Ramadevi Choudhury - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer}}
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	==Role after independence of India==		==Role after independence of India==
	After the [[Independence of India]] in 1947, Rama Devi dedicated herself to the cause of [[Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan]] movement of [[Acharya Vinoba Bhave]].<ref name="Chowdhry1992">{{cite book\|author=Dharam Paul Chowdhry\|title=Profile of voluntary action in social welfare and development\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yqFIAAAAYAAJ\|accessdate=22 April 2011\|~~date~~=1992*\|publisher=Siddhartha Publishers\|isbn=978-81-85464-01-5}}. ''In 1952 the Bhoodan and Gramdan movement claimed the services of both Mrs. Rama Devi and her...''</ref> In 1952 she along with her husband she travelled on foot about 4000 kilometres across the state to propagate the message of giving land and wealth to the landless and poor.<ref name="Chowdhry1992"/><ref>Orissa Review 1990 – Volume 47 – Page 14 "commencement of the Salt Satyagraha, the women leaders like Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Malatl Devi and Kiran Bala Sen made efforts for the active participation of women in this satyagraha. Led by Rama Devi and Malati Devi, fifteen hundred ..."</ref><ref>Reflections on the National Movement in Orissa 1997 "Malati Devi protest meeting was held and a big procession was organised at Cuttack on 7th May, 1930. During this time prominent women leaders of Orissa like Rama Devi, Malati Devi and Sarala Devi were arrested. On 25th September ..."</ref><ref>B. S. Chandrababu, L. Thilagavathi Woman, Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation 2009 – Page 313 "Rama Devi was married at the age of fourteen, in 1914 to [[Gopabandru Choudhury]], who was working as a Deputy ... the Civil Disobedience Movement when the top leaders were imprisoned, Rama Devi acted as the 'Dictator' of the Orissa ..."</ref><ref>Subhas Chandra Parida, Sasmita Nayak Empowerment of Women in India – 2009 Page 197 "... Women political leaders like Basant Manjari Devi (Rajamata of Ranapur), Rama Devi and Malati Choudhury (social ..."</ref><ref>Sachidananda Mohanty – Early Women's Writings in Orissa, 1898–1950: A Lost Tradition 2005 "Rama. Devi. 1889–1985. Daughter of Gopal Ballabha Das, younger brother of Madhusudan D:is. the eminent Oriya nationalist, Rama Devi received no formal schooling. She was married to Gopabandhu Choudhury at the age of 14. ..."</ref> From 1928, Rama Devi stayed in the Alaka Ashram at [[Jagatsingpur]].<ref>Atul Chandra Pradhan, Ashok Kumar Patnaik, Utkal University. Post-graduate Dept. of History People's movements in Orissa during the colonial era – 1994– Page 149 "In the process they had paved the way towards building of a new society in Orissa based on Gandhians ideals. From 1928 Rama Devi had stayed in the Alaka Ashram at Jagatsingpur and had participated in all the activities of the Ashram."</ref>		After the [[Independence of India]] in 1947, Rama Devi dedicated herself to the cause of [[Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan]] movement of [[Acharya Vinoba Bhave]].<ref name="Chowdhry1992">{{cite book\|author=Dharam Paul Chowdhry\|title=Profile of voluntary action in social welfare and development\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yqFIAAAAYAAJ\|accessdate=22 April 2011\|year=1992\|publisher=Siddhartha Publishers\|isbn=978-81-85464-01-5}}. ''In 1952 the Bhoodan and Gramdan movement claimed the services of both Mrs. Rama Devi and her...''</ref> In 1952 she along with her husband she travelled on foot about 4000 kilometres across the state to propagate the message of giving land and wealth to the landless and poor.<ref name="Chowdhry1992"/><ref>Orissa Review 1990 – Volume 47 – Page 14 "commencement of the Salt Satyagraha, the women leaders like Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Malatl Devi and Kiran Bala Sen made efforts for the active participation of women in this satyagraha. Led by Rama Devi and Malati Devi, fifteen hundred ..."</ref><ref>Reflections on the National Movement in Orissa 1997 "Malati Devi protest meeting was held and a big procession was organised at Cuttack on 7th May, 1930. During this time prominent women leaders of Orissa like Rama Devi, Malati Devi and Sarala Devi were arrested. On 25th September ..."</ref><ref>B. S. Chandrababu, L. Thilagavathi Woman, Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation 2009 – Page 313 "Rama Devi was married at the age of fourteen, in 1914 to [[Gopabandru Choudhury]], who was working as a Deputy ... the Civil Disobedience Movement when the top leaders were imprisoned, Rama Devi acted as the 'Dictator' of the Orissa ..."</ref><ref>Subhas Chandra Parida, Sasmita Nayak Empowerment of Women in India – 2009 Page 197 "... Women political leaders like Basant Manjari Devi (Rajamata of Ranapur), Rama Devi and Malati Choudhury (social ..."</ref><ref>Sachidananda Mohanty – Early Women's Writings in Orissa, 1898–1950: A Lost Tradition 2005 "Rama. Devi. 1889–1985. Daughter of Gopal Ballabha Das, younger brother of Madhusudan D:is. the eminent Oriya nationalist, Rama Devi received no formal schooling. She was married to Gopabandhu Choudhury at the age of 14. ..."</ref> From 1928, Rama Devi stayed in the Alaka Ashram at [[Jagatsingpur]].<ref>Atul Chandra Pradhan, Ashok Kumar Patnaik, Utkal University. Post-graduate Dept. of History People's movements in Orissa during the colonial era – 1994– Page 149 "In the process they had paved the way towards building of a new society in Orissa based on Gandhians ideals. From 1928 Rama Devi had stayed in the Alaka Ashram at Jagatsingpur and had participated in all the activities of the Ashram."</ref>

