tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51174386102706558352024-03-27T12:43:23.743+05:30Women in Indian HistoryNooks and crannies of Indian history that are not mainstream. The role of women in Indian history interests me particularly.savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-34321546781630777242023-09-25T19:00:00.035+05:302024-01-08T13:38:56.769+05:30<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span>Mahar</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ani</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Swarnamoyee</span> </span></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Uncrowned Queen of Cossimbazar Raj</span></h3><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the story of an extraordinary lady, the </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">zamindar</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (landowner) of Cossimbazar Raj in Bengal in the middle to late 19th century. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was the single largest individual contributor to efforts of helping people after famines in the 19th century with feeding at her estates, ensuring food stocks and medical supplies there and actively participating in government committees. All this apart from her efforts in education and health.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s life (1827-1897) is testament to the strength of the human spirit that rises from the low of illiteracy, gender / race bias and abysmal attitudes towards widowhood, to the high of being acknowledged as a force for the good by her tenants, the people at large and the British colonial government. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rani Swarnamoyee is a name that resounds in Bengal even 125 years later in the form of roads, colleges, water works and other infrastructure. They serve as a reminder of an woman whose exceptional management skills resulted in very profitable estates. What is more, she shared as generously as she earned. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s estates numbered between 250-300 properties which comprised houses, paddy fields, tanks, gardens, shops, silk factories, orchards, mostly in present-day West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India in the late 18th to the early 20th century</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India was being ground under the colonizer Britain’s heel. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The constant and huge outflow of capital to Britain - with no corresponding inflow of resources to India - led to abject poverty, malnutrition and high mortality for decades and generations. Famines were regular. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India’s share of the world economy at the beginning of the 18th century was 23 per cent. In 1947 when the British finally left India it was 3 per cent. This theft from India to England funded the Industrial Revolution and the establishment of London as a world capital among other advantages to Europe.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Society in Bengal in the 19th century</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bengal was a province whose city Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital of British India. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the premier province Bengal was a cauldron of Indians of every hue and across the spectrum of thought - ranging from those with progressive ideas, and revolutionaries, to those of traditional, outdated ideas yet with strong cultural and religious moorings that anchored them in times of distress.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, in spite of this churn the plight of women, particularly of widows in Bengal, was pathetic. Women were married as children, were usually uneducated, lived in traditional and large joint families and were not allowed a life outside the narrow milieu of the home.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Picture then the strength of mind of the teenage Swarnamoyee, married at 11 years of age, an illiterate pregnant widow at 17 with a 3 year old toddler. Her wealthy landowner husband Krisnanath of Cossimbazar Raj in Murshidabad, Bengal committed suicide at the age of 22, leaving her to her own devices.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bengal Renaissance during Swarnamoyee’s lifetime</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s life spanned 70 years - from the heyday of British imperialism under the East India Company, the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 to the transfer of the government of India to the Crown in 1858 and its rule thereafter until her death in 1897. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She witnessed the impact of colonialism on Indian society and used her resources to lessen its devastating consequences on the common man. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCLmaNRGaC92iQVnAl0ydHGEqf10TPuqUp29Inh7mG4oYpP7g6MWjl_uwX85S6U-0SGNOw1IexNwCSXtNj-LDXl3Zt1GNHGpJPsd4WU20EKX7OlO6JUaW5zrsx0V-aTcd_z55XS0cVRjX8bPuRbNoiJzORXksxkGnEX_It_88xHK_BpsZPxfFtdgq50E/s512/Cossimbazar%20Palace.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Palace at Cossimbazar" border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="512" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCLmaNRGaC92iQVnAl0ydHGEqf10TPuqUp29Inh7mG4oYpP7g6MWjl_uwX85S6U-0SGNOw1IexNwCSXtNj-LDXl3Zt1GNHGpJPsd4WU20EKX7OlO6JUaW5zrsx0V-aTcd_z55XS0cVRjX8bPuRbNoiJzORXksxkGnEX_It_88xHK_BpsZPxfFtdgq50E/w340-h226/Cossimbazar%20Palace.jpeg" title="Palace at Cossimbazar" width="340" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Palace at Cossimbazar</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo attribution</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rangan Datta Wiki, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">via Wikimedia Commons</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">The zamindari of Cossimbazar Raj</span></div><div>The estate at Cossimbazar had in earlier times made its fortune by trade and manufacture. In later times the management of rent and land became the major source of income. Most of the investment in the estate was the purchase of more land and property at revenue auctions.</div><div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the few years that Krisnanath managed the </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">zamindari</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> before his death in 1844, his major contribution was to live off the estate, dreaming big but not executing much. He was a profligate and wayward character.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee was from a poor family in Burdwan, Bengal.</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee had to immediately take charge of this underperforming </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">zamindari </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">after Krisnanath's suicide, or risk losing all to the government and greedy relatives circling the estate like shar</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ks. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was unprepared for the onerous responsibility.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The evolution of Swarnamoyee</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this sink-or-swim situation after Krisnanath’s death, Swarnamoyee prioritized what she needed to do next. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She began by becoming literate.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She requested the old Dewan Mathuranath Banerji to help her read and write. She overcame his objections (due to her observing purdah) by stating that he was her father figure and her teacher, not just the dewan. It was incumbent upon the both of them to ensure the continuance of the Cossimbazar Raj. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee learnt four languages in four years: this resulted in proficiency in Bangla and working knowledge of English, Persian and Sanskrit. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Literacy gave her the self confidence to personally read all the official papers of the various court cases she was fighting for the estate, and draft replies with the help of her lawyers and staff.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: magenta; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the age of eighteen she proved before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the highest court of the British Empire, that her hard-fought legal battles were for a cause which was just - and won. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was one of a select handful of criminal appeals heard by the committee in the nineteenth century. The East India Company (EIC) then reposed full trust in her expertise in managing her estates and left them in her sole charge.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Krishnanath had died by suicide with no male heir Swarnamoyee’s place in Cossimbazar was in doubt. He had ostensibly left behind a series of hastily drafted wills made a few days leading to his death, leaving all his property to his servant Keshab Sarkar. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This again led to a spate of court cases. Swarnamoyee wrote to Queen Victoria that her husband had not been in his right mind at the time the wills were drawn up.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On 28 Feb 1847 the wills were declared illegal and Swarnamoyee was the legal heir of Raja Krisnanand.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This ruling was now contested by relatives and the govern</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ment. Since suicide was illegal in India, all the person’s personal property was sought to be forfeited to the crown. All of Krisnanath’s property would have been </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lost. Swarnamoyee fought this precedent in court, and won.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee emerged not just a survivor but a victor, and transformed her estates over the next 53 years into one of the acknowledged highest performing and much beloved </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">zamindaris</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Bengal. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping purdah</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping purdah, the veil, was followed in some parts of India by women from the upper classes and of good financial means. These women segregated themselves from men outside their families. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee observed strict purdah all through her life, under all circumstances. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In spite of a worldview that absorbed the societal changes all around her, Swarnamoyee fought in court for her right to maintain purdah even against the mighty East India Company - and won.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her affidavit in court says that all her life she had only appeared without purdah before these men - her husband Raja Krisnanath, her father, Mathuranath Banerji her old Dewan who made her literate, and Nabinchandra Nancy the husband of her sister-in-law. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s story</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee lived in Murshidabad after marriage. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her clear-headed focus on the issues at hand, and taking action without delay were the reasons for her success.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her zamindari consisted of far-flung estates mostly in present-day West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh. Swarnamoyee would personally oversee their management. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She travelled ‘in a palanquin, announced by drums with elephants, swordsmen and carts full of provisions and money’, and stayed in bungalows that were constructed for her use in all her estates. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her tenants only interacted directly with her during her travels. They heard her voice as she spoke from behind a screen. She was known for her ready, fair and effective response to their troubles.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee was particular that her officers be humane in their interactions with her tenants. She was a benevolent zamindar, a species so rare that her fame spread. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s estates</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The family had managed the Cossimbazar estates for nearly 150 years before Krsnanath inherited it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since then, over the decades Swarnamoyee also regularly bought other estates.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cossimnbazar Raj regularly worked closely with the courts and the colonial government on various official matters. Swarnamoyee expected regular reports from them through her officers and thus kept abreast with all work and court proceedings.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a very good administrator, she paid her revenue to the government on time, every time. Sometimes even before time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sample of the wide range of causes to which Swarnamoyee donated funds and land over the years</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee put her wealth to good use, never hoarded it. Her generosity extended to educational institutions, needy students, extensive water works, desilting of ponds and rivers, zoological gardens, dispensaries and hospitals, seminaries, hostels, relief funds abroad to Ireland during the Great Famine, food and clothing to USA during the Depression in 1880, leper homes, printing presses, nursing students fees, widows, destitutes and many more causes. She donated land for the construction of colleges and hostels for women in particular. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was in favour of hospitals for women. She felt Indian women doctors would empathise with their patients and help reduce mother and infant mortality. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee viewed herself as the custodian of the wealth of her estate, not the owner. She made generous contributions to causes that society needed sometimes as part of a Government effort, sometimes on her own. Her help was immediate when any natural calamity struck, sometimes even before official word of the disaster was out.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #274e13; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is estimated that Swarnamoyee gifted Rs. 30-50 lakh (Rs. 3-5 million) to charities in her lifetime. The figure is far from complete - many of her gifts were never recorded.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span>(According to some sources, in 1919 the Indian Rupee was worth 2700 times its worth in 2023. By that metric, just those gifts that were recorded amount to between Rs. 8.1 billion / 810 crores to Rs.13.5 billion / 1,350 crores today. There is no way of estimating the unrecorded amount.) </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Famine and drought relief</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her tenure alone, Bengal experienced famine in 1843, 1854, 1860, 1865, 1871, 1878, 1882, 1888 and 1893. This is apart from several more before and after these years.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At her family residence at Murshidabad Swarnamoyee had donated rice for several years to about 2500 people every day. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That apart, every Dwadashi (a holy day - the 12th day of the bright or dark fortnight of the Moon) she distributed rice to about 4000 persons. Grain was stored at different parts of her zamindari to easily feed the distressed during calamities, offering shelter and medical aid, and much more.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1878 the government formed Famine Committees jointly with individuals to help with relief for the famine-afflicted. The Cossimbazar Raj was a participant, contributing more than Rs.1,50,000.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although the government had a scheme for remission of famine aid to donors, and several zamindars also availed it, Swarnamoyee never did. She neither applied for nor received any concession. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To put the quantum of aid in perspective while the other zamindars, mentioned in the Famine Report published 19 years later, donated enough to feed between 400 to 1800 persons, their efforts paled in comparison to the 5000 persons Swarnamoyee fed every single day during the period.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In his book </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anandamath</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> published in 1882 of which the anthem </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vande Mataram</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a part, Bankim Chandra as Deputy Magistrate describes the famine he saw in 1878. The only places to go to for relief he said were Murshidabad, Cossimbazar and Calcutta, a clear reference to Swarnamoyee’s work. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Her services during the several famines astonished even the Imperial British Government who referred to her in their private dispatches with reverence and respect.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJyL8iLktX3byep0n_QS6AE98ZHNF1AK4XvjiMfuWhaWO9CoilhhGr0k0OeIB09eZ6lzuRfDcBysBSNIEZGR5R64NFJM1fhuXV-VasYyPbpKGKgyLVJc-u6yqW3x6Za6uEJAGdGAnpwdcEyXfkhTrCXM7UJdzUPJKlnl8An9jl8QIN2GWcqwl8iIWbhc/s1646/Some%20of%20Swarnamoyee's%20estates.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="1552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJyL8iLktX3byep0n_QS6AE98ZHNF1AK4XvjiMfuWhaWO9CoilhhGr0k0OeIB09eZ6lzuRfDcBysBSNIEZGR5R64NFJM1fhuXV-VasYyPbpKGKgyLVJc-u6yqW3x6Za6uEJAGdGAnpwdcEyXfkhTrCXM7UJdzUPJKlnl8An9jl8QIN2GWcqwl8iIWbhc/w302-h320/Some%20of%20Swarnamoyee's%20estates.png" width="302" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Some areas in which Maharani Swarnamoyee's estates </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>were established</b></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water works to combat drought</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She took up drinking water and irrigation works on a large scale. A number of tanks and wells were dug all over her zamindari, old ones repaired and desilted.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She financed planting trees for shade and the repair of public buildings. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For many of these projects she contributed half the amount, the remainder being paid by the villagers collectively.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of Swarnamoyee’s donations</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is one thing to be exceedingly rich and quite another to generously give away the wealth for the greater good.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the causes Swarnamoyee donated for are below.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She donated Rs.1,62,000, nearly 60% of the cost, to the Swarnamoyee Waterworks to supply drinking water to the town of Berhampore. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then was a donation of Rs.1,50,000 towards the construction of a ladies’ hostel for students of the Calcutta Medical College which still bears her name. It was inaugurated by Lady Dufferin, the Viceroy’s wife, who was known to be keenly interested in women’s health. (Lady Dufferin set up a fund that awarded scholarships to Indian women who studied medicine in England and promised to practice in India. Some early beneficiaries were <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2022/09/indian-women-on-venus-many-features-on.html" target="_blank">Anandi Joshi</a> and Rukhmabai.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a child Swarnamoyee had never been encouraged to study, and had only become literate due to circumstance and her own efforts. She was keenly aware of the importance of education. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only did she establish schools in several parts of Bengal, she also gave grants for education, set up educational institutions, separate free schools for boys and girls, and paid for the tuition of deserving students.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several missionary schools also received her aid. But she would absolutely not abide by evangelists harassing students in these institutions.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She donated land to set up several colleges and funds to innum</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">erable schools and colleges. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee contributed for the travel, stay and study expenses of lawyers who went to study abroad or worked towards the political situation in India. They were usu</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ally recommended to her by Bankim Chandra Chatterji, novelist and Deputy Magistrate, Collector of Murshidabad district in 1872. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s personal life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee lived as a strict Hindu widow in </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">purdah</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on a wholly vegetarian diet. She restored the grand Durga Puja in the Cossimbazar Raj after her victory in court against EIC in 1847, from when it became an unbroken tradition. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Individuals who influenced Swarnamoyee</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The various men she interacted with, while in </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">purdah</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, included Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar and other eminent social reformers, the European lawyers who were her attorneys at various times (and some of whom spoke and read Bangla) among others.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The irony is that she never met these men personally in all the years they collaborated, but corresponded only through Dewan Rajiblochan.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The woman who influenced Swarnamoyee beyond her family circle was likely Monomohini Wheeler who was Inspectress of Schools. She visited Cossimbazar Palace to examine the students being taught there privately. It is possible she opened avenues for Swarnamoyee, especially girls’ access to education. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s awareness of events around her</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s wide-ranging interests were addressed by her reading habit. She had begun reading newspapers soon after she became literate. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day she read about 20 daily and weekly Bangla newspapers, many government publications on law and court judgements, books on history, geography, science, philosophy and religion. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her library had the entire works of Raja Rammohan Roy in Bangla, and her carefully preserved newspaper clippings offer insights into the issues that interested her, often marked with an ink doodle.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social developments</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She read arguments for and against widow remarriage and female education.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was a strong supporter of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar in his fight against polygamy, for young destitute widows and the other social causes he espoused. He also recommended her donations to worthy scholars who needed monetary help due to old age. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Santhal Rebellion which impacted her zamindari in Birbhum and Ranigunj was important news. The rebellion of Santhal tribals lasted from June 1855 to January 1856. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Political news</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee noted political news such as the deposition of the Nawab of Oudh in early 1856. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She also read the news from Lahore of the young ruler Duleep Singh, successor of the great Maharaja Ranjit Singh, being duped by the British into losing his jewelry including the Kohinoor diamond, his property and his religion by converting to Christianity from Sikhism. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She followed up on news from Jhansi. Rani Lakshmibai was informed by the British that her adopted son would not be recognised as the successor of her husband Gadadhar Rao.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee was aware of international news such as the defeat of the Russians in the Crimean War and the capture of Sebastopol in 1856.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even later in life, Swarnamoyee’s interest in the news remained unabated. In 1897 she read about the Sedition Act and the trial of Gangadhar Tilak and Kelkar for their article in the newspaper </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kesari</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She cared for justice because she was aware of the law</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee must have easily been among the most socially and politically aware </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">zamindars</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of her time. She put this awareness to good use when in 1860 Lord Macaulay amended the Penal Code and brought Europeans under the jurisdiction of local courts in India. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee immediately issued an order to all her law agents that if any European was found molesting her people, especially the women, a suit was to be filed against him and a report sent to her. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Accolades galore</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also notable is that although many tenants complained about the oppression of their </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">zamindars</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, not one representation came against Swarnamoyee.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was invested with the title of ‘Maharani’ in 1871 at Cossimbazar, a public appreciation by the government for her work of a lifetime. She was, as usual, seated behind purdah. The Lieutenant Governor and his entourage was received by Diwan Rajiblochan who interpreted. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was not all.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On 14 August, 1878 she was given the highest honour possible to an Indian lady in the British Raj. She was made a Member of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, usually bestowed upon female royalty selected by the Queen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The title was due to the peace and prosperity, superb administration of her estates.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s monetary transactions were prompt and legal, and she had a beneficial influence over her tenants making her a very powerful and much-loved ruler. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She initiated the large-hearted practice of leaving 2.5 years of the rent in arrear with her tenants, so that they had some access to finance without having to pay her till their last paisa. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She had earned all her success on her own, and not due to any hereditary privilege. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The later years</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The aged Rani was entertained at home by travelling drama companies whose printed programmes were to be found in the estate even decades later. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rasaraj Amritlal Bose who was a popular playwright often staged his plays at Cossimbazar at the palace, exclusively for Swarnamoyee. Her patronage helped him and his company tide over the difficult times and he did not forget it. His praise for her echoed what the Lt Governor of Bengal also said about her.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several principals of colleges and inspectors of schools thanked her for ensuring that students did not drop out for lack of finance.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changes at Cossimbazar as time rolled by</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee missed some lucrative avenues of revenue in the estate as she aged. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unknown to her the estates had huge coal deposits, mining which would have been profitable.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fundamental change was underway in the area which would impact Cossimbazar and Murshidabad. The port was dying and the river traffic was fast declining. The railways were replacing the traditional means of transport by boat, carriage and palanquin. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a natural turn of events, September 1881 saw the death of Dewan Rajiblochan, a misfortune of gigantic proportions for the estate of Cossimbazar and for Swarnamoyee personally. She appointed his nephew Shyamadas Roy as acting Dewan but he was soon replaced by Tariniprasad Roy who was an old and experienced officer. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cossimbazar’s fortunes wane</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The downturn for the estate began with the death of Dewan Tariniprasad Roy. A managing council was formed with Manager Srinath Pal, Swarnamoyee’s nephew. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The new system was not as efficient as under Rajiblochan and the Rani, and saw more dissent than efficient working. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last years of Swarnamoyee was lonely and unhappy. She had lost both her daughters and her grand-daughters. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her son-in-law Brajnath De went to court for the property of his deceased wife and daughter. A bitter legal battle for several years ensued.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">De lost the lawsuit and filed another case for some other property in his daughter’s name. He died before the case concluded.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This ugly episode did not dampen Swarnamoyee’s enthusiasm for donating to worthy causes. She donated to establish a technical school in Murshidabad district on the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 and towards the restoration of the Church of Our Blessed Lady of Dolours in Bytakkhannah. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A medal was struck by the corporation of the City of London and presented to her in 1889.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She donated to the administration at Odisha for relief of the distressed. She contributed towards a screen to be sent from Bengal for the London Exhibition, 1886.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She gifted a full set of gem studded gold jewellery valued at Rs.15,000 to the Indian Museum, Calcutta for display. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She made a free gift of land in Calcutta to construct the Howrah Foreshore Road. Another road that she helped construct is named Swarnamoyee Road. Calcutta received a lot of her patronage with the Town Hall, colleges and roads.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She continued with liberal contributions towards famine relief in 1897. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She took an active role in administering a college for which she had donated.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee’s personality</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swarnamoyee did not permit any painting nor photographing her, so there is no record of how she looked. But first-hand accounts of people who met her as children are that she was very strong-willed. Children were afraid of her since she could be quite stern, but was generally kindly. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was known to be a strikingly good-looking woman with a perfect figure, taller than most and fair, always clad in white muslin. She was long remembered for her sparkling personality.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Befitting recognition of her tenure as zamindar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her response to all the honours she received was that people were Narayana (God) to her. Improving general welfare was the same as worshiping at her puja at home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She administered the zamindari with a passion and quiet strength although it was not being inherited by her children and grand-children who had all passed. She was succeeded by her sister-in-law’s son.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #274e13; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The founder of the Cossimbazar Raj Kantababu left it with an annual income of Rs. 6 lakhs at his death in 1794. Swarnamoyee left it at Rs. 25 lakh per year, nearly a hundred years later in 1897 while behind purdah all the while.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last years of the Rani of Cossimbazar Raj</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Publicly Swarnamoyee was feted and praised by the government, her tenants and everybody who had reason to deal with her. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Privately, she was lonely and afraid, cut off by the manager and others from communicating with the larger family circle, to isolate her and play on her weaknesses.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When she died on 25 August, 1897 she was four months short of her 80th birthday. Her obsequies and ceremonies were befitting a lady who began with so little materially and so disadvantaged socially but achieved so much more than imaginable.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An era came to an end.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Reference:</b></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History of the Cossimbazar Raj, Volume 1 - Somendra Chandra Nandy</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woman in India - Mary Frances Billington</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-cossimbazar-raj.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-cossimbazar-raj.htm</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Renaissance" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Renaissance</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India - Sashi Tharoor</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unsound Empire: Civilization and Madness in Late-Victorian Law by Catherine L Evans</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History of Indian Women in Medicine - </span><a href="http://www.ensembledrms.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ensemble-2021-0301-a007_20-Aug-2021.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.ensembledrms.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ensemble-2021-0301-a007_20-Aug-2021.pdf</span></a></span></p></li></ol><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-37020377679624872742023-06-14T21:25:00.011+05:302023-09-12T10:47:05.546+05:30Therigatha - The world's oldest compilation of women's literature<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> literally means ‘Verses of the Senior Nuns.’ </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theri</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> were senior Buddhist </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bhikkuni, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nuns who had experienced ‘10 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vassa</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or monsoons’. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is verses.