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Congress at the time of its establishment on 28th ods. Initially Gandhi did not ask women to join the December 1885, its membership was open for Satyagraha, but later on agreed to do so under women. Educated women started taking part in the Kasturba's pressure. Indian women felt insulted by activities of the Congress, but the pace of this the judgement delivered by Justice Searle of the participation was rather slow. When the Congress Cape town Supreme Court declaring only those adopted the programme of boycott, Swadeshi and marriages legal, which were celebrated according national education between 1905 and 1915, women to Christian rights and registered by the Registrar contributed a lot in popularising this programme. of Marriages. Gandhi sent a group of sixteen, inHome Rule movement also attracted women. Ac- cluding Kasturba, from Phoenix settlement in Natal cording to Annie Besant, the strength of the Home to the Transvaal. After a few days a batch of eleven Rule movement was rendered ten-fold greater by women from Tolstoy Farm in the Transvaal crossed the adhesion to it of large number of women, who into Natal without permits and were arrested. There brought to its helping the uncalculating heroism, the were 127 women among the coal miners who endurance, and self-sacrifice of the feminine nature. marched to Charlestown. The women, who had
It was under Gandhi's leadership that women hardly stepped out of their homes, had to suffer harddiscovered their potential strength and contributed ships of jail. Valliamma Moonsamy Moodaliar, a their best with verve and vigour. It was Gandhi who young girl of 16 years succumbed to the fatal fever turned traditional symbols and ideas into sources contacted in jail. of energy and inspiration for thousands of Indian Gandhi's entry in Indian politics changed its very women. As walls of conventions and traditions context. Life for women also started changing. Love crumbled against the force of nationalism, Indian for the motherland made a silent entry in the private women came out of the sheltered existence to play world of women, and brought a silent revolution. an important role in the non-violent struggle.
Women started doing spontaneously some acGandhi's presence had an electrifying effect on
tivities which would not come under suspicion like Indian women - rich and poor, urban and rural
sheltering persons who were offenders in the eyes educated and uneducated. He brought a silent revo- of British law, inculcating nationalist ideas in the chillution in the perception of lite for women. In his dren in the family, supporting and encouraging powords, "My contribution to the great problem (of litical activities of men in the family. Women from all women's role in society) lies in my presenting for parts of the country came out of their homes to acceptance of truth and ahimsa in every walk of life, organise meetings and processions, to sell Khadi, whether for individuals or nations. I have hugged to spread the message of Swadeshi and to picket the hope that in this, woman will be the unquestioned near by liquor shops and shops of foreign cloth. leader and, having thus found her place in human in the battle fought by Gandhi at Champaran in evolution, will shed her inferiority complex."
1917, women helped by organising literacy classes It was in South Africa that Gandhi become and contacting people in their homes. Soon after aware of the power of women as participants in his Champaran Satyagraha, Gandhi was in non-violent struggle. When Gandhi launched his first Ahmedabad to espouse the cause of the workers Satyagraha in South Africa against the British policy of the textile mills. Anasuyaben Sarabhai, sister of of racial discrimination, the oppressed sections had the famous mill-owner Ambalal Sarabhai, became discovered a powerful weapon in nonviolent meth- his loyal follower. In the Congress session after the
ઑકટોબર- ૨૦૧૮) પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવન : ગાંધી સાર્ધશતાબ્દી વિશેષાંક
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