	She helped set up the Utkal Khadi Mandal and also established a Teachers’ Training Centre and [[Balwadi]] at [[Ramchandrapur]]. In 1950 she set up a Tribal Welfare Centre at [[Dumburugeda]]. During the 1951 famine she and Malati worked in famine relief in [[Koraput]]. She worked to aid soldiers affected by the [[Indo-Chinese War]] of 1962.		She helped set up the Utkal Khadi Mandal and also established a Teachers’ Training Centre and [[Balwadi]] at [[Ramchandrapur]]. In 1950 she set up a Tribal Welfare Centre at [[Dumburugeda]]. During the 1951 famine she and Malati worked in famine relief in [[Koraput]]. She worked to aid soldiers affected by the [[Indo-Chinese War]] of 1962.
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	==Memorials==		==Memorials==
	[[~~Ramadevi~~ Women's University]] at [[Bhubaneshwar]] is named in her memory. It is the first women's university in eastern India, established as such since 2015. There is a museum dedicated to her within the university premises.<ref>[http://www.rdwu.org/ Ramadevi Womens University]</ref> The school – Shishu Vihar – started by her at Cuttack is now named Ramadevi Shishu Vihar.<ref>[http://www.graduates.com/ss/517940 rmss]</ref>		[[Rama Devi Women's University]] at [[Bhubaneshwar]] is named in her memory. It is the first women's university in eastern India, established as such since 2015. There is a museum dedicated to her within the university premises.<ref>[http://www.rdwu.org/ Ramadevi Womens University]</ref> The school – Shishu Vihar – started by her at Cuttack is now named Ramadevi Shishu Vihar.<ref>[http://www.graduates.com/ss/517940 rmss]</ref>

	==Death==		==Death==
	She died on 22 July 1985.<ref name=or/>		She died on 22 July 1985 at the age of 85.<ref name=or/>

	<!-- Though she belonged to a very rich [[jamindar]] family she quit all her luxury and comfort for the cause of independence. She took active part in [[Salt Satyagraha]], [[Khadi]] Movement, [[Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan movement\|Gramdaan movement]] of [[Vinoba Bhave]] and was imprisoned several times by the [[British Government]].		<!-- Though she belonged to a very rich [[jamindar]] family she quit all her luxury and comfort for the cause of independence. She took active part in [[Salt Satyagraha]], [[Khadi]] Movement, [[Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan movement\|Gramdaan movement]] of [[Vinoba Bhave]] and was imprisoned several times by the [[British Government]].
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Ramadevi Choudhury
|native_name = '''ରମାଦେବୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ'''
|native_name_lang = or
|image = Ramadebi.jpg
|alt =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1899|12|03}}
|birth_place = Satyabhamapur village, [[Cuttack district]], Odisha, [[British India]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1985|07|22|1899|12|3}}
|death_place = [[Cuttack]], Odisha, [[India]]
|other_names = Maa Rama Devi
|known_for =
|occupation = Indian independence activist, social reformer
|nationality = Indian
}}

'''Ramadevi Choudhury'''({{lang-or|[[:or:ରମାଦେବୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ|'''ରମାଦେବୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ''']]}}) (3 December 1899 – 22 July 1985), also known as '''Rama Devi''', was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer.<ref>''Women pioneers in India's renaissance, as I remember her'', by Sushila Nayar, Kamla Mankekar. [[National Book Trust]], India, 2002. {{ISBN|81-237-3766-1}}. ''Page 216''.</ref> She was called Maa (Mother) by the people of Odisha.The [[Rama Devi Women's University|Ramadevi Women's University]] in Bhubaneswar has been named after this great personality.