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9796168e-7fff-5138-1b53-467d058d94f4"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theri</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> were senior not so much in age as in their religious achievements, and so were considered enlightened religious figures.</span><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">theri </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bhikkuni </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who composed the verses</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were friends, relatives and contemporaries of the Buddha (563 - 483 BCE). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Since their words are considered </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">buddhavachana</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “the words of an enlightened one” they were his spiritual equals’ says Susan Murcott in her First Buddhist Women - Poems and Stories of Awakening. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five hundred odd verses of 72 poets are available to us today. The oral compilation of existing verses is believed to date back to the era of early Buddhism (268 to 232 BCE). The poems survived six centuries of oral transmission down the generations of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bhikkuni,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and were finally written down around 80 BCE.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is in Pali in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The poems talk of the life experiences of the writers and their evolution towards nirvana. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a view that both </span><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha</span><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theragatha</span><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Verses of the Elder Monks) are ‘liberation manuals’.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However the difference is that while for monks liberation lay in escaping the world, for nuns the verses are about overcoming lived experience, facing the challenges of life and using coping mechanisms to evolve solutions.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddhism and its impact on existing power and gender structures</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddhism impacted power and gender structures. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Women joined the Buddhist Sangha in large numbers, despite several rules for them by the Buddha himself. His mother persuaded him to allow women to join, overcoming his earlier reservations. His concern had been about the tough physical difficulties they would have to endure and the social conditions that did not allow them the freedom to leave their homes. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sangha of nuns was a radical departure from the lifestyles of the time. This group of women lived together after taking to a life of renunciation. Nothing similar was in existence in any other religious order in the world in around 250 BCE.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>What are the poems of the Therigatha about?</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The poems show the euphoria experienced by the poets, with their lives transformed by the teachings of the Buddha in a variety of ways - released from the toil and drudgery of daily life and from incompatible marriages, the healing of some deep mental and psychological wound or a release from unspoken and unhealed anxiety. They speak of the prevalent oppressions of gender and class. </span></p></span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #4a86e8; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The verses highlight the importance given to knowledge and ethics by the Buddha, and of Truth as the guiding light. They often refer to the three tenets of Buddhism - the Buddha, the Dhamma (rules of Buddhist life) and Sangha (the Buddhist community).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The collection is a part of an oral tradition - the poems were meant to be chanted aloud, not read quietly. Also, they are more descriptive than lyrical. Some of the verses may have originally been wise proverbs changed to poetry for easy memorising. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obviously the poets knew that their poetry would be shared openly with an audience, and they wrote with full knowledge of this - not holding back, not worrying about the reception of their poetry or any repercussions to them personally. The composition has a no-holds-barred quality which was a bold stand, no matter the age in which it was written.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was even doubt over the centuries about the authorship of the verses. Could poems of such enduring value as the Therigatha be indeed composed by women, generally not considered capable of literary endeavors ? Also, Buddhist tradition has certainly been male dominated. However, such sexist views have been effectively refuted by Pali scholars after much study of the work. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Themes in the Therigatha</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha as a collection has a variety of themes that run all through it. These are universal issues about the human condition.</span></p><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The foremost one is liberation, nirvana (nibbana in Pali). </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2. Suffering in general and suffering of women in particular due to - </span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">losing a loved one</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">old age, childbirth, sickness, and being a widow without sons or a support system.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the deaths of brothers and children, of being named a witch because of this</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3. That the truth can be realised by anybody who seeks it. Several courtesans realized the truth, and hence attained freedom and nibbana </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 4. Friendship which spurs one to strive and finally attain freedom.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 5. Disgust with sensual pleasures and giving them up in the quest for nirvana.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6. Of elder bhikkunis entrapped with rituals, and also of other elder bhikkunis freeing the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ones thus </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">entrapped.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 7. Speaking of the temporal body as subject to normal aging such as illness, weakness </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 8. Women trying to prevent their husbands from joining the sangha, but to no avail.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 9. The very hard path of some bhikkunis before they are liberated, while others sail through the process easily</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10. Relatives helping each other - sons instructing mothers, mothers teaching sons, wives helping husbands, spouses marrying for the sake of parents but teaming up later to renounce and join the sangha</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 11. Mara, the tempter and joker, constantly testing the nuns with temptation to see if they are weak-minded. There are conversations in the Therigatha between Mara and several of the nuns, but the older ones that know who he is, refuse to succumb and send him packing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mara says -</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There is no escape in the world, what will detachment do for you?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Partake of delights of sensual pleasures, don’t be remorseful later.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sela Theri replies -</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Like spears and darts are sensual pleasures, chopping block of aggregates;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever you designate ‘delight in sensual pleasure’, now it is ‘non-delight’ for me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pleasure if fully destroyed everywhere, the aggregate of darkness is shattered;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Know thus, O Evil One, I have destroyed you, O End-maker.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Theri </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we know such details of the Theris’ lives?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the 5th century CE Dhammapala of Kanchipuram in present-day Tamil Nadu wrote a review on the Therigatha in Pali. In his work each verse is accompanied by a commentary, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paramatta Dipani</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which provides explanatory notes. The biographies in it detail the previous lives of the poets, how they were enlightened and released from the cycle of death and rebirth.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwhsUGPxjJ_KL-ixcZlI5DE4Fpy2ex7DC6iU-wYJZ0KlGO8D-Oj18Wb3oL6mQiE55C-5qKJm6UzWDCqqYzqKP9G8W5pAP9UJa6NHcllcJxRQ1TiLSh5qrTCtx1xy5Y72m_XyNAaWfU_5k87n2RLB_t4Y1SmbCC0Vt8YatB71vKsW4g-XP89OGfK2w/s640/meditation-g3293c870d_640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwhsUGPxjJ_KL-ixcZlI5DE4Fpy2ex7DC6iU-wYJZ0KlGO8D-Oj18Wb3oL6mQiE55C-5qKJm6UzWDCqqYzqKP9G8W5pAP9UJa6NHcllcJxRQ1TiLSh5qrTCtx1xy5Y72m_XyNAaWfU_5k87n2RLB_t4Y1SmbCC0Vt8YatB71vKsW4g-XP89OGfK2w/s320/meditation-g3293c870d_640.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The poets</span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The women whose poetry comprises the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Therigatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> were of varying backgrounds, ages and personalities. The poems unabashedly reflect myriad moods and life situations - sadness, beauty, poverty, untold riches, women tired of being in arranged marriages, women in love, women who sold their bodies, abandoned daughters, grandmothers who spent their lives as sometimes unwilling caretakers, women whose children had died and who yet carried on against all odds, women who were not obedient and didn’t do as they were told, women who did not give up…. </span><b><br /></b></span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many of these nuns are legendary or actual persons? Although some of the 72 are mentioned in other texts, several are not referenced anywhere else in the entire canon of Buddhist literature. However, there is no doubt that many of them existed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These poems offer a glimpse into the lives of women in ancient India. For many the Sangha offered refuge and they blossomed in ways that had not been possible earlier. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Others joined the community in their old age when abandoned by their families, but soon found their niche. They were able to use their experience and talents for the good of the Sangha and thus found fulfilment. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The poetry, gatha</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shloka</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (stanza) comprises four </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pada</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (verses) of eight syllables each. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 32 verses include a nun’s name as the title. Hence it is assumed that the Bhikkuni is the author of the verse, which may or may not be correct.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like much of ancient Indian art such as sculpture or painting, the motivation for creating the work was not personal glory. The poets had no sense of ownership, anybody was free to use or borrow the verses. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #4a86e8; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The motives for composing the poems were twofold - for the audience to learn the higher truths and live better lives, and for the nuns to attain the Buddha’s experience of enlightenment.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddhism offered a way for women to negotiate their lives and counter outside influence that tried to control them. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The format of the verse</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The verse or stanza offers a contrast between life before joining the Sangha - limited and restrictive - and the life afterwards of peace and freedom. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each verse has the same format - an autobiographical element, the pain the poet underwent and the transformation in life after following the teachings of the Buddha. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although the message of the Buddha is the crux of the verse, strong evocative imagery highlights the transformation experienced.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Verses of Muttā</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So freed! So thoroughly freed am I!—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from three crooked things set free</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-indent: -9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">from mortar, pestle,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-indent: -9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">& crooked old husband.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having uprooted the craving</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that leads to becoming,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 28pt; text-indent: -28pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m from aging & death set free.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha - a study in human nature</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG2z6mLprCVC6yc9KI8Osi7GXu3ca4CCZwqlZmASEM1L-Ie4-511GRYTw_YY6_fTcUOxmZSVfp7mN8J0w6lunPlzGzuZjNwvZ5EyxCSFtNYFcMcOqesKIEZB98xXwYrObpvt7-Hf41ar5AlnL1gHobSb_RE9AxJ6_sTqYHgoslUK6dMIjVWDDXBbx/s2960/Burmese_Kammavaca.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2856" data-original-width="2960" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG2z6mLprCVC6yc9KI8Osi7GXu3ca4CCZwqlZmASEM1L-Ie4-511GRYTw_YY6_fTcUOxmZSVfp7mN8J0w6lunPlzGzuZjNwvZ5EyxCSFtNYFcMcOqesKIEZB98xXwYrObpvt7-Hf41ar5AlnL1gHobSb_RE9AxJ6_sTqYHgoslUK6dMIjVWDDXBbx/s320/Burmese_Kammavaca.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bhikkuni</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> were not docile and accommodating women, although they were nuns. Their poetry upturns popular, even currently prevalent perceptions. These include the thinking that the need for agency and autonomy in many areas of women’s lives are modern concepts - they are not. The Therigatha shows the fallacy that women of ancient India were meek and obedient. Again not so, obviously, as these poems illustrate.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sumangalamata</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Freed, freed, good to be freed from pestle;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shameless is my husband, stinking is rice-cooker.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have fully destroyed lust and hate, [like hot iron dripped in</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the water cools] making hissing sounds;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having approached tree root, [saying] ‘Oh happiness’,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happily I do jhana.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even in Buddhist life the behaviour expected of nuns was of being pliant and docile. Obedience was their foremost credo. In part, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Terigatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a revelation of an inner world of turmoil and emotion, offering a contrast to the visible calm exterior presented by the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bhikkuni</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to the world.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sama</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four times, five times, having left the monastic dwelling;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not having gained peace of mind, uncontrolled in mind;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the eighth night, her craving was fully destroyed.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bhikkuni</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> whose work forms the Therigatha lived at different times, most were not contemporaries. The powerful ideas and attitudes of the nuns influenced and gave courage to others who came after them. The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> clearly spells out in many poems the choices that the writer made to explore her mind, and learn.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Theri asserted their positions and individual views as female Buddhist renunciates. The verses show the conflict between women and the social institutions around them, bent upon making them conform to pre-set standards of behaviour and life style. Many of these poets violate patriarchal images of the ideal woman. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These women assumed agency over their bodies and their lives, not waiting for permission for anybody. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why is the Therigatha unique?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bhikkuni mentally escaped societal constraints by composing poetry and ensuring their names were remembered centuries later by their poetry. All this as nuns living secluded lives.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gautama Buddha himself was against the idea of having nuns in the Buddhist order. The insistence and sheer persistence of the Buddha’s first female disciple and foster mother, Mahaprajapati, made him change his mind and accept the establishment of the nuns’ order. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In spite of several rules laid down for the Sangha by the Buddha himself that were unfair to women, they came in large numbers to join the Sangha. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The teachings of the Therigatha</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some commentators mention that the biggest teaching of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Terigatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is that there is no one right way to live life or attain learning. There are a myriad paths to one’s goal and no path is better than the other.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Therigatha is the result of the Buddha’s teaching that good daughters are as good as good sons. This at a time when the concept of equality of the genders was unheard of. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The nuns detached themselves from the outer manifestations of the corporeal body, of fighting the ever-present ideas of inferiority, weakness and impurity of the female gender. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They instead turned to nurturing the inner spirit, overcoming the traditional derogatory view towards the feminine and celebrated femininity instead. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The nuns chose to attune themselves to their inner voices and speak up in their poetry, be true to their own selves, voice wildly different ideas than the traditional. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddhism takes the view that victimhood incapacitates. Victimhood prevents taking initiative, and is hence self-defeating. It results in hatred for the victimiser, hatred creates oppression, oppression creates suffering. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The women who wrote the Therigatha did not pity themselves, did not see themselves as victims. They took charge of their lives against all odds and worked towards their Nirvana.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ref. -</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The First Free Women - Poems of the Early Buddhist Nuns by Matty Weingast [Google Scholar]. Also at https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/OJ_Nov2020_Weingast.pdf</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Buddhist Women - Poems and Stories of Awakening by Susan Murcott [Google Scholar]</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IMAGES OF NUNS IN (MULA-) SARVASTIVADIN LITERATURE - Peter Skilling</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Radical Grace’: Hymning of ‘Womanhood’ in </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigatha - </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">KAUSTAV CHAKRABORTY</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Thig/thig1_1.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Thig/thig1_1.html</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voices from the Yore: Therigatha Writings of the Bhikkhunis - Asha Choubey</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therigathapali, Book of Verses of Elder Bhikkunis. A Contemporary Translation, Bhikku Mahinda (Anagarika Mahendra)</span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fffeff; color: #111111; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-65213481961019409402023-02-23T15:41:00.035+05:302023-09-12T10:34:34.221+05:30<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Queens of Travancore and Mysore </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Champions for Universal Education and </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immunisation against Smallpox</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Health and education are important markers of progress in any society. Two specific goals that independent India aimed for were universal immunisation against Smallpox and universal education. Both these issues were on the radar of many rulers and the British Indian government before 1947 too. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-36ca272a-7fff-3ba6-d0ca-03e408431804"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today India sees mixed results - the efforts for universal immunisation and the eradication of Smallpox in 1975 have seen resounding success. Universal education has also made great strides - more than 90% of urban children and more than 85% of rural children go to school. However, we have a way to go before every child in India goes to school and every adult is literate. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Efforts at smallpox immunisation by vaccination and universal education were given a fillip by the pioneering Queens of Travancore and Mysore in pre-independent India. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Gowri Parvati Bayi of Travancore</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvati Bayi (1802-1853 CE) was ruler of the state of Travancore in the years 1815 -1829. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX28DoS62Qk5jSCWqIrAxOIRbPffEuqKiXz-w_OMkc_Kloyf7IdXXnTqzOAVet_HMyjs7PIgKIdCA_WzG8adGa2gX6oqotBtg1OZ9z-1LrJclA3_JSkBv8V6IQIi5KjM062n7OBIC5ZLrPgeZansrVh_XsM1I_8dFbLpeDFS1BZassxnQVs69QQu0/s604/State%20Emblem%20-%20Travancore.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="604" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX28DoS62Qk5jSCWqIrAxOIRbPffEuqKiXz-w_OMkc_Kloyf7IdXXnTqzOAVet_HMyjs7PIgKIdCA_WzG8adGa2gX6oqotBtg1OZ9z-1LrJclA3_JSkBv8V6IQIi5KjM062n7OBIC5ZLrPgeZansrVh_XsM1I_8dFbLpeDFS1BZassxnQVs69QQu0/s320/State%20Emblem%20-%20Travancore.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Travancore</b></span></div><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Travancore followed the matrilineal system of succession in which the eldest daughter of the family was the ruler, with executive powers being with her son. Gowri Parvati Bayi was only 13 years of age at the time of her ascension to the throne but had the counsels of her brother-in-law and her husband to manage the affairs of the state.</span></span></p><span><div style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJaNSAHpi-KwWjhHn7X-8TuoDD5YiWgbWu9cXR4I5xbyB8zR_aT28TbT48u7ygR4NQHo107SNBlUW_1lUZP5cp5zwWUZGki9yBCuEfbutAWarlqfVWkw5DmwacFuK5yH2Jc1u6PHJAS0s1goVLBlekaUacGqFLeXaeDYx70_A8DjppFiO5AYWEazg/s1446/Kowdiar%20Palace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1446" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJaNSAHpi-KwWjhHn7X-8TuoDD5YiWgbWu9cXR4I5xbyB8zR_aT28TbT48u7ygR4NQHo107SNBlUW_1lUZP5cp5zwWUZGki9yBCuEfbutAWarlqfVWkw5DmwacFuK5yH2Jc1u6PHJAS0s1goVLBlekaUacGqFLeXaeDYx70_A8DjppFiO5AYWEazg/s320/Kowdiar%20Palace.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Kowdiar Palace of Travancore</b></span></div></span></div><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gowri Parvati Bayi’s reign is known for the several pathbreaking reforms that she carried out in the territory of Travancore. Two among them are universal education and vaccination.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Universal education was introduced in Travancore by Royal Rescript on June 17, 1817. Gowri Parvati Bayi was just 15 years of age at the time. This decree had far-reaching effects on the education system in the kingdom, whose impact is still being felt more than two centuries later. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today the present state of Kerala (of which Travancore became a part after State Reorganisation on November 1, 1956) has achieved near 100% literacy, an achievement no other state in India has been able to match.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">State funding for education in the State of Travancore</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Travancore Royal Rescript was the first ever attempt in the world to provide complete state funding for education. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The concept of universal education was novel in 1817, with very few governments ensuring that their citizens - regardless of gender and economic standing - were educated. This was due to several reasons. One, education was simply not considered a priority. Two, many kingdoms did not have the resources to ensure universal education. Three, the British who ruled over large sections of the Indian mainland were only interested in providing just enough education to ensure workers who were Indian by race but British in their thinking, in order to further their own colonial agenda. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The rescript (decree) of 1817 on universal education issued by Gowri Parvati Bayi clearly states “The state should defray the entire cost of education of its people in order that there might be no backwardness in the spread of enlightenment among them, that by diffusion of education they might become better support and public servants and that the reputation of the state might be advanced thereby.”</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The rescript decreed that every school would have two trained teachers paid by the state. </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Education in Kerala down the ages</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The modern state of Kerala was founded after the amalgamation of the princely states of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar, after Indian Independence in 1947. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the Sangam Era (approximately 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD) the women of the areas that comprise the modern state of Kerala were well educated. In later times there was a drop in literacy due to a decrease in women’s status in society. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is to the credit of Gauri Parvati Bayi that the tide started to be reversed with sound state patronage for universal education.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Popularisation of vaccination</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The second important reform, introduced by the earlier ruler Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, was of vaccination against Small Pox. It was the first ever large-scale public health measure to combat the historically dreaded disease. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gowri Parvati Bayi took it forward by introducing new initiatives and policies, avoiding coersion. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She thus did not hesitate to introduce and take forward reforms that were revolutionary for the times, but were much-needed for the benefit of the population at large.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Three Queens of Mysore</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The history of Smallpox vaccination in India</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Edward Jenner discovered the smallpox vaccine in 1796 in England. Within six years the British tried to introduce inoculation in the areas in India governed by them.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However the task was not as easy as it seemed. They met with vigorous resistance which grew stronger as time went by. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">People resisted the idea of being injected with cowpox bacteria to build resistance and were unwilling to listen and be convinced with the scientific reasoning behind vaccination. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They were also very wary of foreigners tampering with their health and introducing strange invasive processes such as vaccination.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The British were oppressors in all aspects of the people’s lives. Hence the distrust carried over to any and every measure that was proposed by the government. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A native version of ‘vaccination’ was already in place in some parts of North India. The scabs taken from an infected person were first washed in the Ganga and placed on healthy people to develop Smallpox pustules. This was the non-invasive and well-known method, but not always effective. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another method of inoculation entailed extracting pustules and spots from recovered patients which were ground to dust and blown on the noses of people not yet infected. This process was called variolation.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This early vaccination process was arduous and involved painful lacerations, and of having to wait a week for a pustule to develop on the arm of the person to whom it had been transferred. Once it developed, the lymph from the arm of the infected person had to be dried to be transported in a sealed container for further vaccinations. Very often the smallpox germ being transported died due to heat, nullifying all the earlier effort.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British effort to overcome vaccination resistance</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The British, in turn, were determined to vaccinate the population because of several reasons. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Firstly they wanted to prevent smallpox among the several Europeans who lived among the civilian populations in India. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Secondly, they wanted to safeguard the working population in India so that the hugely lucrative British commercial enterprises which exported goods to England would not be impacted by smallpox epidemics.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Traditional caregivers were not convinced about vaccination and tried to discourage people. The British solved this problem by pensioning off many caregivers to reduce their influence.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The dilemma was how to convince people that vaccination was the way forward to battle the ancient scourge of smallpox. It was then that the British hit upon the idea of involving Indian royalty who were literally worshipped by their subjects. The reasoning was that if the rulers adopted vaccination, why would the general population not agree.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vaccination in Mysore</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Among the kingdoms generally amenable to the British was that of Mysore (now known as Mysuru) ruled by the Wodeyars.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQtRk0uvZHzprw7iM2S8UQevodMQVZCDadJ0lvY3df9JEgGgoWJ1nihH4c2-863dNap12cadVynPpkP2CnWyb7QiDmwTOfXDzX9_44k7ej6h052n6xq5IhazMAt9CKYxLLrtgqUqX5MjTRxORgzkah4iqih4cvhT6gHruMWtcWF49zS4xxgts7q--/s264/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_the_Kingdom_of_Mysore.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="256" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQtRk0uvZHzprw7iM2S8UQevodMQVZCDadJ0lvY3df9JEgGgoWJ1nihH4c2-863dNap12cadVynPpkP2CnWyb7QiDmwTOfXDzX9_44k7ej6h052n6xq5IhazMAt9CKYxLLrtgqUqX5MjTRxORgzkah4iqih4cvhT6gHruMWtcWF49zS4xxgts7q--/s1600/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_the_Kingdom_of_Mysore.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Mysore</b></span></div><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Devajammani was a young girl who had been betrothed to the crown prince Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1794-1868CE).</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Involving royalty in the vaccination effort</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mysore royalty was known to be scientific-minded and friendly with the British. Hence the kingdom of Mysore was considered to be an ideal testing ground for a countrywide vaccination programme.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Around 1805 three women of the Wodeyar royal household were chosen to be the torchbearers of the vaccination effort. The king’s two wives, both named Devajammani, were a part of the effort. The third person was Lakshmiammani, another relative of the king.</span></span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyZrJLddr6_29vCe38-_1subhDacQXmi3KQZPbG4FVyPhlOK5hAYmoaUBHMCTy3gZuT_PUXisNF-R6CdPqmIdFDZ3NKfCnLSYqWKjf2KxWji2GQ4bzniiQjk5QLbP72QPHFifIl7t-7o8eteUjEAE1bqS_wtKdOCnPNTfY2xfdXXnyyjwyrviChai/s726/Mysore%20Palace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="726" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyZrJLddr6_29vCe38-_1subhDacQXmi3KQZPbG4FVyPhlOK5hAYmoaUBHMCTy3gZuT_PUXisNF-R6CdPqmIdFDZ3NKfCnLSYqWKjf2KxWji2GQ4bzniiQjk5QLbP72QPHFifIl7t-7o8eteUjEAE1bqS_wtKdOCnPNTfY2xfdXXnyyjwyrviChai/s320/Mysore%20Palace.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Mysore Palace</b></div></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A fillip to the vaccination effort</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The effort was widely publicised. Inoculating the royalty of Mysuru gave confidence to people that the vaccine they would receive was effective, and worth taking due to the royal bloodlines of the persons from whom the pustules were taken.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Over time, this strategy worked safely without endangering life. It proved effective enough for the British to persuade other Indian royalty to also undergo inoculation themselves and influence their subjects.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the time the Wodeyar royalty agreed to be inoculated, vaccination was still a nascent procedure, with equipment which was extremely rudimentary and primitive by today’s standards. It took courage to be among the earliest recipients ever of a procedure which had still not been completely tested. Yet these three women agreed to be pioneers and the early recipients of the vaccine, with no guarantee that it would not be fatal.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The impact today on these initiatives in India</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These royal women from Travancore and Mysuru helped to take forward ideas and </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">revolutionary </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">procedures, bringing a sea-change in the public discourse on education and health. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2023 India has made huge strides but has not yet achieved universal education. That goal is yet a couple of decades away. However, inoculation against Smallpox for the entire population nearing 1.38 billion is a massive success story. Smallpox was eradicated in India in 1975 and a very successful programme is in place today for regular immunisation at all age groups and across demographics.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Universal education and universal vaccination against smallpox started with a germ of what seemed like an impossible idea a couple of centuries back. Colonization kept India shackled, and its population at the mercy of epidemics and ignorance. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few intrepid women willing to walk new paths started the process of improved general health and education, transforming Indian society in many ways beyond recognition. </span></span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div><br /></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-14743016397200386682023-01-23T18:04:00.020+05:302023-10-26T12:23:29.790+05:30<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b837c6a6-7fff-e99d-dde0-9205fbbe898e"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The poet who lived life on her own terms</span><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7th August 2022 was the 205th death anniversary (vardanthi) of Tarigonda Vengamamba as per the Hindu calendar, commemorated simultaneously at Tirumala, Tirupati and at her birthplace Tarigonda. Remembrance of a person after centuries is only for a select few - either for those who have left behind a legacy of having done good, or for their notoriety.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba is of the first category.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba’s life (20 April 1730 – 21 August 1817) was one of personal hardship and deep devotion to her chosen deity Venkateswara, which took the form of worship at temples, offering free food to pilgrims and composing operas and songs that are still performed today. Vengamamba’s life is celebrated even now for her literary output and the life of devotion that she led. She wrote poetry in the Dwipada Kavyam style, as well as operas to be performed in Yakshagana. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeI8uYL8KHAOZ3ZiDq60eAfc9OQTMQ6sJ2apDjvBJ1I7DXBS9Ac6-cfbtfo8OEQxLhO6_BHqM2mw28XLJoN8ZqOvMnE3egDsEzHiK4M9cxzj2ZPTbmuREuxhkb5-DJrmha-SA0NsrWXxwcqpHVJmy7rGxzUsIHYwFkQ21hVMJm3jveo2gQbtePFyw/s336/Tarigonda_Vengamamba_2017_stamp_of_India.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeI8uYL8KHAOZ3ZiDq60eAfc9OQTMQ6sJ2apDjvBJ1I7DXBS9Ac6-cfbtfo8OEQxLhO6_BHqM2mw28XLJoN8ZqOvMnE3egDsEzHiK4M9cxzj2ZPTbmuREuxhkb5-DJrmha-SA0NsrWXxwcqpHVJmy7rGxzUsIHYwFkQ21hVMJm3jveo2gQbtePFyw/s320/Tarigonda_Vengamamba_2017_stamp_of_India.jpeg" width="238" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Tarigonda Vengamamba</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">India Post, Government of India, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">GODL-India <https://data.gov.in/sites/default/files/Gazette_Notification_OGDL.pdf>, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">via Wikimedia Commons</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;">Her early years - an indication of things to come</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Vengamamba was a much longed-for daughter born to her parents after six sons. She was named Venkamma since she was a prayer answered by Lord Venkateswara of Tirupathi in Chittoor district of Telangana.</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even as a child she would spend long hours in prayer and contemplation at her village temple. She was unusual for her age, sitting apart immersed in composing verse instead of playing with friends.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such uncommon behaviour in one so young, and the fact that she thought of Lord Venkateswara as her husband led the villagers to call her ‘mad’. These attitudes were unfortunately only early indicators of how she would be viewed throughout her life - with unfairness and persecution. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her father realised that his daughter’s precocious talent for writing and composing needed nurturing so he approached the renowned philosopher Subramanya Desika to be her guru. The teacher was thrilled to have such rare talent to mentor, and took up her education in right earnest. As her education intensified and her writing talent was honed her fame spread quickly. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was now time as per custom for Vengamamba to be married, but her beauty and intelligence drove away many suitors. When she did get married at an early age her young husband died soon after. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was a huge tragedy for any young woman of the time and, usually, Vengamamba would have had to adopt the dress and customs deemed fit for widows. She however absolutely did not agree to conform and to dress as a widow in plain clothes, without jewellery and the other accoutrements of a traditional married woman. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her mind she was much married…..to God. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As she continue to dress and behave as a married woman, societal opposition to her only grew.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Education, education, education - her escape from a limited life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba learnt Yoga from her guru Subramanya Shastri, and became proficient in it. Even while she was still living in Tarigonda, and with the encouragement of her guru, Vengamamba composed poetry and Yakshagana. Her first composition was </span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tarigonda Nrusimha Satakam</span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Following this she wrote these works for Yakshagana - </span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Narasimha Vilasa Katha</span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Siva Natakam</span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Balakrishna Natakam -</span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rajayogamrutha Saram</span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a Dwipada Kavyam.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All through she continued to face the ire and jealousy of the local priest. Finally, unable to tolerate the priest’s behaviour, she left Tarigonda at the age of 20 and moved to Tirupathi. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lone traveller</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her journey to Tirupati as a lone young woman could not have been easy in those days. There were no facilities for travellers en route. She travelled nearly 100 kilometers on the journey, crossing dense forests and climbing the hill of an elevation of more than 950 meters to finally reach the temple of Venkateswara.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the journey that must have brought home to her the difficulties faced by travellers and pilgrims all the time. It gave her a perspective on how to reduce this hardship in a practical manner by offering free food to devotees. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time she reached the temple her compositions had preceded her and had made her famous. She was welcomed by the temple authorities, and also by the family of the famed composer Annamacharya.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taking a stand against oppression</span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some time later, an incident in Tirumala forced her to leave for Tumburakona in the Seshachalam hills, a little more than 250 kms away. There she observed penance for six years in a cave now named Tarigonda Vengamamba Gavi and also composed many of her Yakshagana operas. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over time the priests at Tirumala realised their folly and invited Vengamamba back. The practice now of ‘<i>Muthyala Harathi</i>’, aarati with pearls, as the last ritual of the day during Ekantha Seva at Tirumala dates back to this time. During this daily Seva Vengamamba was given the privilege of reciting her verses before the Lord. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her seva for devotees continues today</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba pioneered the idea of distributing free food at the Srivari temple at Tirumala which was situated amidst dense forest at the time. She made food and water available there every year for 10 days during the festival of Sri Narasimha Jayanthi. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today unlimited and free food is available for pilgrims on all days at the Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam Centre near the Tirumala main temple. Such has been the impact of Vengamamba’s social work centuries later.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba continued to write and compose kavya (poetry) and Yakshagana (opera) on themes from the Puranas. Her most famous opera is <i>Venkatachalam Mahatyam</i> which consists of nearly 2000 poems. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About Yakshagana</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although now Yakshagana is popularly known in South Karnataka, the art form has had a long history in Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil speaking areas.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yakshagana is a performance art that includes music, dance and drama. It has particular costumes, usually explores themes from the Puranas (The Ramayana and The Mahabharata) and is wholly based on the Natya Shastra, the ancient treatise on performance arts written by Bharata in about the 2nd century BC.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yakshagana has been a prevalent art form since the times of the <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2019/03/naganika-empress-who-wrote-in-stone.html" target="_blank">Satavahanas</a> (100 BCE to 2nd CE). While many other theatre arts modified and evolved to be today’s classical arts, Yakshagana retained its popular touch and rural flavour. It has remained accessible to the common person although rooted in the same origin as all Indian performance art forms. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Telugu speaking lands where Vengamamba lived, Yakshagana took inspiration from Telugu literature and current events. As such, Telugu Yakshagana is considered to be a treasure trove on history, culture and society. It took wing during the medieval period <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2020/01/bahinabai-traditional-non-conformist.html" target="_blank">Bhakthi Movement</a> and formed a way for even the poor and uneducated to take part and perform this art form. Chindu Yakshaganam, a form performed in Telangana has always been open to women performers, which has not been the case with Yakshagana from other places. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yakshagana formed a channel for people to vent against feudal and oppressive rulers down the ages with the choice of themes readily available in the Puranas.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In such a milieu, Vengamamba’s operas were also an important resource for not just people’s entertainment but also for spiritual solace and secular knowledge. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Venkamamba’s works</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengamamba’s works are poetry and Yakshagana operas. Some of her compositions are <i>Srikrishna Manjari</i>, <i>Rukmini Kalyanam</i>, <i>Gopika Natakam</i>, <i>Jalakreeda Vilasam</i>, <i>Vashishtha Ramayanam</i> and <i>Ashtaanga Rajayogasaaram</i> among several more. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For all her achievements, Vengamamba always played down her work. She claimed she was untaught and unworthy of composing great poetry. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Venkamamba’s legacy today</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her devotion to Venkateswara at Tirupati is acknowledged and celebrated to this day. During the nightly Ekantha Seva for the Lord her name is included as a devotee during the service. Her descendant continues to contribute towards this service in her beloved temple. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The TTD (Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam) has begun to encourage and popularize Vengamamba’s works by sponsoring the training and the performance of her Yakshagana compositions. The compositions were fading away due to not being discussed and researched among experts nor being performed for the general audience. This move by the TTD is a much-needed effort to keep Vengamamba’s works alive and relevant. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">References -</span></i></b></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.tirumalahills.org/2021/08/matrusri-tarigonda-vengamamba-tarigonda.html</span></div><div><span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-65695549605791920852022-09-28T16:28:00.017+05:302024-01-23T15:14:28.769+05:30<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indian Women on Venus</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f4b8b454-7fff-05d1-13ef-cbfe8c912b9e"><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-km25K2zXBoHSV-7QisDzosV7j24adSrSRvUjZPAis1VqdtzXTJqN3IEJB50VnT1FX-RVkLpCuvplc3NufMznrM9CZolsMQ3RjB3Y8QPwqZKyyvziU5NbH6pAKQUooqRJ66rveX58yffwxycnD2g28awD-6-ihIdnHX8WzwRvvJclPZkAeFrAXzB/s500/Venus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-km25K2zXBoHSV-7QisDzosV7j24adSrSRvUjZPAis1VqdtzXTJqN3IEJB50VnT1FX-RVkLpCuvplc3NufMznrM9CZolsMQ3RjB3Y8QPwqZKyyvziU5NbH6pAKQUooqRJ66rveX58yffwxycnD2g28awD-6-ihIdnHX8WzwRvvJclPZkAeFrAXzB/s320/Venus.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's something interesting I had not been aware of previously - m</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">any features on the planet Venus are named for women. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This in itself is not surprising, and is really quite apt. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Venus is, after all, the Roman goddess associated with love, beauty, prosperity and victory. She was a very popular deity in the Roman pantheon.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Venusian features are named after women achievers from all over the world, both mythological and real. This convention was begun by the </span>International Astronomical Union (IAU). </div></span></span><div><span><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only exceptions to this are features which were named before the convention began.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">The naming convention</span></div><div><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The features named on Venus include </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">chasms, craters, mountains, plains, valleys, and other natural elements. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Large craters are named for real women from the world over, smaller ones have generic female names. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chasms and high plains are named after goddesses from Aztec, Roman and Mayan civilizations among others.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The India Connection</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deepa</span><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a small crater on Venus with a generic popular name for Indian girls. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indian women who have had features on Venus named after them are Jerusha Jhirad, Anandi Gopal Joshi and Pandita Ramabai Medhavi.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2022/03/jerusha-jhirad-doctor-with-laser-focus.html">Jerusha Jhirad</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1891-1984. Among the first gynaecologists in India. The Venusian crater is Jhirad.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anandi Gopal Joshi</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1865-1887. First female physician in India. The crater on Venus is Joshee.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyf7cJKAYttLi4nrKmcWmGrYjNPWRuHvZRNr5rK0xnKKx5qsTgXXx8FNnVPJBfgoWokYl3hoPaZnEJm3Z2a89iM06TlWSgqjt2T1913DvzbJKv4Al1Rohzym6JVqNOtWE3Jo9Y6T36RcRWiC45S_HXKIzE86kDkHHWvbQApTNXNxYCTFMwwlXZhiW/s360/Anandibai_joshi.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyf7cJKAYttLi4nrKmcWmGrYjNPWRuHvZRNr5rK0xnKKx5qsTgXXx8FNnVPJBfgoWokYl3hoPaZnEJm3Z2a89iM06TlWSgqjt2T1913DvzbJKv4Al1Rohzym6JVqNOtWE3Jo9Y6T36RcRWiC45S_HXKIzE86kDkHHWvbQApTNXNxYCTFMwwlXZhiW/s320/Anandibai_joshi.jpeg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>Anandi Gopal Joshi</b><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dall, Caroline Wells Healey, 1822-1912, <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anandi Joshi was the first Indian woman to obtain a medical degree. She received it from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP), which is now called Drexel University College of Medicine. She graduated with high honours but succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 21 without having had the chance to practice medicine. She made tremendous personal sacrifices to overcome gender prejudice to study abroad.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pandita Ramabai Medhavi</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1858-1922. The crater named after her is Medhavi.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pandita Ramabai was a social reformer who stood against child marriage, the caste system and for women’s education. She was among the 10 women delegates to the fifth Indian National Congress annual session of 1889. She was a passionate advocate for women teachers and women doctors, which had a positive impact on allowing women in medical education.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7gg8Alb1P_wm_e4FqCG33DhXrGdYdQY4UBYNRgLoM8eAM1-kIP5Tbyq3nR4JSItvYKTpyZeQmL71r4Dq4u0sVRZFySMl3DbO25fWSSPovuboi-a879H78Dn3UJxi6l3BDo6ANuMUQ6F71mSDccLQ659EZU7Kbes1vrIDMDutqS_gAas-s6D4pckG/s256/Pandita%20Ramabai.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="256" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7gg8Alb1P_wm_e4FqCG33DhXrGdYdQY4UBYNRgLoM8eAM1-kIP5Tbyq3nR4JSItvYKTpyZeQmL71r4Dq4u0sVRZFySMl3DbO25fWSSPovuboi-a879H78Dn3UJxi6l3BDo6ANuMUQ6F71mSDccLQ659EZU7Kbes1vrIDMDutqS_gAas-s6D4pckG/s1600/Pandita%20Ramabai.jpeg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pandita Ramabai</b><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">India Post, Government of India, GODL-India <br /><https://data.gov.in/sites/default/files/Gazette_Notification_OGDL.pdf>, <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">via Wikimedia Commons</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">She received the coveted title of Pandita at the age of just 20. She spoke out against the societal ills of ill-treatment of widows. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ramabai travelled to Britain in 1883 to study Medicine, but could not continue due to progressive deafness. She however proudly attended the graduation ceremony of Anandi Gopal Joshi at Women’s Medical College, Pennsylvania. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26323e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pandita Ramabai was proficient in 7 languages and wrote poetry. She founded the Arya Mahila Samaj to ‘empower and educate women to lead a dignified life’. Ramabai translated the Bible into Marathi from Hebrew and Greek.</span></p><br /><br /></span><br /></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-72947187648287534412022-05-04T17:34:00.012+05:302023-09-12T10:36:06.286+05:30Ka Phan Nonglait - Freedom fighter from Meghalaya<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Ka Phan Nonglait</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Freedom fighter from the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya</span></b></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc6d7467-7fff-a597-e529-291d4b42f0fb" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Background</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In 1826 the British had control over the Brahmaputra valley in Asom (Assam). Earlier they had captured the Surma valley in Bengal. Now they wanted to connect the two, only possible through the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya which had a very conducive climate for a sanatorium where the sick could recuperate. The road would also save travel time. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British approached one of the chiefs in the Khasi Hills, U Tirot Sing, to facilitate road construction through his territory. He was assured complete control over the area so that trade could flourish there. He was also interested in regaining the </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dooars</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or passes in the Himalayan foothills in exchange for the permission.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the road construction began, a rival chief objected to U Tirot Sing’s claim over the </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dooars</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, confident that the British would support his claim. Instead he was confronted by British sepoys. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When news came to U Tirot Sing that the British were amassing troops in Asom, the Khasi Council convened and ordered the British to leave Nongkhlaw. When this was not done the Khasi attacked on 4 April 1829. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two British officers were killed in this operation and the British immediately retalitated against the Khasi.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Anglo-Khasi War lasted for 4 years. The Khasi lacked modern firearms and fought with bows, arrows and swords. When it became obvious these were no match for British firearms, the Khasi resorted to guerilla warfare and were undefeated for 4 years.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB6gzJFV_B56bp3dFhw2QJQvNfcH-SrJS7J4QNsaCjhVD7rHZMPl4mQWBU9gmRdkW6hBiD1FB4fcuZg3313Cg7FGOb-AENgs7U5gyKgeZk89k4nlH4-H-dhLkW8MH7B6-iTsihl-zC-LID5yAiW5OhhmdZ8VjiNODxFfk8IgCdfm9aqYOjmMidLpV/s1198/Screenshot%202022-05-04%20at%204.55.56%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="802" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB6gzJFV_B56bp3dFhw2QJQvNfcH-SrJS7J4QNsaCjhVD7rHZMPl4mQWBU9gmRdkW6hBiD1FB4fcuZg3313Cg7FGOb-AENgs7U5gyKgeZk89k4nlH4-H-dhLkW8MH7B6-iTsihl-zC-LID5yAiW5OhhmdZ8VjiNODxFfk8IgCdfm9aqYOjmMidLpV/s320/Screenshot%202022-05-04%20at%204.55.56%20PM.png" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Phan Nonglait Falls, Nongrmai, Meghalaya</b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>(Arijitabani, Wikimapia)</b></span></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ka Phan Nonglait’s exploits</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When British soldiers started to move out of Moirang village and headed for Nongkhlaw, Phan Nonglait set a trap for them with the help of soldiers of Tirot Sing at Langatlehrim. Due to the heat it was but natural that the British soldiers would rest near a milky-white waterfall on the route. This cascade is named Phan Nonglait Falls today. Phan Nonglait made the soldiers of Tirot Sing wait in the shadows nearby.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She made arrangements to provide the British soldiers who rested at the waterfall with cooling drinks to catch them unawares. As they relaxed in the cool environs of the falls Phan Nonglait had her people quietly take away all the weapons of the British soldiers and throw them into a rock hole in the waterfall. Unable to retrieve their weapons the British soldiers could not put up a fight against U Tirot Sing’s men and were easily captured.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The desire for freedom</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the Khasi were facing overwhelming odds with imbalance in technology with the arms they used, they used their native knowledge of local areas and a desire for freedom to keep up the fight for four long years.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today a park in Shillong has been renamed Phan Nonglait Park in honour of the first Khasi woman who revolted against the British. </span></span></p><p><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ref.</span></b></p><p><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/phan-nonglait-the-first-khasi-freedom-fighter/</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-50731153303752124312022-04-13T17:42:00.020+05:302022-09-28T21:41:52.126+05:30<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Veena Dhanammal</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-e61b60ed-7fff-c718-a849-19599beb7896"><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her music transcended all barriers</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Veena Dhanammal, also known as Dhanam (1867-1938) is considered the most influential musician of the early 20th century. Dhanam played the Saraswati Veena to her own exacting standards and set the benchmark for her style - of a melody of alluring, unhurried notes, for proficiency in her artform and for her conduct as a performing artist.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was a household name in her heydays, much respected for her art and had a career that lasted almost sixty years which is remarkable by all standards. Her’s was a lyrical style of playing known for its simplicity, not of a flashy display of virtuosity. The song forms called </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pada</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">javali</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that she specialised in were also part of dance performances. Dhanammal was able to express the essence of the raga in a succinct and subtle manner, without being too vigorous or fast.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dhanammal was born in Chennai (earlier, Madras). Her main source of inspiration, and the one who took her musical education in hand, was her grandmother </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamakshi Ammal. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She ensured that Dhanam learnt from the best teachers and did not lack for anything that helped in taking her musical education forward.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK1XMs7XU6ZkaVkGbAo8N0AvR4qxJE9klePNqAyikeRzAfQUe-RGGcCBirEXuf2fesoq_41_ZSJI2XMS8UQCOIEKaErIn1vUM4tH_jJPNYZyncd-RM8diEz0KiwxazdAvM7XVY43haYZeP_wF7diYve8QfDeU3VEsRJfya3O9eqiD3B7WmstkBbpo/s1408/Screenshot%202022-04-13%20at%205.37.25%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1408" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK1XMs7XU6ZkaVkGbAo8N0AvR4qxJE9klePNqAyikeRzAfQUe-RGGcCBirEXuf2fesoq_41_ZSJI2XMS8UQCOIEKaErIn1vUM4tH_jJPNYZyncd-RM8diEz0KiwxazdAvM7XVY43haYZeP_wF7diYve8QfDeU3VEsRJfya3O9eqiD3B7WmstkBbpo/s320/Screenshot%202022-04-13%20at%205.37.25%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Veenai Dhanammal, India Post 2010</b></span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanammal and her milieu</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">George Town in Chennai where Dhanam chose to live was buzzing with musicians, scholars and patrons in the late 19th century. Her house saw three generations of artistes in her family live and practice their art for which they became justly famous. Her renowned weekly concerts were also held here. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chennai itself was seeing an increase in the number of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sabhas</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and performance spaces for music and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harikatha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sessions at this time. Harikatha is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a composite art form composed of storytelling, poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rich merchants built temples and employed musicians and dancers to perform there. Live bands and orchestras played in public spaces and on special occasions. The Madras of Dhanam’s time was a very happening place. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then there were the devadasis who lent colour and energy to the city. These proficient dancers and singers were known for their repertoire of dance and music, their learning and prowess on stage. Pre-eminent among them was Veena Dhanammal. She commanded clout and respect in this large group of artistes. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Musical lineage for generations</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam’s music was the authentic classical tradition that had evolved over the centuries. So much so that even as she carried forward the legacy of five generations of her ancestors who were musicians and artistes, she ensured the heritage was preserved and enhanced to the same high standards by her descendants. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam’s earliest known ancestor is Papammal who lived in the 18th century. Her daughter Rukmini had a daughter named Thanjavur Kamakshi who was famous as a musician at the court. After the British annexed Thanjavur in 1856 Kamakshiammal moved to Chennai. She was Dhanammal’s grandmother, and a student of Subbaraya Shastri a son and student of the great Shyama Shastri - one of the pre-eminent composer trinity of Carnatic music which includes Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar. Dhanam’s mother Sundarambal, in turn, learnt music from Annaswamy Shastri, Subbaraya Shastri’s son.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The house in George Town was where Dhanam’s grandchildren took their first steps in music and dance - T Brinda and T Mukta the eminent Carnatic vocalists, T Balasaraswati in Bharata Natyam, Abhiramasundari the violinist, T Shankaran the writer, scholar and historian, T Vishwanathan with the flute and T Ranganathan with the mridangam. By all accounts the thirst for the arts continues in the current generation too.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is indeed very rare for several generations of one family to reach the pinnacle of the art form they practise. Dhanam’s family has shown that such mastery is possible with proper nurturing, the proper atmosphere to imbibe and by learning with good teachers. As the matriarch of the family, Dhanam ensured that the treasure left with her by her foremothers found its moorings with the generations ahead.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam’s musical inheritance</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam learnt to play the Veena from the age of ten. She took to the veena instead of dance on the suggestion of her uncle. She also sang for her sister Rupavati’s dance performances and performed with her grandmother Kamakshi.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam inherited a rich legacy of vast learning, including Shyama Shastry’s compositions, from her grandmother and mother. Her first vocal music teacher was her grandmother and later Shatanur Panchanada Iyer who taught her the entire corpus of Tyagaraja’s compositions. His guru in turn was a direct disciple of Muthuswamy Dikshitar so Dhanam received those works too into her repertoire. As a result of these influences her style of music represented all these three important composers. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then she became a student of the blind singer Baladas who was an expert on the compositions of Kshetrayya known as </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">padam</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Dhanam helped preserve and transmit the tradition of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">padam</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> through her own concerts and the dance and music of her descendants. Dhanam’s repertoire also included original compositions that contemporary composers wished her to play to perpetuate their work, and their interpretations of classics.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam the teacher</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam taught music to all her four daughters and it was a proper <i>guru-shishya</i> relationship with no leniency. They were expected to pay her for the classes as soon as they started earning to inculcate the habit of proper preparation for each class, to respect the learning and not to waste the resources of finance and time. It encouraged professionalism and maintained the standard for the arts in the family. Dhanam’s four daughters would sometimes perform in duos as the ‘Dhanam Sisters’. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One student from outside the family Dhanam taught passionately was her favourite pupil, Saravanam. Listening to both of them play the Veena together has been described as ‘a profound experience’ by family members. The bond they shared was unique. When Saravanam tragically died in childbirth, Dhanam did not accept another student for a long time. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam the musician</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dhanam was demanding about the atmosphere in the room as she prepared to play. Absolute silence was necessary as was perfect tuning or </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shruti</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. She would never start without these in place.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With the traditional reliance on memory and not written notations, Dhanam’s routine of training and daily practice was exacting. As a result, she knew not only her music inside out but also the subtleties associated with performing each composition such that she was able to play it at will, even after a great lapse of time. Later in life she became blind but Dhanam was always well prepared for her weekly concerts at home having a repertoire of over one thousand compositions.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam was fluent and able to understand the subtleties of poetry in six languages - Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She regularly performed for the raja of Vizianagaram at his palace and at private performances for the Gaikwad of Baroda, the Maharajas of Travancore and Mysore and the musical giants of the era.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning to cope with change</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Technology</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam’s career was ending when recording devices such as the gramophone began to be first used in India in the early 20th century. Hence there are not many samples of her performances and veena recitals for us today. We instead have the written accounts of her contemporary musicians, and reviews by knowledgeable members of the audience. For a majority of Dhanam’s musical career the equipment for sound at concerts and the output was still rudimentary. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Given the technology at the time Dhanam believed the veena was an instrument for chamber music. Also that a veena recital did not require any accompaniments.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Society</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dhanammal’s style and lineage are important elements of the changes that Carnatic music was undergoing in the early part of the 20th century. She was at the cusp where the old order was yielding to the new - audience tastes were evolving, the devadasi system that was Dhanam’s milieu was fading away and artistes had to look for patronage from non-traditional avenues, not royal courts nor the wealthy connoisseur or</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> rasika</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus Dhanam performed privately in concerts in the homes of Chennai’s elite and mercantile classes apart from public concerts in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sabha</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or halls. It is believed that in 1895 Dhanammal was the first female musician to perform in a public hall in Madras.