for Kasturba was her deteriorating health. In Borsad, Gujarat, she nevertheless participated in the Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) campaign.

Over the years, Kasturba Gandhi became a part of the Indian independence movement and was involved in civil disobedience campaigns and demonstrations. Women all over India looked to Kasturba for inspiration and regularly asked her to organize marches and protests. Kasturba was arrested again in 1942 for participating in the Quit India Movement, along with Gandhi and other freedom fighters. The inspiring champion breathed her last at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune, where she was imprisoned after a life of struggle and protest.

Usha Mehta

Usha Mehta, who participated in the 'Simon Go Back' movement as a child, realized that her true calling was her nationalist spirit and broadcasting for Congress Radio during the Quit India Movement. Usha Mehta told her father that education had to wait and left her home to help the freedom movement. For a fortnight no knowledge of his whereabouts was available.

It seems that the British were able to pacify the Quit India campaign, as over 100,000 protesters were detained, or went into hiding along with important leaders. Now a secret radio station was revived by Usha. Apart from her associates (the owner of Chicago Radio, the person who supplied the equipment and the technicians), Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar, and Nanka Motwani, messages from Gandhi and other prominent leaders were broadcast here. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyutarao Patwardhan, and Purushottam Trikamdas delivered interesting lectures, while national songs were also heard at the station.

 

When the British movement suffered a setback and vernacular newspapers were once again banned, the soundwaves of this underground radio connected people, gave them hope and strength, and encouraged them to continue protesting.

The list could go on and on, as one woman after another left an individual as well as a collective mark on the freedom movement. Sucheta Kriplani, founder of the All India Mahila Congress, Raj Kumari Gupta, who supplied revolvers to the Kakori operation, Abadi Bano Begum, who inspired the mob in Lucknow from behind her burqa, Lakshmi Sehgal, chief of the Rani Jhansi Regiment under Subhash Chandra Bose, Kamaladevi who actively participated in the anti-corporation movement, Salt Satyagraha as well as was an eminent theater personality and promoted native handicrafts and arts, Kanaklata Baruah who was shot while leading a procession of the Indian national flag, Parvati Giri who worked dedicatedly for the welfare of the public Orphan, Matangini Hazra who was shot thrice but continued to march with the National Congress flag chanting Vande Mataram and many other women with patience, dedication, and dignity Was a woman.

However, as a shining star in the freedom struggle, there were many anonymous women who contributed to the movement in their own way. The Swadeshi movement probably had the largest number of women who protested against foreign products. When the men were arrested the women stepped in and completed and completed their unfinished business.

Countless women gave their lives at Jallianwala Bagh, countless women who silently wiped away tears of pride at the sacrifice of their lives by the men in their families – as messengers, as supporters, as wives and mothers, and as leaders Women were integral parts as a part of the freedom movement.

Our country needs to remember that without women our freedom struggle would not have been the same. Alas, it is not just memory and names that history teaches us. It's the way forward, respect earned, and sheer belief that women are equally capable of standing up for themselves, demanding freedom, and being willing to pay any price for it.