==Family==
She was the daughter of Gopal Ballav Das and Basant Kumari Devi and the niece of [[Madhusudan Das|Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das]]. At the age of 15, she married [[Gopabandhu Choudhury]], then a Deputy Collector.<ref name="ReddySumangala1998">{{cite book|author1=Philomena Royappa Reddy|author2=P. Sumangala|title=Women in development: perspectives from selected states of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RkG3AAAAIAAJ|accessdate=22 April 2011|year=1998|publisher=B.R. Pub. Corp.|isbn=978-81-7018-978-7}}. ''Rama Devi Rama Devi along with her husband Gopabandu Choudhury joined the Freedom Movement in 1921''</ref>

==Role during Independence==
Together with her husband, she joined the Indian independence movement in 1921.<ref name="ReddySumangala1998"/> She was highly influenced by [[Mahatma Gandhi]]<ref name=or/> and took an active part in Non Cooperation Movement. She used to go from village to village to encourage women to join the independence movement.<ref name=or/> Others who influenced her were [[Jai Prakash Narayan]], [[Vinoba Bhave]] and her uncle, Madhusudan Das.<ref name=or/> In 1921, she had her first meeting with Gandhiji and, together with her husband, joined the Non Cooperation Movement.<ref name=or/> The same year they joined the [[Indian National Congress]] and started wearing [[khadi]].<ref name=or/> In 1930, she took active part in the [[Salt March|Salt Satyagraha movement]] at Orissa level. She went to [[Inchudi]] and [[Srijang]], with other activist like [[Kiranbala Sen]], Maltidevi, [[Sarala Devi]], Pranakrushna Padhiari.<ref name=or/> She and her colleagues were arrested in November 1930 and placed in different jails by the British. She was arrested several times (in 1921, 1930, 1936, 1942) with other women independence activists like Sarala Devi, [[Malati Choudhury]] and others and was sent to jail.<ref>People's Revolt in Orissa: A Study of Talcher by Debi P. Mishra – 1998 – Page 138</ref><ref>Women and Social Change in India by Snehalata Panda – 1992 – Page 14</ref><ref>Encyclopaedia of women biography: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh by Nagendra Kr Singh – 2001</ref><ref name=or/> She attended the 1931 Karachi session of the Indian National Congress and, at that time, requested leaders to hold the next session in Orissa.<ref name=or/> In 1932 after her release from Hazaribagh jail, she was actively involved in [[Harijan]] welfare. She stated the ''Asprushyata Nibarana Samiti'' under instructions from Gandhiji, for the eradication of untouchability. The institution was later renamed the ''Harijan Sewa Sangha''.<ref name=or/> She was closely involved in Gandhiji's 1932 and 1934 visits to Orissa as well as the visits of, [[Kasturba]], [[Sardar Patel]], [[Rajendra Prasad]], [[Maulana Azad]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and others.<ref name=or/> She started an Ashram at [[Bari, Orissa|Bari]], which Gandhiji named ''Sewaghar''.<ref name=or/> During the Quit India Movement of 1942, members of Rama Devi's entire family, including her husband, Gopabandhu Choudhury, were arrested.<ref name=or/> After the death of [[Kasturba Gandhi]], [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhji]] assigned her work as the representative of the Orissa chapter of the Kasturba Trust.<ref name=or/>

==Role after independence of India==
After the [[Independence of India]] in 1947, Rama Devi dedicated herself to the cause of [[Bhoodan]] and [[Gramdan]] movement of [[Acharya Vinoba Bhave]].<ref name="Chowdhry1992">{{cite book|author=Dharam Paul Chowdhry|title=Profile of voluntary action in social welfare and development|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yqFIAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=22 April 2011|date=1992*|publisher=Siddhartha Publishers|isbn=978-81-85464-01-5}}. ''In 1952 the Bhoodan and Gramdan movement claimed the services of both Mrs. Rama Devi and her...''</ref> In 1952 she along with her husband she travelled on foot about 4000 kilometres across the state to propagate the message of giving land and wealth to the landless and poor.<ref name="Chowdhry1992"/><ref>Orissa Review 1990 – Volume 47 – Page 14 "commencement of the Salt Satyagraha, the women leaders like Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Malatl Devi and Kiran Bala Sen made efforts for the active participation of women in this satyagraha. Led by Rama Devi and Malati Devi, fifteen hundred ..."</ref><ref>Reflections on the National Movement in Orissa 1997 "Malati Devi protest meeting was held and a big procession was organised at Cuttack on 7th May, 1930. During this time prominent women leaders of Orissa like Rama Devi, Malati Devi and Sarala Devi were arrested. On 25th September ..."</ref><ref>B. S. Chandrababu, L. Thilagavathi Woman, Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation 2009 – Page 313 "Rama Devi was married at the age of fourteen, in 1914 to [[Gopabandru Choudhury]], who was working as a Deputy ... the Civil Disobedience Movement when the top leaders were imprisoned, Rama Devi acted as the 'Dictator' of the Orissa ..."</ref><ref>Subhas Chandra Parida, Sasmita Nayak Empowerment of Women in India – 2009 Page 197 "... Women political leaders like Basant Manjari Devi (Rajamata of Ranapur), Rama Devi and Malati Choudhury (social ..."</ref><ref>Sachidananda Mohanty – Early Women's Writings in Orissa, 1898–1950: A Lost Tradition 2005 "Rama. Devi. 1889–1985. Daughter of Gopal Ballabha Das, younger brother of Madhusudan D:is. the eminent Oriya nationalist, Rama Devi received no formal schooling. She was married to Gopabandhu Choudhury at the age of 14. ..."</ref> From 1928, Rama Devi stayed in the Alaka Ashram at [[Jagatsingpur]].<ref>Atul Chandra Pradhan, Ashok Kumar Patnaik, Utkal University. Post-graduate Dept. of History People's movements in Orissa during the colonial era – 1994– Page 149 "In the process they had paved the way towards building of a new society in Orissa based on Gandhians ideals. From 1928 Rama Devi had stayed in the Alaka Ashram at Jagatsingpur and had participated in all the activities of the Ashram."</ref>