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam the person</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanammal’s love of life and sense of humour is the stuff of legend. She is remembered for her uncompromising stance on her music, her love for betel leaf and her wit. Her aristocratic lifestyle and her refined manner of interacting with visitors set her apart. She used the best of perfumes and clothes, was a connoisseur of the best fruits of the season.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam was famed for her Friday evening concerts amidst Jasmine plants at her home in Ramakrishna Chetty Street in Chennai. Ustad Abdul Karim Khan of the Kirana gharana was one in the audience whenever he was in Chennai. Dhanam would sing as she played the veena. The audience was a mix of vidwans, connoisseurs, people completely new to music and others who just happened to stop by. Dhanam played for two hours, and each week the songs were different. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her requirement from the audience was absolute pindrop silence all through the programme, and the patience to sit until the end. Even the slightest noise from outside would make her stop the concert, so her street was cordoned off to tradesmen, and neighbours learnt to ensure no kitchen noises during the time. Members of her audience would rather miss the last train at 8 pm from her area and be ready for the inconvenience, than leave the concert midway and incur Dhanam’s displeasure. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The room on the first floor of her house seated about 15-20 people and would be packed each week. Dhanam had unfortunately become quite impoverished in her old age due to heavy spending, and was virtually blind in the later years of her life, but the concerts continued. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was always open to teaching whoever wished to learn - and her list of such visitors is filled with legendary names from the spheres of Carnatic and Hindustani music - Bangalore Nagarathnamma, Gauhar Jan, and many more. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dhanam’s last public performance, sponsored by the Madras Music Academy was on 28 December, 1937. Dhanammal died on 15 October 1938. Even as she lay dying she told her family that her one regret at the moment was of parting with her beloved veena.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As distinguished novelist and journalist R Krishnamurthy, also more famously known as Kalki, said ‘The name Dhanam means ‘auspicious’ and ‘wealth’. There are two different types of wealth: first, the wealth of learning; second, material wealth. Dhanammal has none of the second but all of the first. She is an aged blind lady, there’s a quaver in her voice. But true musicians still go to her house in Georgetown.’ - Ananda Vikatan, August 20, 1933.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">References:</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Veena Dhanammal - The Making of a Legend by Lakshmi Subramanian</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-29-no-18/lost-landmark-of-chennai/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-29-no-18/lost-landmark-of-chennai/</span></span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Legacy of Veena Dhanammal - In conversation with Ritha Rajan, www.sahapedia.org </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Unfinished Gestures - Devadasis, Memory and Modernity in South India, Davesh Soneji</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Balasaraswati: Her Art and Life, Douglas M.Knight Jr.</span></span></p></li></ol></span>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-52900611261496550522022-03-15T18:12:00.026+05:302022-05-09T09:34:34.444+05:30<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jerusha Jhirad</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A doctor with laser focus on maternal health</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The career path of Jerusha Jhirad (1891-1984) in obstetrics and gynaecology is a clear indication of how early influences in one’s life affect the choices one makes in later years, often subconsciously. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the story of a physician </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and a pioneer of maternal health in India</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who forged her way at a time when deaths due to preventable causes were appallingly high. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHFun4SZbeVH9LQYRSMRuV2OdEU42Gcp1uQuMddTHsI9Aeu4u2g-7bzH_f6QA9g1f_Pfqwkj-RenAp6f_nKlT20suoQyVo3VdU7TOuXKkBIq-mui9U7Ei9Z_QD5uaOOXGXdjFfVzL3gCIZXSmm6hgNzD5Zdnd1kK3g30TFM-3S0SbE4LxDJi-P6xIa=s864" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHFun4SZbeVH9LQYRSMRuV2OdEU42Gcp1uQuMddTHsI9Aeu4u2g-7bzH_f6QA9g1f_Pfqwkj-RenAp6f_nKlT20suoQyVo3VdU7TOuXKkBIq-mui9U7Ei9Z_QD5uaOOXGXdjFfVzL3gCIZXSmm6hgNzD5Zdnd1kK3g30TFM-3S0SbE4LxDJi-P6xIa=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Jerusha Jhirad</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><p style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Many firsts to her credit</span></b></p><p style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jerusha was the first recipient of a Government of India scholarship to study medicine in England. Dr. Jhirad was the first Indian to serve as Medical Officer at The Cama and Albless Hospitals for Women and Children, Mumbai from 1928 to 1947, the previous incumbents had only been British.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d33e76d7-7fff-2ffc-eb26-2279a08d2cbb"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Early life</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jerusha Jhirad was from the minuscule community of Bene Israel Jews in India. She was born in Shivamogga, Karnataka in 1890 in a family of six children. Her father managed his father-in-law’s coffee estate and Jerusha’s early idyllic childhood was spent there amidst nature.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was homeschooled with her siblings by her parents but was soon on her way for higher classes to a boarding school in Pune, Huzurpaga School for Girls.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At home, in the meanwhile, disaster struck in the form of the insect called ‘Planter’s Pest’ that decimated the coffee estate, which had to be abandoned. Jerusha’s family moved, with her father finding employment in the Railways and her mother and siblings living in Pune. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The silver lining in the dark cloud hovering over the family was that Jerusha’s grandfather sponsored her education while she was at school. But soon she won enough scholarships to pay her own way through her education. Jerusha’s single-minded aim ensured she was motivated to excel at school, at Grant Medical College in Mumbai and her medical studies in England. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a child Jerusha had vowed to herself to work as an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Cama Hospital at Mumbai where her older sister’s life had been saved, even as her newborn twins had died. Cama Hospital for Women was also entirely staffed by women. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another incident that impacted Jerusha was when her brother-in-law’s sister bled to death after childbirth, because of a lack of female doctors. The patient’s mother would not admit the male doctor into the room and he could only verbally instruct the midwife and the nurse from another room, which was inadequate care. This episode brought home to Jerusha the vital need for female obstetricians and gynaecologists.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stellar academic record and work experience</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jerusha graduated from Grant Medical College in 1912. Her superb academic record ensured she won a majority of the prizes at college that year. Jerusha had now become the first woman from the Bene-Israel community to become a doctor.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">After graduation Jerusha set up private practice in Mumbai since Resident positions were not open for women. In her rented rooms her first patients were Arab women. As her practice grew because of her medical skills, so did her confidence. </span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her aim was to get an MD degree from London but the qualification for that was that she had to be a Medical Officer. Also scholarships for MD was only available for male students. A Tata loan scholarship for MD at the London School of Medicine for Women came to her rescue. Six months into the programme she got a scholarship from the Bombay government of 200 pounds per annum for five years, as a special case. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jerusha was in London studying medicine as World War I raged. Due to the war there was a shortage of doctors, who had signed up and were at the war front. This opened up rare work opportunities for qualified female doctors, even if they were Indian. Jerusha worked as obstetric assistant and house surgeon at hospitals in England, gaining experience. She could now apply for MD since the condition of at least 6 months residential post could now be fulfilled.</span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wider outreach than only medical help</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Upon graduating she returned to India in 1920 and was felicitated by a group of Bene-Israel women for her accomplishments. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of these women were living largely isolated lives in the restrictive confines of a traditional family structure with their in-laws, without avenues to explore their personalities and talents. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jerusha created a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stree Mandal</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, women’s association. It became a venue for informal meetings, lighthearted entertainment, daily afternoon classes of cooking, languages, needlework which led to employment opportunities for many of the women who had not studied further due to marriage or poverty. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stree Mandal</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was open to all women.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unexpected stumbling block</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now she was back in India with an MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of London, a first for an Indian woman. Jerusha applied at the one hospital in which she had always aspired to work - Cama Hospital - but was rejected. They did not hire Indians. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Undeterred at being rejected for her nationality in her own country inspite of all her qualifications and work experience Jerusha worked at other hospitals in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. At Bengaluru she developed services for pregnant women, trained nurses and midwives. Some wealthy patients donated for a labour room and an operation theatre. Some even volunteered to work with mothers and babies. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jerusha reapplied at Cama Hospital in 1925. This time, her stellar reputation at work saw her being accepted. Three years later she was Medical Officer at Cama Hospital. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Medical officers are senior physicians who </span><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">manage all aspects related to patient care within their departments</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her life’s work - at Cama Hospital and elsewhere</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Jhirad was at Cama for nearly 20 years. In addition to her regular duties at the hospital, Jerusha was deeply involved in improving medical facilities in slums to lower infant mortality. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1937 and 1938 she published a study on maternal mortality in Mumbai. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She had lived through the daily experiences of a young female medical student, so Jerusha was instrumental in improving hostel facilities for them so they would be encouraged to pursue their medical studies in Mumbai. She was among the first in India to insist upon international safety regulations in hospitals here.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Jhirad advocated for training traditional midwives and dais in modern medicine for the safety of the mother and child. These women were an asset in rural areas where medical facilities were non-existent. She was against blindly following the practices of western medicine and felt methods had to be evolved to accommodate Indian ways.</span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On her 80th birthday, a post-graduate library was established at Cama in her name. This was befitting since she had always been particular about doctors and nurses at Cama being up to date with the latest medical information. She had also persuaded the government to give grants for subscriptions to journals and books.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1934 Dr. Jhirad provided medical assistance during the earthquake in Bihar which was among the worst in Indian history. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of the magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter Scale it flattened entire towns in Bihar and Nepal. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was contacted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, later President of India, to help women in purdah. Dr. Jhirad and her team spent a month in Bihar. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Jhirad was fond of teaching so held special classes on weekday evenings and the weekends. She was on the medical faculty of the universities of Mumbai, Vadodara and Pune. She was an examiner for MBBS and MD exams at Mumbai, Chennai and Pune universities. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Even after retirement, and living with her sister Leah in Dahisar in Mumbai, Dr. Jhirad continued to consult a few days in a week. Her concerns and work for maternal health, childcare centres, maternity leave, rescue homes and child aid societies continued unabated.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Jhirad’s</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> published on topics close to her heart - maternal mortality, obstetrics, gynaecology and careers in medicine for Indian women.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Jerusha Jhirad's contemporaries mentioned that high standards of professional work, tact, sympathy, administrative ability and surgical skill were her hallmarks.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Much-deserved recognition</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Jerusha Jhirad was founding member and elected president of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bombay Obstetric and Gynaecological Society</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), and from 1947 to 1957 president of the Association of Medical Women in India (AMWI). In 1947, she was elected a Fellow of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_College_of_Obstetricians_and_Gynaecologists" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1950 she presided at the 6th All India Obstetric and Gynaecological Congress, held in Chennai. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was awarded Padma Shri (civilian award of the Republic of India) for her services to society and MBE (a British honour given by their monarch for a particular achievement)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Interests apart from medicine</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Jhirad was a pioneer of Progressive Judaism in India, having learnt about it when she was in England. This was Judaism adapted to modern times in which women could participate more than in traditional Judaism. She founded a religious congregation and a reform synogogue with her sister Leah in Mumbai, and organised activities for Jewish teenagers. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr Jhirad passed away at the grand old age of 93 in 1984 after a lifetime of breaking barriers of race and gender, and creating a path for young Indian women doctors after her.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here’s something unique befitting a pioneer such as Dr. Jerusha Jhirad. The International Astronomical Union, the worldwide union of astronomers names astronomical bodies after women who have made significant contributions in their fields. Venus now has a crater 50 kilometers wide named Jhirad.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Ref:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Women Scientists in India: Lives, Struggles and Achievements - Anjana Chattopadhyay</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Fabulous Female Physicians - Sharon L. Krish</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Unstoppable - Gayathri Ponvannan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>4. <span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space: pre;">https://nbtindia.gov.in/writereaddata/freebooks/pdf/Women.pdf</span></span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>5. Ramanna M. A pioneer of maternal health: Jerusha Jhirad, 1890–1983. Natl Med J India 2019;32:243-246</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #4b4f58; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-41889207877097151032022-02-16T20:14:00.019+05:302023-06-30T11:36:46.570+05:30<h1 style="text-align: center;"><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bibi Dalair Kaur</span></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">She defended Anandpur Fort against the Mughals</span></span></h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-eef08ea7-7fff-8ac9-78bf-94bceb61110a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The early 18th century was a period of turbulence in the Punjab. Frequent wars between the Sikh, the hill kingdoms and the Mughals under Aurangzeb saw alliances between these parties being made and broken constantly. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">History of Anandpur</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth of the ten Sikh gurus, founded in 1665 the town of Anandpur Sahib on the banks of the river Setluj, the longest of Punjab’s five rivers. Rani Champa of Bilaspur had offered him the land during the extensive travels he undertook all over India. He met people to extend comfort and strength to the masses as atrocities on non-Muslims became rampant under Aurangzeb’s influence. His son, Guru Gobind Singh became the tenth Sikh guru.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv-mKwcaFY_S0pI8H76tAcVLZ2KPJFhZsDHigHjvo_nn2m7zre7lSAIMuxt0dRRo-fWbDushvJ45M4UOs24r9o9KMIZqA2-128ooSqV9eUYgSxSHkd7jMm-DoNxckwqBjXqM30IzAndZbAux9PwAvF9NiMpgnKQl8Or3xvQtNQ_77e0lzk5_K44dhS=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anandpur Fort" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv-mKwcaFY_S0pI8H76tAcVLZ2KPJFhZsDHigHjvo_nn2m7zre7lSAIMuxt0dRRo-fWbDushvJ45M4UOs24r9o9KMIZqA2-128ooSqV9eUYgSxSHkd7jMm-DoNxckwqBjXqM30IzAndZbAux9PwAvF9NiMpgnKQl8Or3xvQtNQ_77e0lzk5_K44dhS=w320-h240" title="Anandpur Fort" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Anandpur Fort</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guru Gobind Singh lived in Anandpur and his followers also began to settle there. The rulers of the neighbouring hill kingdoms who were allies of the Mughals were uncomfortable with this development. Hence Aurangzeb disallowed large congregations of Sikhs to assemble for their festivals such as Baisakhi. And in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth, transforming the Sikhs into a martial unit of armed men and women in Anandpur to resist Mughal excesses and religious persecution, Aurangzeb responded by sending his army. This then led to several battles and skirmishes between the Sikhs and the Mughal forces.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The First Battle of Anandpur in 1700 resulted in the Mughal forces being routed. The army fled the battlefield. In the Second Battle of Anandpur in 1704, the Mughal army units were again roundly defeated by the Sikhs. Aurangzeb then sent in a second larger army to break the Sikh resistance. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This time the Mughals did not opt for open warfare but chose to lay siege to the town from May to December, effectively cutting off all supplies to Anandpur. Under these circumstances Guru Gobind Singh accepted the Mughal offer of safe passage. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dalair Kaur in-charge</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before he left the fort however, Guru Gobind Singh handed over charge to young Dalair Kaur who had 100 Khalsa women and 10 Khalsa men with her to defend Anandpur.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Almost as soon as Guru Gobind Singh and 500 Khalsa soldiers left the fort, the Mughals and their allies reneged on their promise of safe passage. They attacked the Sikhs and a tremendous battle ensued. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guru Gobind Singh’s family scattered. His wife and a trusted aide made their way to Delhi, his two older sons and 40 soldiers lost their lives in a subsequent battle which the guru survived, and the guru’s mother and two young sons were betrayed by a trusted aide to the Mughals, which led to their brutal execution. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the meanwhile, at the Anandpur Fort</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Mughal army readied to walk in and claim victory over the fort at Anandpur after the battle outside. As they triumphantly neared the fort they were greeted by a hail of bullets. Bibi Dalair Kaur and her soldiers were prepared for battle, to uphold the trust the guru had reposed in them.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The sight of so many dead Mughal soldiers when he thought victory was at hand drove the general Wazir Khan into a frenzy of anger.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Mughals now deployed their cannons and breached the wall of the fort. The Mughal army was much larger in number and better equipped, but the Sikhs were not about to give up the fort without a fight.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bibi Dalair Kaur was a true leader even under fire. She encouraged her soldiers every step of the way inspite of overwhelming odds. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the cry of ‘Bolay So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’ rang out in the fort, Wazir Khan kept sending in soldiers even as the Sikhs inside began to run out of ammunition. The Sikh defenders were now ready </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">at the breach in the wall </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">with their swords drawn. When the Mughal soldiers clambered over the rubble to try to enter the fort they were astonished to see Khalsa women in the thick of battle, giving as good as they got. Going by the enemy’s ferocity in the earlier skirmish the Mughals had imagined a larger number of Sikhs within the fort. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Seeing his soldiers hesitate at the sight of women warriors, Wazir Khan egged them on and rode into the breach, only to be felled by a defender. The Mughal soldiers retreated again. They were unsure of how many Khalsa warriors were actually in the fort. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now the second commander Zabardast Khan ordered for the cannons to be used. Afterwards as the Mughals now cautiously walked into the breach, they fully expected to be attacked at any moment but there was no retaliation from the Sikhs. Zabardast Khan was convinced the Sikhs were hiding to attack in full force, but even as the Mughals went deeper into the fort nothing happened.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Dalair Kaur kept her word</b></span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the Mughals began to loot the place of anything of value, they also moved the rubble from near the breach in the wall. The bodies of the Sikh defenders, Khalsa women and men were discovered there. They had fought to the last of their resources and had given their lives to defend the fort as Bibi Dalair Kaur had promised Guru Gobind Singh.</span></span></p><div style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Reference:</span></b><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. <a href="http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-history/bibi-dalair-kaur.html" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-history/bibi-dalair-kaur.html</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. www.sikhiwiki.org</span></p><br /></span>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-31155936091011588892022-01-12T14:53:00.040+05:302022-11-11T09:38:26.656+05:30<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rani Mangammal</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">"My people first and foremost."</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rani Mangammal ruled Madurai at the close of the 17th century for 18 years, with great sagacity and resourcefulness in a very turbulent and unsettled period in its history. Like many other women rulers she had to overcome prejudice about her ability based on her gender. However her successful rule at a fractious time in Madurai, and in a turbulent neighbourhood, only proved that she was the right woman for the job, at the right time. And like the <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2021/04/bhaumakara-queens-of-orissa-they-ruled.html" target="_blank">Bhaumakara queen Tribhuvanamahadevi</a> about seven centuries earlier and the <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2019/05/rudramadevi-queen-true-to-her-calling.html" target="_blank">Kakatiya Rani Rudramadevi of Warangal</a> about five centuries earlier, Mangammal was yet another grandmother who ruled in her own right until her grandson was old enough to be crowned king. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8c920fd1-7fff-4612-b1b3-5b75f261d8b1"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is fascinating to realise that these worthy women simply did not allow the prevalent notions of their age and gender to come in the way of being successful rulers. They used the opportunity given by sheer chance to rule and bring about positive changes on the ground.</span></span></p><span><span id="docs-internal-guid-8c920fd1-7fff-4612-b1b3-5b75f261d8b1"><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Family history</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mangammal was the daughter of Tupakula Lingama Nayaka, a general in the Madurai army. Chokkanatha Nayaka, who ruled Madurai from 1659 to 1682 A.D. married Mangammal in 1665. Chokkanatha Nayaka was an ineffective king whose reign saw loss of territory to neighbouring rulers, and hardships such as famine for his subjects. His erratic behaviour also caused much turbulence in the family.</span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-4d77c47a-7fff-eb47-90e7-82590c322051" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chokkanatha Nayaka wanted to marry the daughter of Vijayaraghava Nayaka of neighbouring Thajavur as his second wife. Vijayaraghava Nayaka rejected the offer, and died with his son in the battle initiated by Chokkanatha. The women of the family committed suicide. At this time the Maratha ruler Shivaji attacked Thanjavur and established Maratha rule there. Also an attack on Madurai by the Mysuru army was repulsed with the help of the rulers of Gingee and Ramanathapuram. With all this turmoil in the land Chokkanatha Nayak was deposed on the grounds of insanity. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although he was reinstated later, Chokkanatha Nayak died soon after. His son Lingama Krishna succeeded to the throne. However, Lingama Krishna born in 1666-67 died of small pox at the age of 21 before he could have much of an impact on the forces arrayed against Madurai. His mother Mangammal then became regent for her infant grandson Vijayaranga Chokkanatha who was born after the death of Lingama Krishna.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXpmMxTwVVLkIQ3BFamH4VuYCx25YP5zPNS5IIvKo0lXCPEryeL5qcafeePpUUFQuj9DDTWI5oUnx2lcwR12xAdJGNA1cPbQwisd-4qV4Rf8zFJGXyWmEDdZ6pTp0t-nx1mdR8XhS_uxgGB4CEazZVX53nXOTBivONue9WQaiSuR0LJewoi5k4fK9I=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rani Mangammal and her successor Vijayaranga Chokkanatha" border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXpmMxTwVVLkIQ3BFamH4VuYCx25YP5zPNS5IIvKo0lXCPEryeL5qcafeePpUUFQuj9DDTWI5oUnx2lcwR12xAdJGNA1cPbQwisd-4qV4Rf8zFJGXyWmEDdZ6pTp0t-nx1mdR8XhS_uxgGB4CEazZVX53nXOTBivONue9WQaiSuR0LJewoi5k4fK9I=w240-h320" title="Rani Mangammal and Vijayaranga Chokkanatha" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rani Mangammal </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and her successor Vijayaranga Chokkanatha</b></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A troubled neighbourhood and a surfeit of enemies</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The start of Mangammal’s tenure (1689-1706 CE) was no bed of roses. She was besieged by trouble on all sides with no help from anyone. Mangammal had to contend with the Marathas of Thanjavur ruled by Shivaji's son Shahu, the Mughal Aurangzeb, Raja Ravi Verma of Travancore and the Mysuru army of Raja Chikka Deva Raya - all actively trying to establish their hegemony over the region. This resulted in non-stop political and military strategems, alliances and readjustments among the various players. Mangammal, in the meanwhile, had laser focus on improving the lot of Madurai’s citizens and keeping the kingdom safe. As such she was prepared to do anything to achieve this. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e99f8ca8-7fff-ed87-15c4-97318af43ed6" style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-0f38ee9e-7fff-8da5-ece3-924be67bc621"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The key players in the game</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mughal</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was during Mangammal’s reign that Madurai came in contact with the Mughals. Aurangzeb was bent upon invading Madurai and Thanjavur after conquering the fort at Gingee from Shivaji’s son Rajaram. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1693 Zulfiquar Ali, Aurangzeb’s general, planned to attack Madurai. In a cool assessment of the situation Mangammal realised that Thanjavur and Mysuru had sent tributes to the Mughals to avert bloodshed, so she decided to follow suit. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only that, she also got the assistance of Zulfiquar Ali to retrieve some of her territory from Shahu of Thanjavur. She liberally gave gifts to the Mughals for their assistance against her enemies. Her priority always was to ensure no harm came to her subjects due to warfare and that she did not lose territory. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e1f554a-7fff-d7c8-57fb-28b93c1026ad"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mysuru</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The kingdom of Mysuru wanted to capture Madurai even when Chokkanatha was alive. Now, after his death, they thought they had a ready advantage with a woman on the throne. The Mysuru army captured Coimbatore and Salem within Mangamma’s territory. However, they were recalled before they could capture Madurai when Mysuru was itself attacked by the Mughals.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travancore</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Raja of Travancore had been a feudatory of Madurai for years, but now the ruler Raja Ravi Verma began to withhold paying the tribute expected of him. So he had to be brought in line. Mangammal sent a force under the general (Dalavoy) Narasappaiah which included troops from other chieftains of Madurai to show she should be taken seriously and could not be trifled with. The force returned to Madurai with enormous booty.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4f375c71-7fff-5d38-b49e-2e0e7bdaec68" style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maratha</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Madurai army defeated Shahu’s forces at Thanjavur to punish him for repeatedly taking away territory, a peace treaty was signed between them. They even decided to jointly fight Mysuru for building a dam across the Kaveri and depleting water at Madurai and Thanjavur. However, before they could do so the dam collapsed in heavy flooding due to rains, thus averting war.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6ca1d0a0-7fff-c84d-9918-b0fee31191a6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ramanad</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The powerful ruler of the principality of Ramanad, Raghunatha Sethupathy, was in revolt and was aiming to become an independent ruler. He brought about Mangammal’s greatest military defeat which resulted in the death of her trusted Dalavoy Narasappaiah and the decline of Madurai from which it could never recover.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The practical ruler</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reign of Mangammal points to the prosperity of Madurai and her resourcefulness in ensuring the welfare of her people above all else. She is remembered even today for her excellent administration. Her memory lives on through the public works she carried out. In the political sphere the measures she carried out ensured that Madurai did not fall to the covetous powers that surrounded it, but remained as an independent entity. Not only that, she also ensured the return of some parts of the kingdom that had been handed over to other powers earlier, or that had been lost in battle before her reign.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-46080ae4-7fff-0bd5-41e3-adf3fbaf9ae3" style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why is Mangammal still remembered even centuries later?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apart from her military exploits and excellent administration, Mangammal is remembered for her diplomatic skills and the courage to face the trying circumstances before her both internally and externally. In fact, all her dealings with external powers were to explore how best to ultimately benefit her people best. She was forward-looking and constantly interested in general welfare. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5dedbb44-7fff-6b14-967f-ce124d143545" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This attitude led to the construction of better civic facilities such as roads and avenues. Her capital was Tiruchi and she constructed several Anna Chatiram, food inns, on the Madurai -Tiruchi road. There were special horse stables along the road. She kept not just the physical health of the population in mind but also their psychological wellbeing by encouraging the construction of temples, irrigation canals and water bodies, celebration of festivals and even-handed interaction with her subjects regardless of their religious affiliations. Many of her public works in Madurai are still in use today.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She promoted trade and industry, built irrigation networks, an improved road from Kanyakumari to Madurai named Mangammal Salai, and a rest-house which presently stands near the Madurai railway station. Tamukkam Palace built during her reign is now a museum. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was open-minded and generous towards converts to Islam and Christianity. She endowed the temple of Meenakshi for which Madurai is famous, and ruled in the name of the deity. This was a practice by many rulers at the time who considered themselves to only be a servant while the real ruler was God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: normal;"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="white-space: normal;" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her last days</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mangammal died in 1706 after her grandson attained majority and was able to rule. The circumstances of her death are unclear since no verified account is available. