Why in news?
On 25 August 2025 several media houses commemorated the contributions of Bengali women revolutionaries to India’s freedom struggle. Their stories were highlighted to inspire young citizens and to acknowledge the double battle these women fought against British rule and social patriarchy.
Notable figures and their contributions
- Pritilata Waddedar (1911–1932): A schoolteacher from Chittagong, she led a daring attack on the European Club in 1932, which prohibited local people. Surrounded by police, she consumed cyanide to avoid capture and became one of the earliest female martyrs.
- Kalpana Datta (1913–1995): She participated in the Chittagong Armoury Raid alongside Surya Sen. After her arrest she studied science and later wrote memoirs that documented women’s roles in the revolution.
- Bina Das (1911–1986): A student activist who attempted to assassinate Governor Stanley Jackson in 1932 to protest British policies. She was sentenced to prison and later joined the Congress party, working for social reform.
- Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932): A pioneering feminist writer who founded a school for Muslim girls in Kolkata. Her utopian novella Sultana’s Dream imagined a world ruled by women. Though not a revolutionary in the armed sense, she challenged colonial patriarchy through education.
- Kamala Das Gupta (1912–2000): She smuggled arms and messages for the Jugantar group disguised in domestic items. Her courage showed that revolutionaries came from many walks of life.
- Nanibala Devi (1898–1977): She acted as a courier and shelter provider for revolutionaries. Arrested in Peshawar, she endured solitary confinement and torture but refused to betray her comrades.
- Labanya Prabha Ghosh (1886–1951): A writer and activist who used literacy and drama as tools of resistance. She hid fugitives and helped smuggle weapons.
- Matangini Hazra (1870–1942): An elderly widow from Tamluk, she led a procession during the Quit India Movement carrying the tricolour. She was shot by police but continued to chant “Vande Mataram” until she died.
Broader significance
These women expanded the meaning of revolution by participating in both violent and non‑violent forms of resistance. They balanced domestic responsibilities with political activism and confronted gender norms in an era when women were expected to remain in the background. Recognising their courage encourages contemporary society to value gender equality and inclusivity.