Writer: Shivam Lahoti
In the time when women were only limited to household chores and only dreamed of free India, there was this woman who fought for a British free India. She was none other than Matangini Hazra also remembered as Gandhi Buri.
Hazra was born on 17 November 1869 in the small village of Hogla, near Tamluk. She was the daughter of a poor peasant Thakurdas Maity. As she belonged to a poor family she had no formal education. She was married at the age of 12 to a 60-year-old man, Trilokchan Hazra. But after 6 years when she was 18 years she became a widow with no offspring.
After her husband’s death, she entirely devoted her life to social service. In 1905 when Nationalist Movement was at its peak she was so inspired by Gandhi’s ideology that she became a true Gandhi follower and rigorously followed his ideology and because of this, she was later known as Gandhi Buri.
The declaration of Purna Swaraj resolution was followed by the announcement of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Protesting the taxation on salt production, Gandhi led his followers on a 26-day march which lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930. 26 January 1932 was the turning point of Hazra’s life.
On that day in her village, hundreds of men were marching on the street to bring attention to the atrocities of British Governments. As they were passing from the front of her house see also joined the march and chanting slogans along with men. Later in that year was arrested for as she produced salt at Alinan salt center. But arrest did not suppress his devotion and willpower to free this country. She continued her protest.
Then she participated in the abolition of the Chowkidari tax movement. In 1933, while she was attending the sub-divisional conference of the Indian National Congress, the British police started a baton charge against the attendees. Matangini received several blows and was severely hurt in the process.
It was the year 1993 Sir John Anderson, the then Governor of Bengal, came to Tamluk to address a gathering, but in spite of that tough security, she managed to stage a black flag demonstration in front of the dais. As the part of quit India movement, Hazra asked the local leaders of Midnanapore district if she could head a procession to capture Tamluk court and police station but as she was quite old her request was put down.
On 29 September 1942, she led a procession of around 6000 supporters, mostly women to capture Tamluk police station. When they reached the outskirts the procession was ordered to disband under section 144 of Indian Penal Code by the Crown police. But in spite of this Hazra continued to move forward police open fire on her. She was shot once but still continued to move forward and was appealing to the police to not shoot the crowd. She was repeatedly shot, she kept chanting Vande Mataram. She died with the flag of the Indian National Congress held high and still flying.
Matangini Hazra is not only remembered for her role in the freedom struggle, but also for upholding the importance of women in the life of a nation. She is an epitome of infinite courage and leadership.
Jai Hind🇮🇳
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