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-5a405c70-7fff-b0d3-0a64-3775ba599684" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus ruled a sensible queen who ran a stable government although the external circumstances were stormy and could easily have spelt disaster for a less experienced and immature ruler. Mangammal’s calm and steady hand ensured that the citizens of Madurai remained safe, and prospered without losing their lives or property during her reign. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ref. - </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"></span></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">History of the Nayaks of Madura. R Satyanatha Aiyar</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Madras District Gazetteers: Madurai - B S Baliga, 1960</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psycho-biography: The last days of Rani Mangammal - Dr. O Somasundaram</span></p></li></ol></span></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-73186376970758021362021-12-28T16:54:00.015+05:302022-03-23T17:19:23.702+05:30<h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala Sohonie</span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She charted new paths for women in science</span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ca01a07-7fff-fa43-d6de-b97d74a32892"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala Sohonie (18 June 1912 - 28 June 1998) was the first Indian woman to obtain a PhD in any subject of science. She was a biochemist who received her PhD in 1939, for her study of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the effects of vitamins and the nutritive values of pulses, paddy, and groups of food items consumed by some of India’s poorest citizens. Her study of the nutritive value of the palm extract Neera that she conducted on the suggestion of President Rajendra Prasad was pathbreaking. She received the Rashtrapati Award for her pioneering work.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMi6U3cnlFJzW1mrxgfL7MNlUSFUc3Xaztdwrp5PtubtMEm69xNdl9I2c8oOO8TaVNqpp2VHyajCBPjjgrNWsZzcu4rOelRhoI-LXw0zC5whgaruUAtGEz-wmPo2ciGFnq1CKw4Tzx8vfqaSNwzhzy0uM-FonwAfcp-JrOLopKV_I4wpuipWvekd7k=s300" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kamala Sohonie" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMi6U3cnlFJzW1mrxgfL7MNlUSFUc3Xaztdwrp5PtubtMEm69xNdl9I2c8oOO8TaVNqpp2VHyajCBPjjgrNWsZzcu4rOelRhoI-LXw0zC5whgaruUAtGEz-wmPo2ciGFnq1CKw4Tzx8vfqaSNwzhzy0uM-FonwAfcp-JrOLopKV_I4wpuipWvekd7k=s16000" title="Kamala Sohonie" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Kamala Sohonie</span></b></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Source: Wikipedia</b></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Early career stumbling blocks</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala Sohonie </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">née Bhagvat </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was born in Indore in 1912. Her father and uncle were chemists and alumni of the Tata Institute of Sciences (later Indian Institute of Science) in Bengaluru. Inspite of encouragement at home to pursue her interest in science, all was not smooth sailing for Kamala Sohonie in her professional life inspite of her proven competence. At every step she came up against male prejudice and hidebound attitudes against women working in almost completely male environments . Yet, and this is the lesson we need to take away since these attitudes persist even today, she did not let that stop her. She found ways to sidestep and continue on her way to her goal. Nothing at work was handed to her as easily as it was to her male colleagues, and it might be argued that she had to expend energy on managing these unfair circumstances but my guess is that these roadblocks only served to make her more determined.</span></h4><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facing gender prejudice</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and winning</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala graduated in 1933 from Bombay University with Bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Physics. When she applied to the Indian Institute of Science at Bengaluru for a fellowship, Kamala was turned down by the then director and Nobel laureate Sir CV Raman despite her topping the university merit list. His reason was that she was unqualified due to her gender, that she was not competent to pursue research due to being a woman. Kamala’s response was a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">satyagraha</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> outside Raman’s office, which caused him to change his mind subject to conditions - that she would be on probation until he was convinced of her merit and that she must ensure her presence would not disturb the male researchers. Kamala later recounted this period of her life at a meeting at the Indian Women Scientists’ Association - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Though Raman was a great scientist, he was very narrow-minded. I can never forget the way he treated me just because I was a woman. Even then, Raman didn’t admit me as a regular student. This was a great insult to me. The bias against women was so bad at that time. What can one expect if even a Nobel Laureate behaves in such a way?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala’s exemplary work ethic forced Raman to change his stance a year later, and she was allowed to continue as a regular researcher in biochemistry. What is more, due to her conduct and merit Kamala was the reason for the portals of the IISc being opened to women henceforth. It must have gladdened her that her fight was fruitful and led to more opportunities for deserving women candidates where none had existed earlier.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala’s mentor and teacher at IISc, Sri Srinivasayya encouraged her to spread her wings. He pushed her to read the works of masters in biochemistry and even correspond with them. At IISc her work was on proteins in milk, pulses and legumes - all important for combating malnutrition in India at the time. She was the first researcher, only a graduate student then, to work in the field of pulse protein. This resulted in her obtaining an MSc from the University of Bombay.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research and a PhD in Science from Cambridge University</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala then left for Cambridge where she worked in the lab of Dr. Robin Hill on plant tissue. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While working on potatoes she found that every cell of a plant tissue contained the enzyme ‘cytochrome C’ which was involved in the oxidation of all plant cells. This was an original discovery which embraced the entire plant kingdom. She sent a short thesis on her discovery to Cambridge University for her PhD - the research and writing took 14 months, all encapsulated in 40 pages. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was the first Indian woman to get a PhD in science.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soon she received two scholarships. One was at Cambridge University with Nobel Laureate Prof. Fredrick Hopkins with whom she worked in the areas of biological oxidation and reduction. The second was an US travelling scholarship which enabled her to meet scientists in Europe.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A career in India</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After she returned to India in 1939 she became head at the Department of Biochemistry at the Lady Hardinge College, New Delhi. Later she became the Assistant Director of the Nutrition Research Laboratory, Coonoor which was when she researched the effect of vitamins. In 1947 she moved to Bombay after marriage.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There she joined the newly opened Department of Biochemistry at the Royal Institute of Science. This is where she researched three major food groups consumed by India’s rural poor in order to establish their nutritive values. These studies involved several products - </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">leguminous proteins, trypsin inhibitors and other compounds which reduce the digestibility of Indian legumes, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Neera, palm gur and palm molasses, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dhanata paddy flour which is formed during milling and polishing rice.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Extensive study on Neera and nutrition for tribal women and children</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She worked on the nutritive qualities of Neera, a popular drink in the southern states, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Neera is also known as palm nectar, and is the fresh extract of the flowers of the toddy palm. It is white and translucent. Within a few hours of extraction it ferments and is then known as toddy. Introduction of Neera on a regular basis in the diets of pregnant tribal women and adolescents in these areas showed a remarkable improvement in their general health. Kamala had several batches of her students study the nutritional effects of Neera on tribal women over 10 to 12 years with samples of Neera taken from all over the country. The study showed the same results throughout and verified Neera as a good nutritional input. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later career in consumer safety</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala Sohonie was also a consultant at the Aarey Milk Dairy. She was active at the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI). In 1982-83 she was elected their president. She also wrote for their publication </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keemat</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on consumer safety. Even after all her professional achievements, Kamala Sohonie had to endure being denied directorship at CGSI for four years. When she finally became director, it was welcomed wholeheartedly by all who knew her work.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She always attributed her successes to three important men in her life - her father, her teacher and her husband. When Dr. Satyavathi, first woman Director-General at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India’s apex body for biomedical research, came to know of Dr. Sohonie’s struggles she felicitated the then 84-year old at a grand ceremony. The irony of Kamala Sohonie’s life is that she collapsed at the ceremony and passed away soon after.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gender politics and the careers of women in science</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kamala Sohonie prevailed and succeeded in her chosen path inspite of numerous obstacles at every turn. It is an indication of her will power and the support she had which resulted in the successes in her career that she could enjoy at long last. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The passage of time has not made it easier for women to achieve professional success despite their gender. Old fashioned chauvinistic attitudes still prevail, the improvement being they are not as prevalent as earlier and some avenues now exist to call them out. There is, however, a long way to go before gender parity is achieved. It is thanks to pioneering women such as Kamala Sohonie who broke a few glass ceilings that the disparity is now being acknowledged and partly redressed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Reference - </b></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. <a href="https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Resources/Initiatives/Women_in_Science/Contributors/kamalasohonie.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;">https://www.ias.ac.in/public/Resources/Initiatives/Women_in_Science/Contributors/kamalasohonie.pdf</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Sohonie" style="text-decoration: none;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Sohonie</a></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-77652088300869706922021-12-24T16:43:00.025+05:302023-09-11T09:33:42.747+05:30<h1 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Chipko Aandolan</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">By women who decided to save trees</span></div></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The soil is ours. The water is ours. Ours are these forests. Our forefathers raised them. It’s we who must protect them.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A song from the Chipko Aandolan.</span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What was the Chipko Aandolan?</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">26 March 1973 is a red-letter day for the environment in India. The unique environmental movement, Chipko Aandolan, was started by women of Reni village of Uttarakhand (then a part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh). 27 women, led by their compatriot Gaura Devi, decided to protest the commercial felling of trees in their village and adopted a unique strategy to stop the practice. They said the trees were the basis for their survival and that they were prepared to protest until tree cutting was stopped. They claimed first rights to forest produce, for which the survival of the forest was vital. They linked hands and formed tight circles around trees, thus not allowing for them to be cut. In Hindi ‘Chipko’ means ‘to hug’, ‘Aandolan’ means ‘revolution or movement’.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nobody could have foreseen the impact on British colonial rule in India of one man, Mahatma Gandhi, making a fistful of salt. This seemingly simple act of defying an unreasonable law set a train of events in motion during India's struggle for freedom.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Similarly when women of one village in India decided to hold hands to form a simple human barricade to prevent trees from being cut, it snowballed into a wider worldwide movement for ecology. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chipko Aandolan was a forest conservation, non-violent movement that soon spread with lightning speed around the world. The immediate impetus for the movement was a devastating flood of the river Alakananda in the Garhwal hills in 1970 which razed towns for nearly 320 kilometers from Hanumanchatti to Haridwar. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Deforestation over time had led to a lack of vegetation, firewood and fodder which were traditionally collected by women for their homes and cattle. With the cutting of trees the women now had to travel increasingly longer distances to collect these essentials. Also the lack of good water for drinking and agriculture due to less trees became more apparent with each passing year. The reduction of trees led to erosion of topsoil, and floods becoming more lethal than if there had been vegetation. </span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Big money overpowering the village small-scale industry</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inspired by the self-help Sarvodaya Movement of the Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan, the Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh (DGSS) was established in 1964 to increase employment opportunities for villagers by setting up eco-friendly small scale industries using forest produce around Garhwal. DGSS faced several impediments due to British-era forest policies which only served to further the interests of rich contractors from towns who brought in their own labour from outside at the cost of employment for local residents. The locals had no say in the manner their resources were being used. In addition, the delicate ecological balance of the Garhwals was being strained with indiscriminate tree felling and construction activity.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The locals began to organise themselves to protest the large-scale logging contracts in the hills awarded to outsiders which did not benefit them. Awareness was also increasing of the negative impact of indiscriminate logging on the environment and the quality of their lives, especially after the flood. The villagers and the activists organised themselves to ensure all-night vigils at other locations where contracts had been awarded for tree felling without the villagers being informed. When these forms of protest did not have the needed impact of stopping logging, the DGSS and the villagers decided upon direct yet non-violent action.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The tipping point was when the government ordered the cutting of 2451 trees in March 1974 in the forests of Chamoli. The activists and the men of the village were called to a meeting elsewhere to decide upon the compensation amount. In the meanwhile a team of loggers arrived at the village, prepared to start cutting down the trees. A girl saw the preparations and alerted Gaura Devi who was head of the village women’s association Mahila Mangal Dal. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gaura Devi and the other women of the village had had enough of the tree felling by then. They could no longer accept the exploitation of natural resources around them. The women decided to stage a protest that would not alienate sympathy nor harm their cause. They would protest the non-violent Gandhian way. Plus, they had the historical protest of the Bishnoi of Rajasthan as a beacon. </span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Environment activism in Indian history</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In on 11 September 1730 Amrita Devi led hundreds of her Bishnoi community to protect with their lives the sacred Kejeri tree. The ruler Abhay Singh of Marwar in Rajasthan wanted to cut a grove of these trees in the village of Khejarli in the district of Jodhpur to build himself a palace. When his men arrived at the village and demanded to be allowed to cut the trees, Amrita Devi Bishnoi and her compatriots refused. The king’s men tried bribing their way, insulting the Bishnoi even more with the implication that they would surrender their cherished values for greed of money. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqRQ8fPsezwiLA5Ah6RR695hsi_scE6E-4Mz2KJIBjGKxd74OQXhrZjsVhKCtl3FoCHJisDJILiz7Nl4qUldRBvGr_Fh0MA3ODhLn3MCDgd6ayqie658En6OS8nvfzgt80L7Iy9uuYWjnSD_X7bLkBB2l1mHqaa5ZhisrD_dQkWDDRYA84mKuhPwjz=s1080" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bishnoi temple at Khejarli" border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqRQ8fPsezwiLA5Ah6RR695hsi_scE6E-4Mz2KJIBjGKxd74OQXhrZjsVhKCtl3FoCHJisDJILiz7Nl4qUldRBvGr_Fh0MA3ODhLn3MCDgd6ayqie658En6OS8nvfzgt80L7Iy9uuYWjnSD_X7bLkBB2l1mHqaa5ZhisrD_dQkWDDRYA84mKuhPwjz=w400-h213" title="Bishnoi temple at Khejarli" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Bishnoi Temple at Khejarli Massacre Memorial Site</b></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Kaushal Bishnoi, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">via Wikimedia Commons</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To stop the wanton destruction of their cherished trees Amrita Devi and the other women hugged the Kejeri trees in protest. That did not deter the king's men and they beheaded Amrita Devi and three of her daughters. Her last words are recorded as being, “A chopped head is cheaper than a chopped tree.” These stirring words soon became a rallying cry for the Bishnoi.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the news of this killing spread all over Rajasthan, Bishnoi from 83 villages began to travel to Jahnad to do their part to protect the trees. The protest became bigger and bigger as the king’s minister would not stop his men from killing the Bishnoi. First the elderly Bishnois went forward to hug the trees and prevent the cutting. As they were killed the minister mocked the villagers saying they were sending forward only people who they thought were useless. In response, youngsters and children came to take the place of the elderly, and many were slaughtered. In all 363 Bishnoi gave their lives to a cause they fervently believed in.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This resistance, peaceful inspite of all odds, finally stirred Abhay Singh’s conscience. He travelled to Jehnad and personally begged for forgiveness. The village was renamed Khejarli after the sacred tree and is a place of pilgrimage for the Bishnoi.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">11th September is today commemorated in India as The National Forest Martyrs' Day in honour of the Bishnois of Khejarli.</span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Environmental activism in the recent past</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gaura Devi went with 27 other women to the site to dissuade the loggers, but to no avail. When all the talking and subsequent shouting had died down, the loggers started to throw their weight and threatened the women with guns. That was when Gaura Devi and her fellow protestors decided to hug the trees by joining hands and forming human chains. They told the government officials that they would have to cut down the women too along with the trees, if they intended to proceed with the order. The women were prepared to protest until the bitter end. The stand-off continued all day and extended well into the night. The women did not budge.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuwmZyfyJ0Ondf7bjEoTmXRDnoxZTuAlsq9pzIDAiGkJ9XyEVqXHybTfRfVzTJ2Ct02ZVuZGWPTIB8UZ9TNYetM4RZ9dMj14ClKyLjBzi-aq3zVSbYHnKG3mSRsa0w9iQ_EVaNuCFXe9vBajg6VIZ48B-fKqrAsZP_nrTuoG5gpKyAyB-0F56DrTmj=s280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Women Activists of the Chipko Movement" border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="176" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuwmZyfyJ0Ondf7bjEoTmXRDnoxZTuAlsq9pzIDAiGkJ9XyEVqXHybTfRfVzTJ2Ct02ZVuZGWPTIB8UZ9TNYetM4RZ9dMj14ClKyLjBzi-aq3zVSbYHnKG3mSRsa0w9iQ_EVaNuCFXe9vBajg6VIZ48B-fKqrAsZP_nrTuoG5gpKyAyB-0F56DrTmj=w208-h330" title="Women Activists of the Chipko Movement" width="208" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span>Women activists of the Chipko Movement</span></b></span></div><div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">NA, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, </span></div><div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">via Wikimedia Commons</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By the next day, news of the womens’ protest had spread to the neighbouring villages and the crowds at the protest site swelled as more and more people gathered. Sympathy for the protestors was palpable, yet the situation continued to remain non-violent. This stand-off continued for four days after which the contractors left.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An influential way to protest for the environment</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The impact of this action was such that the panel constituted by the Chief Minister of the state to look into it ruled in favour of the villagers. This form of protest was adopted by protestors all over the Garhwal region with much impact over the next five years. Within a decade the Chipko Movement protest methods were being used the world over for environmental causes. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Social impact of the Chipko movement</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The initial Chipko Movement gave the impetus to several other social causes that needed a push up from the grassroots rather than top-down regulations. It brought women into the public arena to work for causes that impacted them personally. Some of the practices of the Chipko Movement were modified with women tying colourful strings to mimic </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rakhi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> around trees as protection bands to prevent felling. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another social impact of the Chipko movement was that the supply of alcohol as a bribe to men in the villages by contractors to allow tree felling came to a stop. This practise had resulted in drunkenness, lack of money in families and other social problems. Involvement of women in this eco-system put an end to it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Chipko Movement showed that extractive and exploitative practices with regard to forest wealth are the major polluters, not poverty. Managing the environment is the only sustainable way to live.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Reference -</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. <a href="https://ecologise.in/2017/05/28/the-bishnois-indias-original-environmentalists-who-inspired-the-chipko-movement/" style="font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://ecologise.in/2017/05/28/the-bishnois-indias-original-environmentalists-who-inspired-the-chipko-movement/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><a href="https://womensearthalliance.org/wea-voices/the-original-tree-huggers-let-us-not-forget-their-sacrifice-on-earth-day/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Original Tree Huggers: Let Us Not Forget Their Sacrifice - Womens Earth Alliance</span></a></span></p><p><br /></p>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-62380462081612915462021-09-28T15:32:00.021+05:302022-11-11T10:02:14.497+05:30<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Onake Obavva</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-020e07d4-7fff-5d10-993b-76e809308a3c"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>She defended a fort with a pestle</b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obavva was a housewife who lived in the fort of Chitradurga during the reign of the last ruler, Madakari Nayaka (1742 - 1782 CE). She was the wife of a guard at the fort and lives on in the collective memory of the region for her extraordinary feat of bravery. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Background</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chitradurga is a city on the banks of the river Vedavati in central Karnataka. Its fort was an important one, held by the Nayakas. Chitradurga’s fort is called Kallina Kote (fort of stone) in Kannada. It is built over several hillocks of massive rocks and a peak.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the battle for control between the Marathas and Hyder Ali of Mysuru, the Nayaka rulers gambled that the Marathas would be the winners of this tussle. However Hyder Ali was not one to give up very easily, and besieged the fort which was reputed to be impregnable. He made several attempts but remained unsuccessful.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OuloaFUkTnvmoinIaA9fP8iBXkzSk-M4LgIr8QOnqshUEByXhIft6Zb25HxP5-gQCjnmcXcrRAmoBtNVttJATKnyuYwL6gIV6TdkjOTeM_Rv5YCKvIsJCN6ufNwE-QDY4-A2M3Z495k/s1600/Chitradurga_fort.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chitradurga Fort" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OuloaFUkTnvmoinIaA9fP8iBXkzSk-M4LgIr8QOnqshUEByXhIft6Zb25HxP5-gQCjnmcXcrRAmoBtNVttJATKnyuYwL6gIV6TdkjOTeM_Rv5YCKvIsJCN6ufNwE-QDY4-A2M3Z495k/w320-h180/Chitradurga_fort.jpg" title="Chitradurga Fort" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Chitradurga Fort</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chain of events</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A random and completely chance sighting of a woman entering the fort through an opening in the rocks showed Hyder Ali the secret entrance and the chance he needed to conquer it. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTL4Is4ZSo8TzwsEaMErC-XP8ImkdEIlZ8fRHS704F9HtcbkB9aW3etLeHYHHyOiS8ZWxTQ4Vu70Qs-mQ9wRlPiLA-UQRvunsLeaA3OEBmZildHN2-1N0mWcgdAcRgtUghlhc4JHZEs8/s440/Obavvana_Kindi.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Obavvana Kindi / Obavva's Crevice in Chitradurga Fort" border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTL4Is4ZSo8TzwsEaMErC-XP8ImkdEIlZ8fRHS704F9HtcbkB9aW3etLeHYHHyOiS8ZWxTQ4Vu70Qs-mQ9wRlPiLA-UQRvunsLeaA3OEBmZildHN2-1N0mWcgdAcRgtUghlhc4JHZEs8/w320-h240/Obavvana_Kindi.JPG" title="Obavva's crevice in Chitradurga Fort" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Obavvana Kindi / Obavva's Crevice in Chitradurga Fort</span></b></div><span><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, inside the fort Obavva’s husband </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kahale Mudda Hanuma whose duty it was to guard the small opening of this hidden path came home for lunch. When he requested a glass of water with his meal Obavva went to collect it from a water tank near the opening. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whispers and soft sounds alerted her to some movement near the fort wall. Soon enough, she noticed an enemy soldier about to enter the fort through the crevice.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Undeterred, she picked up a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">onake</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a long and heavy pestle used to pound grain, lying nearby and hit the soldier on the head with it. As she dragged away his body from the opening, another soldier’s head emerged. Obavva positioned herself by the side of the hole and hit every soldier’s head as he attempted to enter the fort, killing each one. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The number of bodies of enemy soldiers despatched by Obavva increased as the minutes ticked away. When Obavva’s husband came in search of her, an alarm was raised all over the fort and it was defended successfully.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hyder Ali was once again prevented from conquering Chitradurga thanks to the quick wits of a non-combatant. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi9ToIrs9uRijFmEC4pQFnf0F6NkkV6cSph_DUafO_DiXiCGQMChP0aIblx8oZQHzIH4bnR19E8h1_EBU4gQHMApT61nRomHZXyZmLKJcuVKyyHhiHs_x-L13M3O31GUnarxaBzxKCis/s602/Onake+Obavva.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statue of Onake Obavva by Ashok Gudigar at Chitradurga stadium" border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="602" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi9ToIrs9uRijFmEC4pQFnf0F6NkkV6cSph_DUafO_DiXiCGQMChP0aIblx8oZQHzIH4bnR19E8h1_EBU4gQHMApT61nRomHZXyZmLKJcuVKyyHhiHs_x-L13M3O31GUnarxaBzxKCis/w320-h233/Onake+Obavva.jpeg" title="Statue of Obavva at Chitradurga Fort" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>Statue of Onake Obavva </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>by Ashok Gudigar at Chitradurga stadium</b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What happened to Obavva?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are various versions to how this episode ended. Some accounts state that Obavva was eventually overpowered by some of the enemy soldiers of Hyder Ali, and thus died. Others say she died of over-exertion. Whatever the result, Chitradurga’s Nayaka soldiers prevailed to fight another day. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is another matter that Hyder Ali succeeded in conquering Chitradurga some months later.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the legend of Obavva, her incredible resourcefulness and bravery lives on even today. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The crevice in Chitradurga fort that Obavva guarded is known today as Obavvana Kindi (Obavva’s Crevice) in Kannada, Chitradurga’s stadium is named after her.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An ordinary woman was able to find a way to save her people all alone with no thought to her personal safety, using whatever resource she could find around her - that is the legend of quick-thinking and courageous Obavva, respected and remembered today.</span></p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Ref. -</span><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jasmine and Coconuts: South Indian Tales by Cathy Spagnoli and Paramashivam Samanna</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110515154647/https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/blewis/www/chitradurga.htm">https://web.archive.org/web/20110515154647/https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/blewis/www/chitradurga.htm</a></span></p></li></ol></span>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-46404408929288483312021-04-12T13:04:00.010+05:302022-11-11T10:09:01.759+05:30<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gaidinliu</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Commoner called a Queen</span></span></h3></blockquote><span id="docs-internal-guid-6be52ed4-7fff-ef72-f5d8-1cd3d563215c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rani Gaidinliu (1915 - 1993) was a freedom fighter of the Kabui Naga tribe who was born and brought up in Manipur. She was the fifth of eight children and belonged to the ruling family of the village. However she had no formal education because of a lack of schools in the area.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By 13 years of age Gaidinliu joined her cousin Jadonang, whom she looked upon as her guru. Jadonang was also a spiritual leader or priest, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">maiba</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, of the clan - a person who was traditionally very influential and revered. Jadonang began a socio-religious movement to revive the traditional Naga religion and to oppose the British in order to end their rule. He was impressed by young Gaidinliu’s resolve and single-mindedness of purpose. She was an apt pupil who was a good learner. Gaidinliu had grown up witnessing Jadonang’s activism to improve the social and economic lives of the Nagas, and actively participated in the movement. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The beginnings of the Heraka movement</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jadonang (born in 1905) was a Naga from the Manipur sub-division. He was a deeply religious person and was renowned for healing and interpreting dreams. He was very disturbed by the dilution of the Naga culture and religion, while Christianity’s influence grew in the area. The British and their oppressive policies of excessive taxation and new laws were also other reasons for his distrust. He saw these changes as the impact of British imperialism, and decided to fight. In 1930-31 he started a new socio-religious movement which came to be called Heraka (Pure) and convinced his people that he would overthrow the existing British administration and bring back self-rule and the spiritual practises of the ancestors. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British did not look very kindly upon Jadonang. He talked of a new movement that would usher in the Golden Age for the people who were experiencing famine and loss of land due to an influx of immigrants. The movement exorted people not to pay their taxes to the oppressive British. Instead, the locals supported the movement with donations.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The movement soon turned into an armed rebellion that Gaidinliu also joined. By the age of 16 she was a leader in the guerilla forces fighting against the British.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British response</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Political Agent, a British official, sent a few soldiers of the Assam Rifles in February 1931 to a temple established by Jadonang and destroyed it. The soldiers also went to a few other villages for a show of strength. Jadonanag himself was arrested. He was put on trial for the murder of 4 unarmed Manipuris, charged with sedition and was called a sorcerer. He was hanged in August 1931.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gaidinliu leads the Heraka movement</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These measures did not however see the end of the Heraka movement. It continued under the leadership of Gaidinliu who was seen as Jadonang’s spiritual successor and priestess, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maibi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The movement was kept alive with songs that spoke of the main themes of the Heraka movement - a return to the Golden Age and prosperity of the people.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxLb0lNMc5TZFxJM_TiSsad5ApD1c68snmQjxmifHv8fAeGQdpEMaQ2QF-1RcaADekFG2I2Imkfir4Hxp4EMJZ4dj19jzvSop-CC0JJMLel2aQEkr8psy4uDCuYn7fPdr613aO_xI4CQ/s647/Rani_Gaidinliu.