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people to action.... Women could be found all over sheltered life to participate in the non-violent the city, sitting outside the liquor shops and foreign struggle and to bear the brunt of the police lathis. cloth shops, plying their little 'spinning wheels' called Kamala Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru's wife, displayed taklis, silently warning every Indian that he must not heroic courage and activity in spite of her frail health. buy from that shop.... Many of the women had never Parvati Devi- Lala Lajpatrai's daughter, Lado taken any part in public life before". Sarojini Naidu Rani Zutshithe wife of Motilal Nehru's nephew, and was nominated as the leader of the raid on the her three daughters-Manmohini, Shyama and Dharasana salt works. She directed the protest that Janaki - led the movement in Lahore. Manmohini began on 15th May 1930, was arrested the same was active with the nationalist activities of the day and released. On May 21st she led the second students. As a protest against the death sentence batch of raiders, was arrested and sentenced for a to Bhagat Singh and his comrades, she organised year in prison. Her example inspired many women. successful picketing at three colleges in Lahore.
The contribution of women from Maharashtra In Delhi, Satyavati Devi, the grand daughter of has remained notable. Pandita Ramabai and Swami Shraddhananda, was one of the prominent Kashibai Kanetkar were amongst the first women leaders. She asked women to join the struggle to to attend the Congress session. Ramabai Ranade liberate the motherland. She became very sick in had played an important part in the suffragette the prison, but continued the work throughout the movement. Yesu Savarkar was active in 1930s. Women's demonstrations in Delhi were Atmanishtha Yuvati Sangh in Nasik. Laxmibai Thuse powerful and inspired many men to join the freedom was involved with Home Rule movement in Pune. struggle. Avantikabai Gokhale, Gandhi's disciple, was called
Bengal was vibrant with activities initiated by 'Sarojini of Maharashtra' by Tilak. Padmavati
women. In Calcutta women's organisations like Nari Harrolikar (Satyabhama Kuvalekar) took interest in
Satyagraha Committee and Rashtriya Mahila organising women and spreading Khadi. Janakibai
Sangh broke the salt law. Apte, Premabai Kantak, Malinibai Sukhtankar,
Madras also displayed political involvement of Godavari Parulekar, Anutai Bhagwat, Leelatai and women, though not so intense as in Bengal or Annapurna Deshmukh worked tirelessly for the
Bombay. S. Ambujammal was a follower of nation. Women like Kasturba, Sarladevi Sarabhai, Gandhi's ideology. In 1928, she decided to form Mridula Sarabhai, Indumati Sheth, Mithuben Petit, the Women's Swadeshi League. They took the Nanduben Kanuga and Maniben Patel emerged as Swadeshi vow, and spread the message of Khadi. leaders from Gujarat. And there were many women Ambuiammal was the president of the organisation like Gangaben Vaidya who translated Gandhian
with Smt. Jamammal as treasurer. Krishnabai Rao ideals in life.
organised the Desh Sevikas under the aegis of the The response of women from places like Swadeshi League. They picketed at shops selling Allahabad, Lucknow, Delhi and Lahore was foreign cloth and propagated values of Swadeshi. unprecedented. Leadership came from the elite Rukmani Lakshmipathy was with C. Rajagopalafamilies, but the followers were from all sections. chari in his march to Vedaranyam to break salt laws Women from the Nehru family were in the forefront. in 1931. She was arrested and became the first Swarup Rani Nehru, Motilal Nehru's wife and woman political prisoner in Vellore women's jail. Jawaharlal Nehru's mother, came out from the Durgabai showed her potential as leader when she (૧૦૨) સત્ય-અહિંસા-અપરિગ્રહ) પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવન : ગાંધી સાર્ધશતાબ્દી વિશેષાંક (ઑકટોબર- ૨૦૧૮)
