New Delhi: Modern Indian woman who participated in Mahatma Gandhi led freedom struggle were actually following a legacy which was created by woman of the previous generation.
Right from the later medieval period we see the tradition of the Indian woman coming to the forefront in the battle to throw away the colonial rulers and you can easily recall three such eminent personalities. One was Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, the then Rani Chennamma of Kittur and Rani Gaidinliu of North East. They belonged to three different centuries but showed great leadership qualities to throw away the colonial yoke.
They on the one hand inspired several prominent women during the final phase of freedom movement; on the other they invoked spirit to fight in the resistance movements in the villages.The illiterate women played passive but contributory part as comrades to their men folk.
Quit India Movement drew the largest number of women to the fore front. It was a struggle substantially waged by the womanhood. The arrest of the important leaders and the other male workers going underground the woman took charge of the situation and carried on the movement by bearing the wrath of the Raj. The participation of women in freedom movement nevertheless was a legacy of the valour of the women of the previous generation.
Here we recall contribution of some.
1. Rani Chennamma of Kittur (October 23, 1778 – February 21, 1829) was the Queen of Kittur in Karnataka, southern India. In her youth she received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery. She became queen of her native kingdom and married Raja Mallasarja, of the Desai family, and had one son; after her son’s death in 1824 she adopted Shivalingappa, and made him heir to the throne. The British East India Company did not accept this and ordered Shivalingappa’s expulsion, using a policy of paramountcy and complete authority (doctrine of lapse officially codified between 1848 and 1856 by Lord Dalhousie), but Chennamma defied the order.
Rani Chennamma sent a letter to Governor at Bombay to plead the cause of Kittur, but Lord Elphinstone turned down the request leading to all out war. The British tried to confiscate the treasure and jewels of Kittur (valued around Fifteen Lakhs of rupees) and attacked with a force of 200 men and four guns, mainly from the third troop of Madras Native Horse Artillery. In the first round of war, during October 1824, British forces lost heavily with Sir John Thackeray, Collector and Political agent, killed by the Rani’s forces. Two British officers, Sir Walter Elliot and Mr. Stevenson were also taken as hostages.
Rani Chennamma released the hostages with an understanding with Chaplain that the war would be terminated. But Chaplain treacherously continued the war with even more soldiers. Chennamma fought fiercely with the aid of her lieutenant, Sangolli Rayanna, but was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829. Sangolli Rayanna continued the guerrilla war up to 1829 until his capture and hanged.
Chennamma was born 56 years before the 1857 rebel Rani of Jhansi, and was thus the first woman to fight against British governance and the kappa tax. Her legacy and first victory are still commemorated in Kittur, during the Kittur Utsava of every 22–24 October.
2. Rani Lakshmi Bai (19 November 1828- 17/18 June 1858)was one of the leading warriors of the India's first struggle for independence. A symbol of bravery, patriotism and honour, Rani Lakshmi Bai was born on 19 November 1828 at Pune. Her actual name was Manikarnika. Her father Moropant Tabme was a court advisor, and mother Bhagirathi was a scholarly woman. At a very early age she lost her mother. Her father raised her in an unconventional way and supported her to learn to ride elephants and horses and also to use weapons effectively. She grew up with Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope, who were later to evolve as active participants in the first war of independence.
Post her husband`s death she didn’t lose courage and bravely took over all his responsibilities at young age of 24 years.She strongly revolted against the British when they treacherously tried to annex the territories of Jhansi.Her fighting spirit and valour in all the battles of Jhansi, Kalpi and Gwalior took the British by surprise.In 1857, Rani also defended Jhansi from invaders of Orchha and Datia.
In Rani Laxmi Bai’s honour, Bronze statues of Rani on a horseback, has been put up both at Jhansi and Gwalior. “Joan of Arc” of the Indian Independence struggle is what the Rani is often known as.
She has secured a place in Indian history and has been immortalized, inspiring many subsequent generations of freedom fighters of India. The simple cenotaph of the Rani is about a mile from the Gwalior station.
3. Rani Gaidinliu from Manipur (26 January, 1915 - 17 February 1993) Rani Gaidinliu from Manipur was a fearless Indian freedom fighter who joined the agitation at the age of 13 and headed the movement against the British in the Manipur and Naga belts. The Government of India honoured her with the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 1993.
Rani Gaidinliu, who was born at the Nangkao village in Manipur, was an active freedom fighter of India who joined the agitation at the age of 13. She spearheaded an inspiring socio-political movement to cast the British out from the Manipur and Naga belts. It was in 1932 at the age of 16 that Rani Gaidinliu was arrested and put behind bars for life. She could be freed from the jail only after India's independence in 1947.
Women’s participation in the Indian freedom struggle added to the legitimacy of the Indian freedom struggle. Their active participation not only changed their goals but also organized the activities. The political participation of women were equally approved and appreciated by men who otherwise wantrd them to be perfect wives at home.
Reference:
1. http://www.importantindia.com
2. http://www.mapsofindia.com
3. https://feminisminindia.com
4. http://www.iloveindia.com
5. http://www.borjournals.com