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rani Gaidinliu" border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxLb0lNMc5TZFxJM_TiSsad5ApD1c68snmQjxmifHv8fAeGQdpEMaQ2QF-1RcaADekFG2I2Imkfir4Hxp4EMJZ4dj19jzvSop-CC0JJMLel2aQEkr8psy4uDCuYn7fPdr613aO_xI4CQ/w219-h320/Rani_Gaidinliu.jpg" title="Rani Gaidinliu" width="219" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Rani Gaidinliu</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">The prevalent belief was that a new Naga Raj would be formed in the hills including the tribes. A number of medicine men went over the authority of the traditional village elders and convinced villagers that they would be the recipients of benefits if they joined the movement. The British were alarmed at these developments and wanted to quell the disturbances. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By 1931-32 the movement had spread beyond the borders of Manipur into the Naga hills. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throughout the operations undertaken by the administration to capture Gaidinliu they would be attacked by large groups of Nagas and had to resort to firing on them. Some of the villages also got burnt in the operations. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soon the British were trying to capture her, while she remained ahead of them with local support. Army batallions were sent after her and a reward was announced for information about her whereabouts. The offer was made sweeter with the announcement of a 10-year long tax break to the village that informed on her to the police.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While she was on the run, her followers murdered the watchman of a village, suspecting him of being the informer that led to her arrest. Now she was also wanted for murder by the British authorities. When finally arrested in October 1932 in the Naga Hills, she underwent a trial and was convicted of murder. Many of her associates were hanged. Gaidinliu spent 14 years in prison.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her influence was such that many of her followers continued her work of Heraka until she was released from prison in 1947 upon India’s independence. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adapting Heraka to changing times</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Upon her release Gaidinliu reformed the Heraka movement to reflect the changing times. Ancestral rituals to earn merit required performing sacrifices and the restriction of movement outside a designated area, such as the house or the village. However, the introduction of schools and increased work opportunities required people to leave the designated areas regularly. Gaindinliu abolished the restrictions since they were no longer practical and stood in the way of progress. Performing sacrifices had also been very important traditionally but the sheer cost of the ritual was now prohibiitive. Gaidinliu advocated stopping sacrifices. This increased the popularity of Heraka.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After her release in 1947 when she met Prime Minister Nehru, he called Gaidinliu rani, a queen, for having stood strong despite her hard life. In the meanwhile there was strong opposition to Heraka by several Naga leaders, and Gaidinliu went into hiding in 1960. She continued to work to strengthen Heraka. In 1966 she returned to the mainstream and met Prime Minister Shastri. Her followers were employed at the Nagaland Police. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The government of India conferred Gaidinliu with the Padma Bhushan in 1982. Her work has also been recognised with the issue of a postage stamp and a commemorative coin in her honour. Gaidinliu died in 1993 at the age of 78. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ref.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. History of the frontier areas bordering on Assam 1883-1941 - Sir Robert Reid. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Reform, Identity and Narratives of Belonging - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arkotong Longkume</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">r</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(61, 61, 61); color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3400000035762787px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-id="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" data-type="URL" href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cd0215; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#BlogchatterA2Z</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank"> </a></strong></span><span class="_4yxr" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank">https://www.theblogchatter.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A word about BlogchatterA2Z - This is an annual event during which I have taken up the challenge of blogging on Women in Indian History starting with A and ending in Z during the month of April, 2021. Here then is G - Gaidinliu, a commoner termed a queen for her stand against the British and for her work to strengthen Naga society. Drop in everyday to read my posts on other interesting women as I work my way down the alphabet to Z!</span></i> </span></p><br /></span><br />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-320946231991258062021-04-10T16:25:00.007+05:302022-01-20T15:35:07.481+05:30Fathers (and Fathers-in-law) Who Mentored Women<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fathers (and Fathers-in-law) Who Mentored Women</span></span></h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-cbce86e6-7fff-7aea-7441-f2572a14df8d"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is fascinating to study women in India who ascended the throne. In India’s monarchical societies before we became a democracy, the throne was the pinnacle of attainment, power and prestige. There was nothing higher on the mortal plane.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By and large men succeeded to the throne either because they belonged to the ruling dynasty or had defeated the previous occupant. Women who became ruling monarchs had life circumstances and qualities in common that prepared and propelled them to this highest rank. It is a different matter that not all of the women were able to retain the throne for a length of time, but just the fact that they were in the running for the post, and achieved it, is interesting.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRRQMGNezZY9CHxdQoG0DBB5mdedPs12FWywuM0CuKWJADRFgZlEeRsHiqdSQr9y3wQAka7F9bS7CnJneE28zVMDyhUlbfAHqKNfPksN2vHCLXxbazVMDASUtwFsUpxnuTMqiWWeaGoI/s1024/Lotus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="785" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRRQMGNezZY9CHxdQoG0DBB5mdedPs12FWywuM0CuKWJADRFgZlEeRsHiqdSQr9y3wQAka7F9bS7CnJneE28zVMDyhUlbfAHqKNfPksN2vHCLXxbazVMDASUtwFsUpxnuTMqiWWeaGoI/w281-h367/Lotus.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Some male rulers had no sons to succeed them. So instead they encouraged their daughters to think, train and act as rulers. These men went against the prevailing norms of a nephew or a son-in-law ascending the throne. Some fathers-in-law had lost their sons, saw sparks of ability in their daughters-in-law and chose to nurture them until they became full-fledged rulers. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fathers as mentors were not important only for royalty. Several women writers in ancient India can thank their fathers for leading them on the path of learning which defined their later lives.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One common advantage that most of these women had was seemingly open-minded older men in their lives who did not hold women back based only on their gender. Instead these mentors encouraged them to break stereotypes with their abilities. The men who gave these young women opportunities to train, to study and then to rule were their fathers, fathers-in-law and, sometimes, uncles.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some interesting mentors down the ages from all over India.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ganapathideva</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is considered among the greats of the Kakatiya dynasty who ruled (reign 1199-1262 CE) territories that extended into areas in modern Telangana, coastal Andhra, parts of the states of Odisha and Karnataka. During his long reign of nearly 63 years, he ensured his kingdom prospered economically and that his enemies were kept at bay because of his strong army. As the father of two daughters, he prepared them for the future by educating them extensively in practical fighting, military planning and strategizing. Their education also included theoretical subjects and the classical literature, music etc.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ganapathideva was a much-experienced ruler. Both his daughters married minor royalty who understood that the women they married would answer the call of duty when required. It must have a matter of great pride to him that his daughter <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2019/05/rudramadevi-queen-true-to-her-calling.html">Rudramadevi</a> turned out to be a fine fighter and a sagacious ruler. She was installed as co-ruler for a few years before his death. Under Ganapathideva’s influence and training, Rudamadevi made wise decisions that strengthened her rule - she encouraged people based on their talent and work ethic, not just their lineage. She established among the earliest maternity hospitals in India. She undertook far-reaching water policies that were essential in the naturally dry areas of her kingdom. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rudramadevi’s rule and good administration is remembered for the prosperity it brought to the people. She was constantly on the alert for disturbance within and outside the kingdom and even went to war to protect her land. She was overall an exemplary ruler thanks to extensive training with her father.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kesava Setti</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was the father of <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2021/02/aatukuri-molla.html">Aatukuri Molla</a> (1440 - 1530 CE), a potter by profession and well aware of the disadvantages his motherless daughter would face as she went through life. So he insisted on her education. Her learning stood her in good stead as she composed the Telugu Ramayana in exquisite poetry which is very well known even today. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thirumala Raya</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He did his duty very sincerely towards his niece <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2019/07/abbakka-chowta-the-relentless-warrior-queen.html">Abbakka Chowta</a> of Ullal in Karnataka (reign 1525 - 1570s). They belonged to the matrilineal Chowta dynasty. In this system, the eldest daughter was crowned ruler. Her guardian and mentor in her growing years was the maternal uncle.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thirumala Raya ensured Abbakka received all the education and training required of a ruler before she was crowned queen. He also found a marriage alliance for her of a ruler near Mangalore. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She became a remarkably successful queen and kept the Portuguese at bay all through her reign of nearly four decades. She was only captured because her husband betrayed her to the Portuguese, and she lost important associates in battle. She died in a Portuguese prison.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dvija Vamsidasa</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chandravati (born approx. 1550) was the daughter of this well-known scholar who was the author of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Padmapurana</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The atmosphere of learning at this home was such that <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2020/02/chandravatis-ramayana.html">Chandravati</a> herself became a Sanskrit and Bangla scholar, going on to compose the famous female-centric version of the <i>Ramayana</i> and two other works, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malua Sundari</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dasyu Kenaram</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Vamsidasa encouraged his daughter to assist him in his scholarly work </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manasamangala</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chandravati’s fame today has its genesis in the early learning and scholarship encouraged by her father.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mankoji Shinde</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was the father of Ahilyabai Holkar (1725 -1795 CE), the renowned queen of Indore. He was the headman of a village near Ahmednagar in Maharashtra. She was married before she was ten years of age, but before that he ensured <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2021/04/ahilyabai-holkar-much-remembered.html">Ahilyabai</a> got a good education and built her self-confidence.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malhar Rao Holkar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was ruler of Indore and the father-in-law of Ahilyabai Holkar. When his son Khanderao Holkar died in battle, Malhar Rao decided to train Ahilyabai in statecraft. She had demonstrated that she was a quick student and had the strength of mind required of a good ruler. As she trained with him he was assured his choice was the right one. Ahilyabai went on to become a queen who will be remembered for long because of her sagacity and good governance.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(61, 61, 61); color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3400000035762787px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-id="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" data-type="URL" href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cd0215; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#BlogchatterA2Z</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank"> </a></strong></span><span class="_4yxr" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank">https://www.theblogchatter.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A word about BlogchatterA2Z - This is an annual event during which I have taken up the challenge of blogging on Women in Indian History starting with A and ending in Z during the month of April, 2021. Here then is F - Fathers, fathers-in-law and uncles who played the role of mentor to very successful women. Drop in everyday to read my posts on other interesting women as I work my way down the alphabet to Z!</span></i> </span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-9859405172195884902021-04-06T00:06:00.027+05:302022-11-26T12:56:08.352+05:30Doctrine of Lapse - Indian Queens who Fought it<h1 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Doctrine of Lapse</span></span></h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-6f1fe7d5-7fff-6615-3a61-88a4cc311d91"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indian Queens who Fought it </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The East India Company</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British East India Company first came to India as a trader, to supply their home market England with spices, silks and other exotica. They were granted land by local rulers to build warehouses to store goods before trans shipment. This necessitated armed guards to keep the warehouses safe. </span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before long, short-sighted local rulers began to use the armed British to score points off their rivals, opening the door to immense opportunity for the foreign trader. The British played one ruler against the other, helping one of them to win in exchange for trading concessions. As the British influence increased so did their territorial avarice. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British East India Company amassed riches in India beyond their wildest dreams. The British government oversaw the company’s dealings and enacted several India Acts. In England, the company board managed its affairs, while their man in India was the Governor-General. Lord Dalhousie held this post from 1847 to 1856.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time, several parts of India were under the control of the East India Company, and others under individual rulers. In a series of wars, treaties and agreements Dalhousie was determined to bring more of the Indian mainland under British domination. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What was the Doctrine of Lapse?</b></span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Doctrine of Lapse was an ingenious policy of increasing revenue and annexation (or land grab, pure and simple) implemented by Dalhousie. Under this doctrine, the princely state would be abolished and annexed to British India if the ruler was incompetent or had died without male children to succeed him. What is more, the British would decide on the competency or otherwise of the ruler. This policy set in motion a series of annexations of princely India, much to the anguish of the rulers and their subjects. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In all, the British annexed 30 states and added 4 million pounds sterling to their income with this policy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The states annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse sometimes had queens as regents who did not have male children, and so were expected to acquiesce and hand over the kingdom to the British. A bit ironical considering that in approximately the same era England had Queen Victoria (reign 1837-1901) whose gender did not prevent her from ascending the throne, and retaining it! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2vpM_kQ4upOwntsLFhO6unczO83aJqoZ89VBxpT0ZPSpQhl_13P4QQwBbiHeck-lUkwDqKTZDoVI8FdezuTnmD2vR8aWIcAvPb5rSktn1fCDcBrC50-SGphB-OTNeVFHfl2Gky1xOlM/s640/640px-The_Sepoy_revolt_at_Meerut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="640" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2vpM_kQ4upOwntsLFhO6unczO83aJqoZ89VBxpT0ZPSpQhl_13P4QQwBbiHeck-lUkwDqKTZDoVI8FdezuTnmD2vR8aWIcAvPb5rSktn1fCDcBrC50-SGphB-OTNeVFHfl2Gky1xOlM/w425-h316/640px-The_Sepoy_revolt_at_Meerut.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Events at Meerut, 1857</b></div><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">(commons.wikimedia.org)</div><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Queens who fought the British for their right to rule</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are profiles of some queens who fought the Doctrine of Lapse with all they had. This is a very small sample. The policy Doctrine of Lapse was unjust and these queens, in principle, saw no need to give up without a fight. Some won the immediate battle, some lost their lives. But all had their states annexed by the British in the end. </span></p><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Channamma of Kittur</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Channamma was one of the earliest opponents of the Doctrine of Lapse. She was born near Belagavi in North Karnataka and was married to Raja Mallasarja, the Desai of Kittur. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1824 Channamma lost her husband, followed soon by her son. In a bid to prevent annexation of Kittur by the British, Channamma adopted Sivalingappa and had him crowned. The British did not recognise the new ruler and asked Channamma to accept annexation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Channamma did not give up but pleaded her case with the Lieutenant-Governor of the Bombay Presidency but was turned down. Channamma decided not to accept defeat, and war broke out. The British attacked with canons and a huge force, but were defeated. Two British officers were taken prisoner by the Kittur army.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Channamma released them after an understanding with the Collector of Dharwad that the fighting would stop. However, he went back on his word and instead returned with a greater force. The Kittur forces fought fiercely but Channamma was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal fort. Her aides continued the fight but could not sustain. Chanamma died in prison in February 1829. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Avantbai Lodhi of Ramgarh</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Avantibai was a Rajput queen of Ramgarh in present-day Madhya Pradesh. When her husband died in 1851, she tried to be regent but was not allowed by the British. In 1857 she raised an army numbering 4000 and fought the British army in Mandla near Jabalpur, whom she defeated.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British retaliated and Avantibai had to retreat to the hills of Devharigarh. Soon she launched guerilla attacks, but her position was quite hopeless. She killed herself with a sword rather than be taken prisoner. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Draupadi of Dhar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Draupadi was the queen of Dhar, a small state in Malwa in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Draupadi’s husband adopted his younger brother Anandrao Bal Saheb a day before he died on 22nd May 1857. Draupadi took over the administration since Anandrao was still under-age. The British agreed to the adoption in the hope that they could placate Draupadi to remain loyal and not be influenced by the ideas of revolution in the area. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They thought wrong. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Draupadi set to work building an army with soldiers wherever she could find them. The revolutionaries also liked to meet inside the fortress of Dhar. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Draupadi attacked the cantonment at Sardarpur and returned with much wealth.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the British retaliated they surrounded the fort at Dhar and waited. Nobody exited the fort for four days. On the fifth day the British found a gap in the wall and entered the fort, but by then Draupadi had escapted from another part of the fort. We don’t know what happened to Draupadi after that but the minor ruler was crowned in 1860 after he attained majority. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1857 and its aftermath</b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The days leading up to the events of 1857 and beyond are still being studied and debated by scholars in India. It is impossible to generalise the reasons for the revolt, notwithstanding the popular one of soldiers having to use cartridges coated with cow and pig fat. That may well have been true, but also is not the only, if simplistic, reason. </span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever be the reasons for the revolt, there is no denying the fact that women took active part in it. The Doctrine of Lapse was a major reason for many aristocrats joining the revolt and was considered a blot on Dalhousie’s career. The issue for the British was not that he chose to implement the Doctrine, but that he did not handle it with more finesse which resulted in the revolt and the Crown taking over the administration of British India. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Reference:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857 - RC Majumdar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nature of 1857 - Saurav Bhattacharya</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">British Raj - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stanley A. Wolpert (</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.britannica.com) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(61, 61, 61); color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3400000035762787px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-id="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" data-type="URL" href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cd0215; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#BlogchatterA2Z</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank"> </a></strong></span><span class="_4yxr" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank">https://www.theblogchatter.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A word about BlogchatterA2Z - This is an annual event during which I have taken up the challenge of blogging on Women in Indian History starting with A and ending in Z during the month of April, 2021. Here then is D - Doctrine of Lapse, against which many women fought. Drop in everyday to read my posts on other interesting women as I work my way down the alphabet to Z!</span></i> </span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-22715540074738756332021-04-03T20:11:00.021+05:302023-03-30T19:48:08.233+05:30Courtesans and Common Folk - They fought the British in 1857<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Courtesans and Common Folk</span></span></h2><span id="docs-internal-guid-0843de5a-7fff-b73a-34d7-5d0006142222"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They fought the British in 1857</span></span></h3><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our history books the First War of Indian Independence 1857 throws up names such as Tantia Tope, Rani Lakshmibai, Hazrat Mahal, Bahadur Shah Zafar - all leaders and some rulers from before the event.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the movement would not have picked up steam without the wholehearted support and participation of the common folk. Ordinary people sustained the struggle and donated funds, kept the spirit alive with songs and public performances, offered safe places for meetings and shelter, ensured that information flowed from one place to the other, and fought - sometimes to the death.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Folks who joined the ranks of the fighting force</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It comes as no surprise from extant records that the participants in the struggle include professions such as rubber stamp maker, water carrier, palki lifter, halwai, basket maker, drummer, oil maker among several others. The movement for freedom used all resources available. Puppeteers who travelled from place to place to hold performances of their puppets based on Indian stories and mythology adapted their repertoire to spread the idea of defying the British and fighting for independence. They may also have carried messages, made easy by their wandering profession. Also in the fray were the hundreds of poets, intellectuals and teachers who wrote, fought and were martyred.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">British records of the time as well as songs and stories of legends passed down from generations give us a bare idea of the women involved in the struggle. Unfortunately very often we get no more information than a few lines about the person. Some profiles that make us pause are - Motibai who was a canon-feeder in the army of Lakshmibai of Jhansi. She was martyred on 4 June 1858 on the battlefield. Mundarbai was security-in-charge of the Rani. She fought alongside her in several battles with the British and their allies. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then there was the Courtesan who lived on the edge of society in northern India. She was an independent, self-employed and educated woman who survived and thrived by her artistry and wits, beholden to no man. She was a highly trained expert in dance, music and poetry. Her ambience was the royal courts or her own salon, and did not fall within the constraints of the life of a married woman. She lived on the margins of society and was not bound by any of its rules. Her property and her time were her own, to use as she wished. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT758F98uztAtznuGwpkDg-aTRgbGVnij0KEKVw7xA_XjFdh6ygTTtG0E1vPRiL-G9N5e1JXcEHMNmKP3VmfD7HIno1p2pJ30j_5gnsMebWdjvP-riWWz7h0llQFKy-GEqSbDKzhUYSM/s640/Courtesans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Courtesans, 1800s (Source: Wikimedia.org)" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT758F98uztAtznuGwpkDg-aTRgbGVnij0KEKVw7xA_XjFdh6ygTTtG0E1vPRiL-G9N5e1JXcEHMNmKP3VmfD7HIno1p2pJ30j_5gnsMebWdjvP-riWWz7h0llQFKy-GEqSbDKzhUYSM/w320-h241/Courtesans.jpg" title="Courtesans" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Courtesans, 1800s</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source: Wikimedia.org)</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>The courtesan - financially independent, in the know of things</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Records show that successful courtesans were among the highest tax payers of Kanpur and Lucknow. Their salons employed a variety of professionals - dancing girls who had to be hired and trained, accompanying musicians, doormen, watchmen, errand boys, tailors, palanquin-carriers, specialty cooks. Several courtesans owned retail establishments and orchards, were gifted land and property from which they earned rent. Thus they were significant contributors to the local economy.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the British took over Lucknow from Wajid Ali Shah, they did not take into account the culture of the place. In their highhanded manner they imposed British law, a law which did not appreciate the subtle difference between courtesans and prostitutes. The women were equated by law for regular and periodic testing for disease to protect British soldiers. This was a loss of face that many courtesans could not accept. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apart from this change of governance that turned their lives upside down and caused a lot of anger and disturbance, the courtesans were women who were very aware of current happenings, knew important men in town from whom they got information. They were fully aware of the struggle for independence gaining momentum by the day, and so had to take difficult decisions about the uncertain future. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No Half-measures</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many courtesans made the choice and donated funds to the cause of the struggle of 1857. They did not stop there. Many allowed the use of their homes as safe houses for meetings and to hide people on the run as the British searched for the rebels as the movement spread. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aziz un Nisa went one step further. She decided to join the fight. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The motivations for taking part were naturally different for each group. The leaders were fighting against the arrogant way in which the British were displacing the rulers. The landed gentry was fighting to protect their properties. And the women who fought were most likely not even expected to be in the group. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet something propelled Aziz un Nisa and several other women to bear arms and be present. We have no record of what sentiment drove her resolve. Whatever the reason, as a woman of the world with the varied experiences that a courtesan was privy to, Aziz un Nisa’s decision would have been a calculated, measured one.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She wore men's clothes, rode among the men fearlessly with her pistols ready. She helped organise food and medical aid when necessary.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Aftermath</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the turmoil, the British were aware of the support courtesans had extended to the revolutionaries in several ways, and penalised the women heavily. Many lost previously gifted lands which were confiscated by the British just to reduce their elite status and influence in society. The British raided the salons, carted away precious objects and physically destroyed the place. The courtesans had already lost royal patronage by this time, so this was a double punishment. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The events of 1857 saw a sea-change in the governance of British-held territory in India. It passed from the East India Company to the British crown. Victorian morality ensured the abolition of the courtesan and her milieu. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Ref:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Indian First War of Independence 1857: Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Unity, Mass and Women Participation, Shamsul Islam</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Visibilising the Other in History - Courtesans and the Revolt, Lata Singh</i></span></p><p><span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(61, 61, 61); color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3400000035762787px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-id="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" data-type="URL" href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cd0215; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#BlogchatterA2Z</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank"> </a></strong></span><span class="_4yxr" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank">https://www.theblogchatter.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A word about BlogchatterA2Z - This is an annual event during which I have taken up the challenge of blogging on Women in Indian History starting with A and ending in Z during the month of April, 2021. Here then is C - Courtesans and Common Folk who fought the British in 1857. Drop in everyday to read my posts on other interesting women as I work my way down the alphabet to Z!</span></i></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-6909017369559607822021-04-02T23:46:00.014+05:302023-09-27T10:39:12.388+05:30Bhaumakara Queens of Odisha<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bhaumakara Queens of Odisha</span></span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>They ruled because it was their right</b></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Who They Were</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The origins of the Bhaumakaras is unclear. It is speculated that the Bhaumas were originally an aboriginal tribe occupying the hilly tracts in northern Odisha. The dates of their reign are still not known with certainty but it is believed they ruled between the 7th and 9th century CE. The long reign of the Bhaumakaras gave continuity of administration and relative peace to the realm. The first three rulers were Buddhist and the later rulers were Hindu. An interesting feature is that the Buddhist kings of this dynasty had Hindu wives. Both religions were well patronised in terms of grants for building temples and viharas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bhaumakaras are said to have retained elements of their tribal culture which allowed for female rulers. Over the two hundred years that the dynasty reigned, six queens sat on the throne and other powerful queens were influential consorts of kings.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-36af96c2-7fff-bfe5-76b1-f6ce66238fa4"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">As is obvious from the six queens we know of this dynasty, women had a high status in society. These queens acted independently in their own right, they were not acting as regents for male rulers unlike other dynasties. Of the six queens, five were dowagers (widows of previous kings) and one was a king’s daughter. All were highly educated and cultured. </span><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each was known to have built temples and were patrons of the arts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bhaumakara dynasty patronised all religions and sects in their land. Among the rulers were Buddhists, Shiva bhaktas, Vaishnavas, Shakti upasakas. They gave grants and patronized other religions irrespective of their personal beliefs. This dynasty was very unusual in that many royal couples professed different religions from each other with no rancour.