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suggested Salt Satyagraha for garnering support Women were active in the princely states also. of the people for civil disobedience movement. After 700 women were lathi-charged in the Viramgam writing to Gandhi, she persuaded T. Prakasam to Satyagraha in May 1930. They took part in the Rajkot lead the volunteers, who designated Durgabai the Satyagraha of 1938-39 also. 'dictator' of the movement. The latter did her duty The Congress Working Committee in 1930 very well, but was arrested and put in prison. adopted a resolution regarding its "grateful tribute
Women in Bihar had leaders like Mira Devi, to the women of India for the noble part they are Mrs. Hasan Imam, Mrs. C.C. Das, Gauri Das and progressively playing in the present struggle for Vindhya Vasini Devi who worked sincerely and national freedom, and the readiness they have successfully for mobilising women to participate in increasingly shown to brave assaults, abuses, lathi the nationalist struggle. Women leaders like charges and imprisonment while carrying on the Kamladevi Chattopadhyaya, Umabai Kundapur. Congress work. Krishnabai Panjikar, Ballari Siddama and When Gandhi inaugurated his programme of Gowramma remained active in Karnataka. Individual Satyagraha in October 1940, Sucheta The civil disobedience movement in Orissa
Kripalani was one of the earliest to join. Quit India became powerful with contribution of women like
movement of August 1942 brought new vigour to Rama Devi, Kishorimani Devi, Malati Choudhary,
the freedom struggle. All the important leaders were Subhadra Devi, A. Laxmi Bai and Annapurna Devi.
arrested on 9th August at the public meeting at
Gowalia tank in Mumbai. Aruna Asaf Ali unfurled the While many women contributed to the constructive
flag, went underground and earned admiration of programme, some under the leadership of Malati
the people. She remained underground for four Choudhary started Socialist movement. Kuntala
years and published bulletins and with Dr. Lohia Kumari Sabat, a nationalist writer, appealed to
edited the Inquilab. Usha Mehta, with her three women to come out of the kitchen and join hands
colleagues, made history by operating the with the Satyagrahis.
underground radio. They called themselves "the It seemed that women were charged with
Congress Radio operating from somewhere in energy. Over 80,000 persons were arrested during
India". They gave regular news about the Congress the Salt Satyagraha of whom more than 17,000
and the freedom struggle with the messages of were women.
leaders at 7.30 p.m. from August to 13 November Taking note of the fact that not only elite women 1942, till she was arrested with her colleagues. She but women from all sections of society, peasants was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment and professional women, students and artists, at Yervada jail. These young fighters looked upon housewives and working women had spontan- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Achyut Patwardhan eously participated in the movement, Jawaharlal for guidance. Women like Sophia Khan, Prema Nehru wrote: “Here were these women, women of Kantak, Maniben, Nanavati and Rehana Tyabji were the upper or middle classes leading sheltered lives busy in spreading the nationalist ideals. in their homes, peasant women, working-class Women all over the country felt compelled to women, rich women, poor women pouring out in respond to the struggle. Kanaklata Barua in Assam their tens of thousands in defiance of government led the procession of the people and fell victim to order and police lathi,"
firing. Matangini Hazra of seventy-three years of age ઑકટોબર- ૨૦૧૮) પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવન : ગાંધી સાર્ધશતાબ્દી વિશેષાંક H -së al-Mule 403