She helped set up the Utkal Khadi Mandal and also established a Teachers’ Training Centre and [[Balwadi]] at [[Ramchandrapur]]. In 1950 she set up a Tribal Welfare Centre at [[Dumburugeda]]. During the 1951 famine she and Malati worked in famine relief in [[Koraput]]. She worked to aid soldiers affected by the [[Indo-Chinese War]] of 1962.

During [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] she protested by bringing out her own newspaper along with [[Harekrushna Mahatab]] and [[Nilamani Routray]].<ref name=or>[http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/April2006/engpdf/freedom_struggle_%20and%20rama%20devi_.pdf Freedom Struggle and Rama Devi] Orissa Review April 2006</ref> The Gram Sevak Press, was banned by the government and was arrested along with other leaders from Orissa like [[Nabakrushna Choudhuri]], Harekrushna Mahatab, Manmohan Chowdhury, Smt. [[Annapurna Moharana]], Jaykrushana Mohanty, and others.<ref>Orissa: the dazzle from within (art, craft and culture of ...by G. K. Ghosh – 1993 – – Page 37</ref>

She established a primary school, ''Shishu Vihar'' and a cancer hospital at [[Cuttack]].<ref name=or/>

==Honours==
In recognition of her services to the nation, Ramadevi was awarded the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamnalal Bajaj Awards Archive |url=http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2010 |publisher=[[Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation]]}}</ref><ref name="CouncilSangh1982">{{cite book|author1=British Empire Leprosy Relief Association. Indian Council|author2=Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh|title=Leprosy in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UlU2AAAAIAAJ|accessdate=22 April 2011|date=1 January 1982|publisher=Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh}}. ''JAMNALAL BAJAJ AWARDS, 1981 The Jamnalal Bajaj Awards are given every year for outstanding contributions in any one or more ... Award III was awarded to Smt. Ramadevi Gopabandhu Choudhuri ofCuttackfor her outstanding contribution to the ...''</ref> on 4 November 1981 and the Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) by [[Utkal University]] on 16 April 1984.

==Memorials==
[[Ramadevi Women's University]] at [[Bhubaneshwar]] is named in her memory. It is the first women's university in eastern India, established as such since 2015. There is a museum dedicated to her within the university premises.<ref>[http://www.rdwu.org/ Ramadevi Womens University]</ref> The school – Shishu Vihar – started by her at Cuttack is now named Ramadevi Shishu Vihar.<ref>[http://www.graduates.com/ss/517940 rmss]</ref>

==Death==
She died on 22 July 1985.<ref name=or/>



==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rdwc.org/rama.asp Ma Rama Devi Biography] at Rama Devi Women's college website.
* [http://www.odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2008/August-2008/engpdf/24-25.pdf ''Rama Devi : An Epitome of Women Emancipation'']. Govt. of Orissa website
* [http://www.odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/aug2005/engpdf/rama%20devi.pdf ''Rama Devi : The New Light Among the Women Freedom Fighters of Modern Orissa'']. Orissa Review, August 2005

{{Jamnalal Bajaj Award winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Choudhury, Ramadevi}}
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Indian reformers]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:People from Cuttack district]]
[[Category:Indians imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:Indian editors]]
[[Category:Indian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:Indian women social workers]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women in Odisha politics]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Indian women editors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]
[[Category:Indian women educational theorists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian scientists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian social scientists]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Activists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women writers from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women scientists from Odisha]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:Women Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Scholars from Odisha]]
[[Category:Social workers from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women educators from Odisha]]
[[Category:Educators from Odisha]]
[[Category:20th-century women educators]]