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our source for medieval Odisha is inscriptions which have been meticulously recorded by all the rulers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCp0tsbZDyO2zcTR0Nalx7Z7IYry_Cf3E9QVBxm-YH7n2HlmbFOvXahOI1iOIA7mFiGPMGjKt00pHZ7_Z8jga1P4cTsNF15V2ohG_nmc_3tOESFlU_aIzgYbjzY-L19VyusAU3qydQq4/s600/600px-Patta_Chitra_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pattachitra painting" border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="600" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCp0tsbZDyO2zcTR0Nalx7Z7IYry_Cf3E9QVBxm-YH7n2HlmbFOvXahOI1iOIA7mFiGPMGjKt00pHZ7_Z8jga1P4cTsNF15V2ohG_nmc_3tOESFlU_aIzgYbjzY-L19VyusAU3qydQq4/w320-h108/600px-Patta_Chitra_02.jpg" title="Pattachitra painting" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pattachitra painting</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Source: Wikipedia</div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Six Queens of the Bhumakaras</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tribhuvanamahadevi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(r 846-850 CE) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ascended the throne under rather unusual circumstances. After the death of her husband Shantikaradeva I, their son Shubhakaradeva III became the ruler. However he died soon after. The next in line was his young son Subhakaradeva II, considered too young to rule. Thus his grandmother Tribhuvanamahadevi took over the reigns of the kingdom. She ruled in her own right, not as a regent for her grandson. Much like other queens such as the <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2019/05/rudramadevi-queen-true-to-her-calling.html" target="_blank">Kakatiya Queen Rudramadevi of Warangal</a> and the <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2022/01/rani-mangammal-my-people-first.html" target="_blank">Nayaka Queen Mangammal of Madurai</a>, Tribhuvanamahadevi stepped in to steady the kingdom, and rule instead of her minor grandson until he came of age.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was a daughter of Rajamalla I of the Western Ganga dynasty that ruled the region around Mysuru. It is recorded that initially she was reluctant to rule but was persuaded by the courtiers. What is interesting is that she was deemed by the people to have an authentic claim to the throne with no other man contending for it. It is speculated that she would have been between thirty-six to forty years of age at her coronation, although she was considered to be ‘elderly’ by the standards of the time!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Dhenkanal copper plate charter mentions the grants of land she made to a village and another mentions a grant she made on the occasion of a lunar eclipse.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was an efficient administrator who managed to keep her kingdom safe from enemies and came down heavily on rebellion. She took up the title of Paramavaishnavi. As a powerful ruler she maintained an army of 30,000 soldiers. Hadul-al-alam, a Persian work by an unknown author and geographer, mentions Tribhuvanamadevi as ‘a queen who does not consider anyone superior to herself’.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She might have had some assistance from her father Rajamalla I since the administration, and perhaps the financial condition of the Bhaumakaras, was precarious after quelling earlier Rashtrakuta and Pala invasions into Bhaumakara territory.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tribhuvanamahadevi gave up the throne when her grandson Subhakaradeva II came of age.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next queen to ascend the Bhaumakara throne was Prithvimahadevi who assumed the title of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tribhuvanamahadevi II</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Her reign must have been very short since it was disputed by her nephews. She ruled in her own right, although in most other dynasties the throne would have gone to her husband’s nephews. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A somewhat singular occurrence recorded in copper plate in Baud says that she gave grants to a common woman who petitioned that she wanted to build two temples in her father’s memory. It is noteworthy that such instances are usually not given much prominence in history books but to me it shows the queen had agency to take decisions, and the one that she took here was to help another woman, a commoner at that. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Temples were not just places of worship but also centres of commerce and art. They had a snowball effect of drawing people from kilometers around, and because of this they attracted prosperity and spread culture. They did not just establish religion. Thus when Tribhuvanamahadevi II acceeded to the woman’s request for a grant, she was also investing in the local area’s commerce and arts, boosting its economy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gaurimahadevi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> had an extremely short reign but was able to maintain peace and order. She was succeeded by her daughter Dandimahadevi.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dandimahadevi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was a good administrator and was able to be an effective and powerful ruler. She kept her kingdom free from invasions. The mention of precious gems and pearls in her grants shows the prosperity of her reign.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">None of the inscriptions of this ruler discovered so far, including the Patlinga copper plate in April 2006, that eulogise her rule and administrative capability mention her marital status. The Bhaumakara dynasty appears to have a singular tradition that enabled an unmarried princess to ascend to the throne and prove to be a capable ruler. </span></p><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dandimahadevi died a premature death, she was succeeded by her step-mother </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vakulamahadevi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. There is a record of a grant of a village by her. Not much else is known.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dharmamahadevi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was the last known ruler of the Bhaumakara dynasty. Her rule is not significant.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The queens of the Bhaumakara dynasty kept up the tradition of commissioning inscriptions on copper plates, a valuable source of information to us today on this important dynasty in Odisha. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Education is almost always the common point among women rulers who successfully overcome petty court politics, quell rebellion, protect their realm against invasions and yet are excellent administrators whose subjects are content and have armies who are willing to die for them. An unusual dynasty like the Bhaumakaras had rulers who had the position as a matter of course and because the throne was legitimately theirs, irrespective of whether they were men or women. Quite exceptional, that.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Ref:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Bhauma Art and Architecture of Orissa by Dr. Krishna Ch Panigrahi</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>From Obscurity to Light by Devika Rangachari</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>History of Odisha (From earliest times to 1434 AD) by Dr. Manas Kumar Das</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Orissa Review 2006 - The Patlinga Copper Plate Grant Inscription of Dandi Mahadevi by SN Girish</i></span></span></p><p><span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(61, 61, 61); color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.34px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-id="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" data-type="URL" href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cd0215; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#BlogchatterA2Z</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank"> </a></strong></span><span class="_4yxr" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank">https://www.theblogchatter.com/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A word about BlogchatterA2Z - This is an annual event during which I have taken up the challenge of blogging on Women in Indian History starting with A and ending in Z during the month of April, 2021. Here then is B - The unusual Bhaumakara Queens of Orissa. Drop in everyday to read my posts on other interesting women as I work my way down the alphabet to Z!</span></i></p><br /><br /></span>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-52642761638686550622021-04-01T22:08:00.025+05:302022-09-20T19:28:56.426+05:30<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Ahilyabai Holkar</b></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;">The much-remembered beloved queen of Malwa</h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Mughal rule receded after Aurangzeb’s death and its weaknesses became obvious, the Marathas stamped their power and influence all over India in the 18th century under Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. Several Maratha chiefs (Holkar, Scindia, Gaekwad and other sardars) were given charge of various parts of the kingdom due to their performance in military campaigns. Each of these provinces became centres of polity, art and governance. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pf6XXgZ53VKuKkZCCYKsp6mKPVNBIkXxOC5LHXrE7woTYfgB_MmWUvaePN8nxEc7dRztIUcyihPJv1HD4yF-_TUFBKnkEsypaZztJGQI_7SBykvC7bgOILbxikpUuYLl2W5awq_01e0/s322/Maharani_Ahilya_Bai_Holkar.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar" border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pf6XXgZ53VKuKkZCCYKsp6mKPVNBIkXxOC5LHXrE7woTYfgB_MmWUvaePN8nxEc7dRztIUcyihPJv1HD4yF-_TUFBKnkEsypaZztJGQI_7SBykvC7bgOILbxikpUuYLl2W5awq_01e0/w254-h320/Maharani_Ahilya_Bai_Holkar.png" title="Ahilyabai Holkar" width="254" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai (1725 - 1795 CE) is a rare female ruler in the 18th century remembered today for her excellent governance. Her state was considered the best governed state in India of her time. She ascended the Holkar throne in Malwa by sheer circumstance. Ahilyabai’s husband Khanderao Holkar was killed in the battle of Kumher, Rajasthan in 1754. Twelve years later her father-in-law Malhar Rao, the ruler, also died. Ahilyabai’s son Malerao was installed at the throne but he was mentally ill and died soon afterwards. The mantle of ruling now fell on Ahilyabai’s shoulders in 1767.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Early years</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai’s father Mankoji Shinde was patil (headman) of the village of Chonde in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. He took the unusual step for the time of ensuring his daughter learnt to read and write, attributes that stood her in good stead later in life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malharrao Holkar stopped in Chonde on his way to Pune from Malwa. He was very taken in by the young Ahilyabai’s personality and demeanour and resolved to have his son marry her. In good time the births of her son and her daughter Muktabai completed the family. Ahilyabai’s forward thinking was apparent when in due time she took the unusual of step of having her daughter marry a poor but brave man Yashwantrao who put up a fight against dacoits.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the demise of his son and grandson who were to rule after him, Malhar Rao resolved to educate Ahilyabai in statecraft. He was convinced of her merit and knew the state would be in safe hands with Ahilyabai on the throne. Malhar Rao trained her in diplomatic and military matters. Even while he ruled Malhar Rao ensured Ahilyabai had practical experience in these areas with her deep involvement in the affairs of the state.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai’s rule</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All this experience made Ahilyabai a seasoned decision-maker when she ascended the throne. She ruled for 30 years and brought prosperity and peace to the Holkar territory. She set an example by her personal simple lifestyle, donating over Sixteen crore rupees of her personal wealth to the country's treasury.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of her immediate tasks, not resolved fully by any previous ruler, was to settle the hill tribals who regularly made destructive forays into the kingdom. She did this by offering them avenues for livelihood and a settled life. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indore was developed into one of the foremost cities in India. Ahilyabai ranks very high as an administrator too. She was able to keep invasions away from her realm, provide good and clean administration and was seen to be just. She was very clear on governance and provided a mechanism that got the work done without fear or favour. Her genuine aim was the increased prosperity of her subjects which endeared her to them unlike several other rulers. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Building anew, Rebuilding temples</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As artisans and craftsperson flocked to Maheswar, it turned into a major textile weaving centre. Maheswari textiles were known for their finesse and vibrantly aesthetic weaves. This tradition continues even today.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai is also remembered for the architecture she constructed and maintained through the length and breadth of India. The four jyotirlingas (Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Trimbakeswar in Nashik, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag, Grishneswar in Aurangabad), the sapta puris (Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchi, Ujjain, Dwaraka), four dhams (Badrinath, Puri, Dwaraka and Rameswaram), several other temples, numerous resthouses, water tanks all over India are ancient structures that she renovated or built anew. They are testament to her piety and that she viewed India, in spite of all political divisions, as one whole. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The famous temple of Somnath had been repeatedly destroyed by invaders for centuries. Ahilyabai repaired the temple. Her’s was the sixth attempt after several rulers and rich merchants rebuild the temple every time it was destroyed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Varanasi also she rebuilt several important destroyed temples. The ghats we see there today descending to the Ganga are built by Ahilyabai Holkar. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai may have taken up this extensive temple building activity, much of it with her personal finances, to solidify her position in the Maratha confederacy. But there is no denying the fact that her personal interest and piety also played a major role in reconstructing and building new structures. She took care to not encroach upon other religious structures and left them well alone. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNvy3EBH8c24ewgpEMkeYJQc0RzEOXDWKbpTQKgmTBTwBm4JTd0PAT5KiOXJw6K5A_NiLGDddFoDCseNDYuMsj8IYVKzrm0fMci8qJrk73QMJjbnN3xnFUNbQV8CVBrAhXgFnlvMKvxchA2LBhDvJVdsm1UN7KYefqzRWc7GTgXkFZpAu-rp8vlQmb=s344" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ahilyabai Holkar, India Post, Government of India, GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons" border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNvy3EBH8c24ewgpEMkeYJQc0RzEOXDWKbpTQKgmTBTwBm4JTd0PAT5KiOXJw6K5A_NiLGDddFoDCseNDYuMsj8IYVKzrm0fMci8qJrk73QMJjbnN3xnFUNbQV8CVBrAhXgFnlvMKvxchA2LBhDvJVdsm1UN7KYefqzRWc7GTgXkFZpAu-rp8vlQmb=w239-h320" title="Ahilyabai Holkar" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">India Post, Government of India, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons</span></b></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her legacy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai’s various acts of charity to the underprivileged, constantly watching for the welfare of her citizens were hallmarks of a good ruler. They extended her influence, as also that of the Maratha rule, all over India. It is no wonder that her 30 year rule is considered a golden era in the Malwa region. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahilyabai overcame the prevalent 18th century bias against females by demonstrating how good governance and exemplary conduct is not decided by gender. She was a strong administrator who ruled by dharma and was ahead of her times by taking a keen interest in industrialisation, to the extent possible for the times. 13 August 2022 marked her 227th death anniversary.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ref:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Women, Gender and Art in Asia c.1500-1900. Edited by Melia Belli Bose</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Image attribution:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(61, 61, 61); color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3400000035762787px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-id="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" data-type="URL" href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-a-2-z" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cd0215; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#BlogchatterA2Z</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank"> </a></strong></span><span class="_4yxr" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theblogchatter.com/" target="_blank">https://www.theblogchatter.com/</a></span></p><p><i style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A word about BlogchatterA2Z - This is an annual event during which I have taken up the challenge of blogging on Women in Indian History starting with A and ending in Z during the month of April, 2021. Here then is A - Ahilyabai Holkar. Drop in everyday to read my posts on other interesting women as I work my way down the alphabet to Z!</span></i></p>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-23022015911485891562021-02-13T00:16:00.032+05:302022-09-26T17:04:51.967+05:30Aatukuri Molla - People's Favourite Ramayana in Telugu<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla is considered among the greatest poets in Telugu literature although only one work of hers, <i>Ramayanam</i>, is known to us. Until a few decades back it was studied as a text book by school children who learnt it by heart. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c40a4c76-7fff-28d5-d856-608bbf39e936"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regional versions of the Ramayana</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The enduring appeal of the Ramayana through the centuries shows the common thread that runs through the cultural life of India. Scholars opine there are about 300 regional variations and iterations of the epic. Women have written many of these which are very popular and are referenced in everyday language and the arts. While <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2020/02/chandravatis-ramayana.html">Chandravati’s version of the Ramayana</a> in Bangla is justly renowned, Molla’s Telugu Ramayanam is equally an element of daily life in Telugu speaking areas even today.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla’s childhood</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aatukuri Molla (1440 - 1530 CE) was born during the Vijayanagara rule in Kadapa, now in the Rayalaseema district of Andhra Pradesh. She was the daughter of a potter Keshava Setti whose wife died soon after childbirth. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keshava Setti and his wife were devotees of Srikantha Malleswara of Srisailam and named their daughter after the deity’s favoured flower Molla, the Jasmine. In their village they were loved and respected for their generosity and the help they extended to all. Due to this goodwill they had earned, when Keshava Setti found it difficult to bring up his daughter all alone the village got together to help him with the child. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla grew up to be studious and quiet. She was educated in the village school. Even as a youngster Molla showed precocious interest in prayer and spent unusual stretches of time in the temple. When she was fourteen Keshava Setti took her to his guru at Srisailam to be initiated into the religious way of life. The guru counselled him to give Molla all the freedom to choose her own path and that she would be well-respected for her devotion. When they returned home Keshava Setti allowed her to pursue her passion for learning and prayer. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How Molla wrote her Ramayana</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At her village temple one day Molla stated that as she meditating, Sri Rama appeared to her and asked her to write the Ramayana. When she told the priest about this he immediately procured palm leaves, stylus and other equipment for her. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She set to work and completed the Ramayana in six cantos or </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kanda</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, from the Bala Kanda to the Yuddha Kanda. Bala Kanda is the first canto or book of the Ramayana which narrates the birth and childhood of Sri Rama. Yuddha Kanda is the sixth canto which deals with the war that Rama and his compatriots waged against Ravana, and rescued Sita. This is naturally the longest section of Molla's Ramayana since the epic battle is the core of every heroic epic. Scholars consider Molla’s narration of the Sundara Kanda to be unsurpassed in the whole gamut of Telugu literature. Sundara Kanda is known for its poetic description of objects, places and people. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is unique about Molla’s version</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Literary scholars consider Molla’s Ramayanam to be a poem of considerable excellence and literary merit.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla drew upon her years of study and knowledge to write her version of the Ramayana. She undertook the task so that common people would get to know not just the story but also the important values in the epic. With this audience in mind she used language that is simple and easy to understand. She commented in the text that works in regional languages should stand on their own merit and not lean on Sanskrit. Not surprisingly, Molla’s Ramayana has elegant Telugu and not high-sounding Sanskrit.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From her work it is obvious that she knew of other poets who had also written on the Ramayana. She was very aware of her limitation of not being a classical scholar, but her advantage was her years of study and her devotion. However, she credits all her work to the grace of the lord of Gopavaram, her home town.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla did not faithfully follow the Valmiki Ramayana but added and deleted portions to make it her own. She began by 'paying her respects to Sri Ramachandra, the Trinity, several other deities and finally Saraswati, for Her power over words and meanings' as Nabaneeta Dev Sen notes. Molla mentioned her gurus with respect and thankfulness at the beginning of her work. She departed from tradition by not dedicating it to the king Krishnadeva Raya which was contrary to the usual practice. Instead her dedication was to her chosen deity Srikantha Malleswara.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla described Ayodhya's commerce, its armed forces and goings-on at the battlefield in great detail, adhering to the classic epic narration. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her belief in the efficacy of chanting Rama’s name was her reason for writing the Ramayana. It’s her clear and simple style imbued with a native flavour which attracts readers to her work to this day.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She used colloquial language. Her aim was for her version of the Ramayana to be read and to bring solace to ordinary people. Her trust was well placed, Molla Ramayanam is among the most read and quoted versions of Ramayana in Telugu.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXVBS_ByL3KXNyh2sq7_ffQQ6WGqN8Q5t0VZg4n63JfJ0IBMOv45Su1EyPhz_aEVOv2Px8GIUAamn2tGcSYH9Evyc3GUmgLfraNpqBMPe2fRGGJJBABe3_Lc3EX8Fml6o2m3GsMzunv0/s336/Atukuri_Molla_2017_stamp_of_India.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aatukuri Molla, India Post, Government of India" border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXVBS_ByL3KXNyh2sq7_ffQQ6WGqN8Q5t0VZg4n63JfJ0IBMOv45Su1EyPhz_aEVOv2Px8GIUAamn2tGcSYH9Evyc3GUmgLfraNpqBMPe2fRGGJJBABe3_Lc3EX8Fml6o2m3GsMzunv0/w239-h320/Atukuri_Molla_2017_stamp_of_India.jpg" title="Aatukuri Molla" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">India Post, Government of India</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla’s well-earned fame</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not just in the present, even at the time she wrote it Molla Ramayanam became so popular for being easily relatable that Molla’s fame reached the emperor Krishnadeva Raya. Being a writer himself, he was able to appreciate her craft and asked her to appear in court.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At court she was received with all due honour but also had to face the questions of the famed </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ashtha diggajas</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the eight literary luminaries of the Vijayanagara court. The one questioning her was Tenali Ramakrishna, an author of several literary works.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her answers showed her presence of mind and depth of knowledge. Her poetic talent was tested in court when she was asked to compose on a theme within a few minutes. Her poem floored everybody. She was given the title ‘Kavi Ratna’ and presented gold.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla returned to her village, entrusted her Ramayanam and the gold to the village temple and left for Srisailam where she remained until the end of her life. She lived the life of an ascetic, performing austerities. She was always available for seekers who wanted advice. Molla died in 1530 at the age of ninety. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molla channelled all her learning and devotion into her one literary work Ramayanam. Such was the superior tenor and spiritual quality of her poetry that it has bridged the gap between being a classical literary work and well-loved poetry that is intricately woven into people’s daily lives. Not often do writers and poets encompass both high literature and popular adoration so completely.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>References - </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="-webkit-standard" id="docs-internal-guid-5df2eccf-7fff-933b-a1b5-4e05e0ad34d7" style="white-space: normal;"></span></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Ramayana in Telugu and Tamil - A Comparative Study by CR Sarma</span></i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://english.kadapa.info/molla-the-saint-poetess-of-kadapa-district/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://english.kadapa.info/molla-the-saint-poetess-of-kadapa-district/</span></i></span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Great Women of India - Edited by Swami Madhavananda and Ramesh Chandra Majumdar</span></i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/MollaRamayanamu/mode/2up" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://archive.org/details/MollaRamayanamu/mode/2up</span></i></span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rewriting the Ramayana - Nabaneeta Dev Sen</span></i></span></p></li></ol></span><div><span></span></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-63235818466904599492021-02-09T13:43:00.030+05:302023-10-17T18:21:31.687+05:30Velu Nachiyar - Sivaganga's Queen who fought the British<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resistance in India to foreign rule</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba89fbd1-7fff-c7c9-1428-222b2ac4425c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar (1730-1796) the third ruler and queen of Sivaganga, in present-day Tamil Nadu, was among the early royalty to put up armed resistance against British rule in India. Another Indian queen who ruled nearly a century earlier and also did not allow foreign powers, the Portuguese, to gain a foothold on Indian soil was <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5117438610270655835/4487100548571489528">Abbakka Chowta</a> of Ullal in the 16th century. And of course a queen who embarked on the same mission against the British, less than a century after Velu Nachiyar, was Lakshmibai of Jhansi.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The spark ignited by the spirited fight of Velu Nachiyar and her compatriots, the Marudu brothers, against the British inspired the common people to also take up arms against foreign rule. The brothers were hanged for their efforts, but the fact is that sporadic resistance efforts were on from when the first European powers tried to expand from their initial mercantile activities to exerting political influence over local rulers in India. The First War of Independence of 1857 was the stage at which many of the rulers of the time decided to act together, not individually, to have a greater impact.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar’s rule in Sivaganga</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar became the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">de facto</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ruler after the death of her husband </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Muthu Vaduganatha Peria Oodaya Thevar </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and his first wife Gowri Nachiyar in 1780. His death was the successful culmination of a plot by the Nawab of Arcot to get rid of him. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgJxqNVF2zMAjj4kzwQWeJkIa1tmgkym03euVqn-NlB6r1DHdY2FgVPD_NrvVjExH6zqAvh55ru7MJ-HzEc99OwZN6vupJsOADNMP_zB1j-iceHvBM-DQDEnKTT17l0gC2QLJTOanteQ/s159/128px-Velu_Nachchiyar_2008_stamp_of_India.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Veli Nachiyar India Post, Government of India" border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="128" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgJxqNVF2zMAjj4kzwQWeJkIa1tmgkym03euVqn-NlB6r1DHdY2FgVPD_NrvVjExH6zqAvh55ru7MJ-HzEc99OwZN6vupJsOADNMP_zB1j-iceHvBM-DQDEnKTT17l0gC2QLJTOanteQ/w256-h320/128px-Velu_Nachchiyar_2008_stamp_of_India.jpg" title="Velu Nachiyar" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">India Post, Government of India</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Upbringing as heir to the throne</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It seemed like Velu Nachiyar’s upbringing was tailored for this very role she would play in later life. As the sole daughter of the ruler of Ramanathapuram (also known as Ramanad) she was given a wholistic education. She was tutored extensively in scholastics and became proficient in several languages - Tamil, French, English, Urdu, Malayalam and Telugu. She even travelled to France for some medical intervention. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar’s education included the study of classical Tamil works. She also trained in martial arts and in fighting with weapons such as the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">valari</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a traditional lethal throwing weapon. All this education was customary for the heir to the throne and her gender made no difference. Thus she was no helpless queen but one whose confidence was bolstered with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar became Vaduganatha Thevar’s second wife </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at the age of fifteen in 1746. The couple soon had a daughter named Vellachi Nachiyar. Velu Nachiyar took an active role in the administration of the kingdom as Vaduganatha Thevar trusted her managerial and diplomatic acumen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Political Background</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the late eighteenth century European traders - English, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese - were vying </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for favourable trading terms from the local rulers in peninsular India. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time South India was a chess board in which diverse pawns made their moves for the better part of a century. The English, the French and to a lesser extent, the Portuguese were the Europeans trying to secure their </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">mercantile</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> fortunes. The Danes who had a few godowns for their merchandise did not expand as much territorially. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b2db103b-7fff-6ab9-677b-9377b75ec950"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The British and the French duplicated their war against each other in Europe at the time by aligning with rulers in India against each other. Thus Hyder Ali and the French came to the aid of Velu Nachiyar of Sivagangai against the Marathas and the English who wanted to annex her kingdom. </span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vaduganatha Thevar granted commercial facilties in his territory to the Dutch. This was after the British had earlier rejected a similar offer from him. However, now the British were uneasy about this arrangement in Sivaganga with a rival European trader. Besides, they wanted to force Sivaganga to pay tribute to their ally the Nawab of Arcot.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Opposing powers in the area</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both Mohammad Ali Khan Wallajah the Nawab of Arcot, and the ruler of Pudukottai were British allies. The local chieftains, palaigar, in the area took a stand against the oppressive taxes levied on them by the Nawab, and allied themselves with Hyder Ali in the 3rd Mysore War. The people decided to oppose the British, who were an arrogant power. To make matters worse the British has put an embargo in place that led to shortage of essentials. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vaduganatha Thevar was well aware of the covetous ways of the English and kept them at arm’s length, refusing to make any concessions for them. The British were in turn aware of the strength of the Sivaganga army and of the Maruthu brothers who were in charge of it. In June 1772 they decided upon attacking Vaduganatha Thevar from two sides led by two generals, Joseph Smith from the east and Benjour from the west. Vaduganatha Thevar had also made his preparations to counter the attack. He decided to take a stand in the forested area of Kalayar Koil.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First the British troops occupied Sivaganga. Then Benjour and his troops took over Kalayar Koil. Vaduganatha Thevar and his army put up a valiant fight but he died on the battlefield on 27 June 1772. Velu Nachiyar is also reputed to have fought bravely in the battle.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar and her daughter fled to Virupakshi in Dindigul district. There they were joined by the Marudu brothers. Soon, the brothers returned to Sivaganga to organise a rebellion. Velu Nachiar wrote to Hyder Ali of Mysore who was a sworn enemy of the British, met him and decided to join forces against the British East India Company. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar formed a women’s battalion ‘Udayal Padai’ in her army. It was very motivated and well trained. Kuyyili, the commander in this battalion and a close associate of Velu Nachiyar became known for her brave martyrdom while blowing up the British ammunition stock at the fort of Sivaganga.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1780 the combined armies of Sivaganga and Mysuru defeated the joint forces of the Nawab of Arcot and the British and reestablished the throne of Sivaganga. </span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar’s rule in Sivaganga</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar ruled from 1780. It is speculated she was on the Sivaganga throne until 1790. