Naari-Magazine aug edition

FEATURE
Annie Besant, the reformer, launched the
Home Rule Movement,
Elected as Congress President, campaigned
for India’s freedom hell-bent.
Aruna Asaf Ali, in Bombay, hoisted Indian flag
to inaugurate ‘Quit India’,
Edited ‘Inquilab’, Congress’ journal,
called ‘Heroine of the 1942 movement’.
Kamala Nehru led ‘Non – Corporation’,
picketed shops of foreign good.
They arrested her husband ‘Jawaharlal’,
to deliver his speech, she stood!
Kasturba Gandhi led Civil Disobedience,
Quit India, Satyagrah protests,
Jailed ‘hard labour’ in bad health,
took Gandhi’s spot during his arrests.
Usha Mehta as child, ‘Simon Go Back’;
later did congress radio broadcast.
Kalpana Dutta, joined in Chittagong armory
raids, escaped, arrested at last.
“We are free people, white men should not
rule over us”, Rani Gaidinliu, 13 age.
Urged Manipur to boycott British; led many
attacks; at 16 was sent to a cage.
Basanti/Urmila/Sunita Devi, in Khilafat,
Civil Disobedience aloud.
Priti Lata torched, ‘Pahartali Club’ read,
“Dogs and Indians not allowed”!
Abadi Bano Begum’s speeches from behind
burqa, Khilafat flourished.
Kanaklata Barua led Quit India
march in Assam, shot at and perished.
Parbati Giri was at forefront of ‘Quit India’
in Odisha agitation,
Sucheta Kriplani, too came to the forefront
during Quit India action,
In 1940, she founded the All India Mahilla
Congress, and preside.
Revolvers for Kakori arms robbery,
sly Raj Kumari Gupta supplied.
Woman of grit, Matangini Hazra, at age 71,
led a procession of 6000,
To take over Tamluk Police Station as
part of ‘Quit India’ call.
Firing commenced, advanced alone,
all volunteers behind, shot thrice
Chanted ‘Vande Mataram’, Indian flag held
high, right till her fall.
Tara Rani Srivastava, with her husband,
led a procession,
At Siwan Police Station, he got shot,
she tore her saree, bandaged him.
And kept going forward, by the time
she returned, he had died,
Strong still, she continued to fight,
unaffected by occurrence grim.
Captain Lakshmi Sehgal formed an all
women’s Rani Jhansi regiment,
Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj, would have else been
incomplete.
Kamaladevi Chatopadhyay,
the social reformer, joined ‘Seva Dal’,
Trained women volunteers, was first women
to run for legislative seat.
Durgabai Deshmukhi led numerous
Satyagraha movements,
Avantikabai Gokhale participated in
Champaran Satyagrah as leader.
Bhogeswari Phukanani led in ‘Quit India’,
re-opened Congress office,
Guarded the respect of National Flag,
to death the bullets did bleed her.
The list of names is further long,
and then many more nameless,
United they stood; to the whole world,
history gives its rendition. Women can
make any sacrifice for their dear freedom,
Whether from infiltrators, oppressors
or backward tradition!
Himani Panchal
Himani Panchal is a mom to two beautiful
daughters, 6 and 1 years old. She lives and
works in Hong Kong. Other than family and
work, she likes to spend time dancing,
hiking, playing table tennis, watching
movies, travelling and writing.
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