Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

• Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1903–1988) was a freedom fighter, social reformer, feminist, and a leading force behind the revival of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre.
• Early Life:
  • Birth: She was born on 3 April 1903 at Mangalore to Ananthaya Dhareshwar and Girijamma.
    • Her father was the District Collector of Mangalore.
  • Family Background: She was born into a Saraswat Brahmin community.
    • Her parents were progressive thinkers and participated in the freedom struggle.
  • Inspired by: She was deeply inspired by Gandhian ideas of non-violence.
• Role in the Freedom Struggle:
  • Entry into Politics: She joined the Indian National Congress in 1923 and became the first woman in India to contest a legislative election in 1926.
  • Salt Satyagraha: She opposed Mahatma Gandhi’s decision to exclude women from the Salt March.
    • She sold “freedom salt” in defiance of the British salt laws.
    • She became the first woman arrested during the Salt Satyagraha.
  • Nationalist Organisation: She headed the women’s wing of the Hindustani Seva Dal and trained hundreds of women volunteers for nationalist protests.
  • Socialist Politics: She helped found the Congress Socialist Party and became its President in 1936.
• Socio-Political & Feminist Milestones:
  • Women’s Leadership: She contested the Madras Provincial Legislative Assembly election with the support of the Women’s Indian Association and narrowly lost.
  • Women’s Rights: She co-founded the All India Women’s Conference with Margaret Cousins.
    • She later led the organisation to promote women’s education, voting rights, and campaigns against child marriage.
  • International Role: She represented Indian women internationally, attended the International Alliance of Women in Berlin in 1929, and supported equality between nations.
  • Author: She wrote on women’s rights from 1929, and her book Indian Women’s Battle for Freedom was published in 1982.
• Post-Independence Cultural Renaissance:
  • Handicrafts and Handlooms: She revived Indian handicrafts and handlooms by establishing the All India Handicrafts Board.
  • Support for Artisans: She founded the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (1952) to connect rural artisans directly with urban buyers.
  • Institution Building: She played an important role in establishing the National School of Drama, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and the Indian Cooperative Union.
  • Refugee Rehabilitation: Through the Indian Cooperative Union, she helped develop Faridabad to rehabilitate tens of thousands of Partition refugees.
• Major Awards & Recognition:
  • Padma Bhushan: She received the Padma Bhushan in 1955.
  • Ramon Magsaysay Award: She became the first Indian woman to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1966.
  • Padma Vibhushan: She was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 1987.
• Legacy: She is affectionately remembered as “Hatkargha Maa” (Mother of Handlooms) for her exceptional contribution to Indian handlooms and handicrafts.