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengum Peria Wodaya Thevar, husband of Vellachi Nachiyar, succeeded to the throne. In time it became obvious that he was a ruler in name only, the actual powers behind the throne were the Marudu brothers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1793 Vellachi Nachiyar and her infant daughter died of an illness. This affected Velu Nachiyar profoundly and her own health deteriorated.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Vengum Peria Wodaya Thevar married Muthathal, daughter of one of the Marudu brothers. To stamp their authority the brothers captured the fort of Sivaganga. This turn of events was a further blow to Velu </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Nachiyar. She developed a heart ailment.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar decided to have surgery in France and it was performed successfully. She returned to Sivaganga six months later. However she passed away in Virupakshi on 25 December 1796.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The legacy of Velu Nachiyar</b></span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Velu Nachiyar’s fight was not just for herself or her kingdom but was also that of the common man, the palaigar and the Marudu brothers fighting against oppressive taxes and other atrocities of the British and their allies. </span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time of Velu Nachiyar’s rule, India saw the initial rumblings of a concerted attempt to oppose the British and not succumb to their authoritarian tactics. Indians were not completely successful in their endeavour at the time for several reasons yet they did not give up without a fight. Velu Nachiyar’s fight was one more step towards emboldening Indians to gather strength and continue the struggle for freedom.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>References - </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><a href="https://sivaganga.nic.in/tourism/eminent-personalities/">https://sivaganga.nic.in/tourism/eminent-personalities/</a></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>South Indian Rebellion - K Rajayyan</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Queen Velu Nachiyar: First Women </i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>against</i></span><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> British - Jekila Antony Raj</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><br /><br /></span></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-15931415510134563222021-01-27T16:19:00.017+05:302022-05-18T09:37:19.217+05:30Perin Naoroji Captain - A Life Dedicated to India's Freedom<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Family Background<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perin Naoroji Captain was the granddaughter of the scholar-politician Dadabhai Naoroji, the Grand Old Man of India. He was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, and thrice its president. Naoroji was a British MP as a member of the House of Commons. </span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perin was born at Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat on 12 October 1888. Her father Ardeshir was a doctor and Dadabhai Naoroji’s son. He died when she was yet five years old. Perin came from a large family of eight children, many of whom took up the nationalist cause. She married the eminent lawyer DS Captain in 1925. The couple did not have children. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyqDAkjvi80ad8z-XgdoIzMKYiWWrowLFXQ6ksdFYYpsP52DHmzZ1h-f-GaDrme5QTvKxBYo__qkhZp58ktGeQzNpyYqrkeL8nIoJt5yB-u8kmJVOiKa4O9IsnNmK4IHisjm68OjF8gU/s300/Perin+Captain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Perin Naoroji Captain" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyqDAkjvi80ad8z-XgdoIzMKYiWWrowLFXQ6ksdFYYpsP52DHmzZ1h-f-GaDrme5QTvKxBYo__qkhZp58ktGeQzNpyYqrkeL8nIoJt5yB-u8kmJVOiKa4O9IsnNmK4IHisjm68OjF8gU/s16000/Perin+Captain.jpg" title="Perin Naoroji Captain" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>Perin Naoroji Captain</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Beginnings</b> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a student at Sorbonne in Paris Perin met the nationalist Bhikaiji Cama who lived there in self-exile, and was a close associate of VD Savarkar. At the time Cama was deeply involved in trying for the release of Savarkar who was in prison at London for defying the British. Perin became a close friend of Kamala Nehru there. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Later Perin and Savarkar attended the first Egyptian National Congress at Brussels. In London Perin and her sister Gosi worked with Polish organisations against Czarist Russia and learnt from a Polish revolutionary to use firearms and assemble bombs. This activity brought her under surveillance by the British, but that did not deter her. It is interesting that despite this early exposure to how violence was being used in other parts of the world Perin, Gosi and another sister Nurgis (the Captain sisters who married three brothers) turned completely to non-violence as the path to follow under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1911 Perin returned to India. She met Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 and became convinced that his approach to securing India’s freedom from British rule was the right one. From 1920 she took to wearing khadi and began working for the nationalist cause in right earnest. In 1921 she was one of a group that established the Rashtriya Stree Sabha, a nationalist wormen’s organisation run on Gandhian principles. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Public Life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Civil Disobedience Movement</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 was a watershed moment in the history of the struggle for freedom in India. This movement was the method that the Indian National Congress decided was the means to attain </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purna Swaraj</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (complete independence). The movement spread all over India. In Bengal <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2020/12/matangini-hazra-freedoms-champion.html">Matangini Hazra</a> was one of the prominent activists.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perin Captain’s leadership qualities saw her playing an active role in many other areas, but the Civil Disobedience Movement was a defining episode in her public life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_xnXxuQqm_E0-jJT0rZdMLYqowj8XdVf4PtCC86WD40euM15QoTKPUIAlWQTPamItF4Vyq2fA1tTsPfpOqQ8SMjEKguEnFCDj8ibAGZyuEcajqnvXJsauAPig56yniZFVuYVJKAExic/s1402/Perin+at+Chowpatti.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Perin Captain addressing a political meeting on Chowpatty Beach in Bombay, 1930 Source: Women of India, Tara Ali Baig" border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1402" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_xnXxuQqm_E0-jJT0rZdMLYqowj8XdVf4PtCC86WD40euM15QoTKPUIAlWQTPamItF4Vyq2fA1tTsPfpOqQ8SMjEKguEnFCDj8ibAGZyuEcajqnvXJsauAPig56yniZFVuYVJKAExic/w320-h177/Perin+at+Chowpatti.png" title="Perin Captain addressing a political meeting" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-50ac17bf-7fff-f006-9b3f-f6513c1c25a2" style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Perin Captain addressing a political meeting
on Chowpatty Beach in Bombay, 1930
Source: Women of India, Tara Ali Baig</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perin had had a long association of social and political work with stalwarts working in the field, well before the call for Civil Disobedience by Gandhi. Although from an influential family and well known to the leading lights of the era, Perin was a Congress worker who served the country by taking part in the big issues of the day. She was a hands-on political worker, did not shy away from the hurly-burly of public engagement and underwent multiple jail terms like most national leaders at the time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the Civil Disobedience Movement Perin with several other women under Desh Sevika Sangh played a prominent role in going from shop to shop in Bombay asking the owners not to sell imported cloth. Thus far the colonizers had crippled Indian weavers and the textile segment by exporting raw cotton and importing textiles into India. This boycott of British textiles in India was a direct hit at manufactured goods from Britain. The group also made continuous appeals to shoppers to participate in the Swadeshi movement and not buy imported fabric. In the first ten months of 1930 as many as 17,000 women were convicted for this activity. Closing shops was unlawful, and now shopkeepers were also arrested along with the women for boycott of foreign goods.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her Arrest and its Aftermath</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3rd July 1930 was the fourth day of Boycott Week in Bombay. There were crowds on the streets shouting boycott slogans, lorryloads of volunteers passing around flags and pamphlets to boycott British goods, house to house collection of Swadeshi pledges (2,00,000 pledges had been signed thus far). Mahatma Gandhi sent Perin a cable to “alert Congress to scrupulously avoid all violence, direct indirect passive or active” by any of the picketers. Perin replied that the instruction would be carried out. The Bombay Chronicle of 4 July 1930 reported the arrest of Perin that morning as she was setting out to the Congress office for a day’s work. She ‘cheerfully submitted to the officers’ who came to her home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once the news of her arrest spread, the Municipal Corporation of Bombay adjourned, the Sugar Merchants’ Association passed an unanimous resolution to boycott British refined sugar, and other merchant associations went with the boycott. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Municipal Corporation of Bombay passed a resolution that “Mrs. Captain was an accomplished lady and was a grand-daughter of the late Dadabhai Naoroji popularly known as the Grand Old Man of India. Mrs. Captain was a lady of sound and sober views and took her education in England. It was Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji who first started the idea of swaraj for India and Mrs. Captain took her education in England under the guidance of her revered grandfather. Self sacrifice and service were the mottos of her life and she was acting upto her honest conviction with courage.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Perin and other women activists were released from prison, a mile long chain of about 5,000 women led by Sevikas welcomed them back. There were crowds of women reportedly 10,000 strong at both ends of the parade. Such active participation of women in the freedom struggle was in part possible because of the example and the leadership of Perin and her compatriots. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The struggle for freedom - The Implications for women</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wholehearted participation of women gave as much a fillip to the women’s emancipation movement as it did to the struggle for freedom. The women volunteers in the non-cooperation and civil disobedience movements had a huge impact on the general perception about women’s capabilities. The menfolk were in prison so the women took charge. Women from the most aristocratic and orthodox families to the poorest participated. They took not just the British administration but even their own menfolk by surprise. This participation opened up avenues for social and political rights for women. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As t</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he Congress party was in the forefront of the struggle, Perin and her sisters were in the thick of all party activities in Bombay (now Mumbai). Perin became the first woman president of the Bombay Provincial Congress Committee in 1932. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For better clarity of purpose and organisation, many smaller bodies were merged into the Gandhi Seva Sena of which Perin became the Honorary General Secretary, a post she held until her death. The Gandhi Seva Sena promoted khadi by selling rural and khadi products from their stores. One store is still in business in Mumbai selling herbal cosmetics, oil and pulses.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Khadi, also known as khaddar, was originally from Eastern India but eventually was woven by people from all over the country. It is handwoven cloth made of natural fibre, mainly cotton, but also to a lesser degree of silk and wool. It is traditionally woven with the spinning wheel, the charkha. During the freedom movement Khadi became the symbol of India’s resistance to imported cloth and of self-reliance. Today Khadi has had a rejuvenation and is also used by fashion designers in high-end clothing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Responsibility</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1937 the Congress Party came to power in eleven provinces in the provincial elections held under the Government of India Act 1935. These were Madras, The Central Provinces, Sindh, Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, NWFP, Assam, Bombay Presidency and United Provinces. This development raised expectations of a greater role for the party in the future and the need to prepare for it. The Indian National Congress formed a National Planning Committee with Jawaharlal Nehru as Chairman. Perin was member of the sub-committee ‘Women’s Role in a Planned Economy’ with several others who were active in the freedom movement and in women’s associations. The committee debated and planned policy for issues such as women’s social, economic and political status, education, marriage, maternity and succession. The committee’s report was absolutely clear that the position of women should be on an equal footing to that of men in the India of the future. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After India’s Independence</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perin was appointed Chief Commissioner of Bharat Guides and had a hand in voluntary social welfare work among young girls. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was honoured with the Padma Sri in 1954, the first batch of civil awards presented in independent India.</span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perin Naoroji Captain died in Jahangir Nursing Home, Pune in 1958.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reference</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Gandhi, Women and the National Movement 1920-47 - Anup Taneja</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Women in Satyagraha - Aparna Basu</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Gandhi’s Passion. The life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi - Stanley Wolpert</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. The Bombay Chronicle, 4 July 1930</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. <a href="https://dinyarpatel.com/naoroji/family/">https://dinyarpatel.com/naoroji/family/</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><br />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-31325956004713652402020-12-31T20:40:00.021+05:302023-03-28T16:16:57.019+05:30Saalamarada Thimmakka - The Power of One for the Environment<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Environment Crusader</span></h1><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">The environment is the focus all over the world like never before. Greening our surroundings, halting climate change are no longer buzzwords about the future, but the need of the present, here and now. Here is one individual who did not start her mission of planting trees with any lofty ideals or with any thoughts of grabbing headlines or making a statement. Thimmakka is known today for the nearly 400 Saalamara, Banyan Tree in Kannada, that she planted for a length of 4-5 kilometers from her village Hulikal to Kudur in Karnataka. But that is not all. Thimmakka has planted about 8,000 trees in over 80 years. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QqY6Z10RdBo2rjAWfgn8Rfzc89QuCh6ZbBRSOFoq64MG_fxD1wWHPTL_a2aYb-5bRDdmgha6blQG8id8XOVeGNdV7AqMgboRiz69yiFwYp76wTvmbxl-_S4E5acZENgSrykifPOUKDs/s251/Thimmakka.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Saalamarada Thimmakka" border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QqY6Z10RdBo2rjAWfgn8Rfzc89QuCh6ZbBRSOFoq64MG_fxD1wWHPTL_a2aYb-5bRDdmgha6blQG8id8XOVeGNdV7AqMgboRiz69yiFwYp76wTvmbxl-_S4E5acZENgSrykifPOUKDs/w320-h255/Thimmakka.jpg" title="Saalamarada Thimmakka" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Saalamarada Thimmakka</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A difficult beginning</b></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-adc2bde9-7fff-3ea1-75e3-004af8d42398"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For many years, the tree planting was a joint effort by her and her husband Bekal Chikkayya. Thimmakka never went to school and had begun to work even as a ten year old. Soon, as was the custom she was also married. Thimmakka and her husband Bekal Chikkayya spent their lives in poverty as labourers at a quarry. They remained childless after many ye</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ars of marriage. The thoug</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ht of planting trees and looking after them like children grew from wanting to nurture, to parent.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why the Banyan of all the trees? Because it’s saplings were easily available at the time and it was a hardy, local species that could be easily grafted. The Banyan is a shade-giving tree and hosts bird life and insects that love its deep foliage and its fruit, the Fig. Thimmakka and her husband planted the saplings in the monsoon. They looked after the young saplings by carrying water for them in two pots from their well, twice a week. It was a walk over four kilometers each time. They then built a thorny fence around each sapling to ward off animals. Some of those trees are now over 70 years old. This level of care for over 80 years is surely nothing but a labour of love.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time there was no value for the work the couple had put in. They often had to face the unkind jibes of others in the village over their childlessness and their care for the trees. In 1996, Thimmakka's life again took a dip. Chikkayya passed away and she was left with no assets and no support. But she had her ‘children’, all the trees she had planted over the decades. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Recognition for her work</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A journalist heard of her tree-planting efforts and wrote about her work in the Kannada daily <i>Prajavani</i>, which came to the attention of Prime Minister Deve Gowda. She received the National Citizens Award from him in New Delhi and then set up the Saalumarada Thimmakka Foundation, now run by her foster son. The Foundation works in the area of environment initiatives. Several other awards also came her way. An organisation for environmental conservation in the USA has been renamed Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So today, some 24 years after her husband passed away, the wheel has turned a full circle. Her work has become well-known and she is recognised as a sterling example of a green crusader. When one school child showed her what was written about her in their textbook, she discovered she was now Saalamarada Thimmakka - ‘Thimmakka of the Banyan Tree’.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thimmakka was awarded the Padma Sri in 2019 by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, for ‘distinguished service in the field of environment’. The unforgettable image of this cheerful and diminutive lady blessing the President as he handed her the award comes to mind immediately. Her simplicity and sincerity shone through in the glittering ceremony at Ashoka Hall, Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVKiiUgku421ITjTstep5idX7Z21QUjsmFTcUNZMAZmXf44ql06A_StH1PzxQYLEf6l0i2xcR3dNz7VcvSDK79yObv1kcb6CPgV0luBPau9HWcZduGXNY5HC81O70eL-7zkkxkkdyukI/s700/Blessing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="At the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi" border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="700" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVKiiUgku421ITjTstep5idX7Z21QUjsmFTcUNZMAZmXf44ql06A_StH1PzxQYLEf6l0i2xcR3dNz7VcvSDK79yObv1kcb6CPgV0luBPau9HWcZduGXNY5HC81O70eL-7zkkxkkdyukI/w320-h190/Blessing.jpg" title="Padma Sri ceremony" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi</span></b> </td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next on the wish-list</b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thimmakka’s wish-list now is not long. She only desire is to plant more trees and that the trees she has planted all these years not be cut. And that her village gets a hospital so that villagers don’t have to travel the distance for medical aid.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Thimmakka's focus</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thimmakka exemplifies the impact of sincere effort without thinking of short cuts or rewards. The fame she had garnered, the awards she had won are not her focus even now. Her only thought is for her trees, always her trees. As she says, she loves to plant and look after trees until they are old.</span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-34192983815680526972020-12-10T20:16:00.015+05:302023-10-09T17:32:16.746+05:30Matangini Hazra - Freedom's Champion<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666667px; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">India won independence from British colonizers by the continuous efforts of not just the important freedom fighters who are justly remembered today, but also by the spirited defiance of people from all over the country. Each of them contributed in their own way by never being defeatist and complacent, always working towards throwing off the foreign yoke. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQIcFWaY1l1dMdK9LhQ0AnOZejXhieUI06RqzqSxLtuGv9rJQPQNK__1psxeufIGcAL3_3t_csKKMud64JzSOJLxI7RjuQa3gxM-rIfVI3ZS6_nJit5OBcFovUJasQ070HPU2EdEHZ4Y/s450/Kolkata_Matangini_Hazra.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Matangini Hazra Statue at the Maidan, Kolkata (Wikipedia, PK Niyogi)" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQIcFWaY1l1dMdK9LhQ0AnOZejXhieUI06RqzqSxLtuGv9rJQPQNK__1psxeufIGcAL3_3t_csKKMud64JzSOJLxI7RjuQa3gxM-rIfVI3ZS6_nJit5OBcFovUJasQ070HPU2EdEHZ4Y/w320-h400/Kolkata_Matangini_Hazra.jpg" title="Matangini Hazra" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matangini Hazra</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Statue at the Maidan, Kolkata</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Wikipedia, PK Niyogi)</span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Setbacks were no impediments</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matangini Hazra (1870-1942) was born in the village Hogla in Tamluk, Midnapore district, Bengal in the family of a poor farmer. Child marriage was prevalent at the time and Matangini was married as a young child to a rich widower Trilochan Hazra, who was 62 years old. She did not receive an education. After her husband died she returned childless to her parental home at the age of 18, to a life of poverty at the edge of society. The immediate years thereafter in her life were uneventful as she immersed herself in social service, unknowingly preparing herself for a bigger role in society. Later in life she was inspired by Gandhiji. She spun yarn and wore khadi, so much so she came to be affectionately called Gandhi Buri (</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Old Lady Gandhi</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Bangla).</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-75ea327b-7fff-ad6a-0fb8-648ae2e66039"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Civil Disobedience and other protests</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A notable feature of the freedom movement at Midnapore was the large numbers of women who participated. Matangini’s public life has been recorded since 1930 when she took part at Alinan, West Bengal as a 62 year old in the Salt Satyagraha (March - April 1930) called by Mahatma Gandhi as a part of the Civil Disobedience movement which spread all over the country. In Bombay (today's Mumbai) <a href="https://savitanarayan.blogspot.com/2021/01/perin-naoroji-captain.html">Perin Naoroji Captain</a> took a leading part.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matangini joined the various protests despite her age. Women picketed liquor shops from which the government earned a hefty revenue. Matangini was arrested, like thousands of others at the time, for breaking the Salt Act. She was punished upon her arrest, but that did not deter her and immediately upon her release participated in the Chowkidari Tax Bandha (movement for abolition of Chowkidari Tax). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The agitation against Chowkidari Tax</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resentment was building up among the people against the age-old practise of taxing villagers to pay for chowkidars (watchmen and caretakers). The chowkidars were ostensibly employed to support the police in far-flung areas. They were, however, detested by villagers since they additionally acted as spies and worked for the local landlords. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Popular opinion was that this tax had to be abolished in Bengal. Resentment with the practice was high because the government regularly confiscated huge tracts of property disproportionate to the tax accrued. Once the protest began, the agitators were beaten and tortured. Matangini Hazra got fully involved in the agitation. The governor of Bengal, Sir John Anderson, constituted an illegal court to try everybody in the movement. Despite tight security Matangini sneaked into the court premises and staged a black flag demonstration. She was arrested with several others. Her sentence this time was for six months and she was lodged in Behrampur jail.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More oppression did not stop service of the needy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This arrest only served to steel Matangini’s resolve to fight harder for India’s independence from the oppressive British rule. After she was released, she joined the Indian National Congress which was in the forefront of the struggle for freedom. Matangini continued to be deeply involved in all manner of protest against British colonial rule and continued her service of the people. She was badly injured when lathi-charged by the police at the Mahakuma Congress Conference, a district-level meeting at Serampore. Soon after that a periodic small-pox epidemic hit Bengal, and Matangini worked tirelessly amongst the afflicted. This spirit of service inspite of severe personal difficulties endeared her to people.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Quit India Movement and its aftermath</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The political and social scene in India was filled with turmoil and agitations as the Quit India Movement began in August 1942. When all the leaders of the Congress Party were arrested after Gandhiji’s inspirational call of ‘Do or Die’ in the course of this agitation, several protests were launched locally all over India. Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code that prohibits the assembly of 5 or more people and the holding of public meetings was then imposed by the government. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The plan in Midnapore, however, was to capture the police station, the court and other public buildings. In defiance of the prohibitory order, at 72 years of age, Matangini led a procession of 6,000 Congress supporters, mostly women, with a flag in her hand. The flag was saffron, white and green, with a charkha in the centre. As chants of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vande Mataram</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> rent the air the police opened fire. Matangini was first hit on one hand and then the other. The third bullet hit her on her forehead even as she continued forward, appealing to the police to stop. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matangini Hazra died for her cause, with no thought for her own safety or well-being. She did not hanker for honours, nor did she care for any personal benefits. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">A people’s hero</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An interesting fall-out of Matangini Hazra’s death was the impact it had on the people. The residents of Midnapore declared independence from British rule soon after, in 1942. The people remained very agitated, they took over all government offices. No British official was allowed to enter for years. It took an appeal from Gandhiji to the people - to join in fighting for a just cause, to not allow the situation to deteriorate that would lead to bloodshed if armed forces were sent by the government, that all would together fight for the independence of the whole of India - before they bowed out. This was the impact of Matangini Hazra.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVvde_ejcOB7YxMF0X5uwmywSirJ1JbUsNbrgA2ePYBR4qkQ20vVGRnhXnQwMb1ZfZnWjJr6vzZfU4qUxBPxvOUmzFj4EBNR-XjpbjHbZAOvRZ5_Hbf_XAIQEmhLyR0ur5ApbnfXt2R8/s120/Stamp-Matangini.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="120" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVvde_ejcOB7YxMF0X5uwmywSirJ1JbUsNbrgA2ePYBR4qkQ20vVGRnhXnQwMb1ZfZnWjJr6vzZfU4qUxBPxvOUmzFj4EBNR-XjpbjHbZAOvRZ5_Hbf_XAIQEmhLyR0ur5ApbnfXt2R8/w200-h149/Stamp-Matangini.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, nearly 80 years after she lay down her life Matangini Hazra continues to be remembered by a grateful nation. A statue of hers stands in Midnapore at the spot she was shot. Hers was the first statue of a woman to be put up in Kolkata, at the Maidan, in 1977. Schools and streets in West Bengal are named after Matangini. In 2002 when India released postage stamps to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, Matangini Hazra was one of the freedom fighters honoured in the series.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although as a young girl Matangini Hazra had the odds stacked against her in every way from the start of her life, as a woman she took charge and rewrote her life’s trajectory to emerge a role model for her can-do spirit and the refusal to accept defeat.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ref:</span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Banglapedia, National Encylopedia of Bangladesh </span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bipin Chandra and others, India’s Struggle for Independence</span></i></span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117438610270655835.post-63584011482801172012020-11-29T19:17:00.016+05:302023-06-10T08:29:29.559+05:30Durgabai Kamat - The First Actress of Indian Film<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><b>Durgabai Kamat and Kamalabai Gokhale</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I came across the name of Durgabai Kamat, I was intrigued. How much of a risk-taker she must have been to be willing to participate in an absolutely new venture such as film making! I read all the available literature on her and her times, it appears she only worked in one film. Her milieu was actually the stage. Durgabai’s daughter Kamalabai, however, acted in about 35 films in her career, right up to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gehrayee</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1980).</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-31641e46-7fff-5986-b126-c00f6e52a1e3"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Dadasaheb Phalke, the pioneering film maker in Indian cinema made the first Indian film </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raja Harischandra</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in 1913 he was forced to cast male actors impersonating females. This was because it was taboo for women to work in films and theatre in the conservative society of the time.</span><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following the huge success of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raja Harischandra</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for his second film </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mohini Bhasmasur</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Phalke decided to cast women for female roles in defiance of societal norms. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beginnings</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Durgabai Kamat was Phalke’s choice for the important role of Parvati. Durgabai was a pioneer female actor in a travelling theatre company who was born in 1879. She had studied upto the then-7th standard, currently the 10th standard. She married Anand Nanoskar, a History teacher at the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. When the couple parted ways in 1903, she decided to bring up her young daughter Kamalabai on her own. Kamalabai travelled with Durgabai on the theatre circuit, being homeschooled due to their unsettled lifestyle. She began acting on stage from the age of four. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Path-breaking role</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phalke cast Durgabai as Parvati and young Kamalabai as the lead, as Mohini in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mohini Bhasmasur</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It was filmed in Nashik where Phalke had set up his studio. The mother-daughter duo could shoot at the time since the travelling theatre company Durgabai worked in had temporarily ceased operation. The film was on an episode from the Hindu epics. Essaying her role of the Goddess in this film, Durgabai had an unwitting hand in beginning the process of changing the pervading low opinion about actresses. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mohini Bhasmasur</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> became a pioneering film in many ways - it had the first female actor and the first child actor of Indian cinema. Another first was Phalke’s wife Saraswatibai, his tireless collaborator. She helped wash the film, among performing many essential filmmaking tasks, which effectively made her the first female laboratory assistant in Indian cinema.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mohini Bhasmasur </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was released on 1st January 1914 and the entire cast was taken to Bombay (as it was then) to watch it on the big screen at Coronation Cinema. Unfortunately, the film has not survived to the present day.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Durgabai’s legacy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Durgabai had to battle social stigma at every turn in the early days due to her choice of career, but that did not deter her one bit. Her family continues to be deeply engaged today in cinema. Kamalabai Gokhle went on to have a long career in films. Her grandsons and Durgabai’s great-grandsons Vikram Gokhle and Mohan Gokhle became well recognised for their acting prowess.</span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHDr_69373n4ajGGnhN3NpIB5AGwJlzj_G53Uf2zIvd3SkssbNdzghggaMqTwHpOUSD06j0UOBAg-lZMJTMjDkrpyHpJ3xEXFVPZh-sLnTRGiOy0po3qIMpEpZqd4Mqm6X8qnerms9aE/s456/Kamalabai+Gokhale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kamalabai Gokhale Source:Wikipedia" border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHDr_69373n4ajGGnhN3NpIB5AGwJlzj_G53Uf2zIvd3SkssbNdzghggaMqTwHpOUSD06j0UOBAg-lZMJTMjDkrpyHpJ3xEXFVPZh-sLnTRGiOy0po3qIMpEpZqd4Mqm6X8qnerms9aE/w286-h320/Kamalabai+Gokhale.jpg" title="Kamalabai Gokhale" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <b>Kamalabai Gokhale</b></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div><br /></div></div>savitanarayan@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11760806966286918250noreply@blogger.com12Pune, Maharashtra, India19.7059376 73.12454052.966784761195111 55.546415499999995 36.445090438804883 90.7026655