Role of Sarojini Naidu in Indian Struggle of Freedom
Role of Sarojini
Naidu in Indian Struggle of Freedom
Today on the occasion of daughter’s day, I want to convey the role of a daughter of India in its independence.
“A country’s
greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifice that inspire the
mothers of the race.” - Sarojini Naidu
India got independence on 15th august, 1947 after a long struggle for freedom.
Around
1600 CE British East India Company came India for only trading purpose but
gradually with passing time, it established Politico-administrative rule in
India. And converted fragmented Indian territories into British India.
As
many local struggles were held time to time but first time a consolidated
struggle for independence was held in 1857 CE. In this first struggle many
rulers of Indian territories were participated and fought with bravery. Although
it was suppressed by British, it rose feeling of nationalism among Indians and
struggle for freedom was started and remained continued till 15th
august 1947.
After 1915, when Mahatma Gandhi came India
from South Africa, already going struggle got a new direction and a new era of
National Freedom Struggle against British rule was started.
Most of the influential personalities of
that time were part of national struggle for freedom like Moti Lal Nehru,
Sardar Vallabh Hai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subhash
Chandra Bose, Ram Manohar Lohia, Babu Jagjeevan Ram, C. Raja Gopal Chari, Jai
Prakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali etc.
Among these great nationalist leaders and
Freedom Fighters, a female freedom fighter – Sarojini Naidu played a
significant role in Indian Struggle for freedom.
Sarojini Naidu – A Freedom Fighter
Life Events
Sarojini Naidu was born in a Bengali
family in Hyderabad on 13th feb, 1879.
She became a poetess and at very early
age, started writing literature. She wrote a play ‘Maher Muneer’ in Persian
language.
She wrote 1300 lines long poem “The Lady of the Lake”.
She was proficient in multiple languages including English, Bengali, Urdu, Telugu and Persian.
She was a great Indian poetess,
therefore referred as “Nightingale of India” or “Bharat Kokila”.
She died in Lucknow in 1949, while
serving as First governor of United Province (present Uttar Pradesh) of
Independent India.
Social
and Political contribution in National Struggle for Freedom-
Sarojini Naidu was completely devoted towards
nation and contributed socially and politically in national freedom struggle.
She believed in Hindu-Muslim
unity and did many efforts to bridge the gap between both communities, who were
the victim of Divide and Rule policy of Lord Curzon. She condemned partition of
Bengal in 1905 and participated in swadeshi and boycott movements against
British rule.
She was sent to South Africa
as envoy of Gandhi ji to help Indians against foreign oppression in South
Africa. She presided over East African Indian Congress.
She travelled Europe and US
to spread Gandhian Principles of Truth and Non-violence. She was very
influenced with nationalist leaders and great personalities of that time –
Gopal Krishna Gokhle and Mahatma Gandhi and participated in Indian freedom
struggle.
In 1917, she participated in Champaran Satyagrah of Bihar.
During 1917 to 1919, she joined Gandhi’s
satyagrah and participated in Non-Cooperation movement of 1920.
In 1917, she founded
Women’s India Association (WIA) along with Annie Besant and other influential
women.
In 1925, she became first Indian women and
second women president of INC (Indian National Congress) after Annie Besant
(who became first women president in 1917).
In 1927, she founded All
India Women Conference and was considered one of the feminist leaders of India.
In 1930, she along with Kamladevi
Chattopadhyay persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to include women participation in salt
march of Dandi yatra and Civil Disobedience movement of 1930.
In 1931, she participated
in 2nd Round Table Conference along with Gandhi ji and other INC
delegates held in London.
In 1942, she participated
in Quit India movement and went to jail for 21 months.
Along with National
struggle for freedom, she worked for upliftment of Women in society and to
provide their human and political rights. She focused on Girl and Women
education and fought against Child Marriage, Pardah seclusion, bigamy, Sati and
other female suffrage.
Thus, she was a great
Indian Poetess, a Feminist luminary, social reformer, nationalist leader and one
of the great female freedom fighters, who fought to get freedom not only from
British rule but also from social evils and superstitious rituals.
She always be remembered for
her remarkable and unforgettable contribution in her literary works, Indian
Freedom struggle and to promote gender sensitization.
-by Pooja Gupta
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