Rama Khandwala: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|India's oldest tour guide}}
{{Short description|India's oldest tour guide (1926–2021)}}
{{orphan|date=November 2019}}
{{orphan|date=November 2019}}


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== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Khandwala was born on 3 December 1926<ref>[https://www.thebetterindia.com/229887/mumbai-rama-khandwala-freedom-fighter-subhas-chandra-bose-national-award-best-tour-guide-india-gop94/ India’s Oldest Tour Guide, This 94-YO Mumbai Woman Fought Alongside Netaji in INA]</ref> to an affluent family in [[Yangon|Rangoon]], [[Myanmar|Burma]] (now Yangon, Myanmar) as the fifth of seven siblings. Her grandfather was a doctor and a lawyer.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/rama-khandwala-91-yo-woman-ina-veteran-from-mumbai-is-the-best-tourist-guide-in-india-330802.html|title=Rama Khandwala, 91-YO Woman INA Veteran From Mumbai, Is The Best Tourist Guide In India|date=2017-10-01|website=indiatimes.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> Her mother, Lilavati Chhaganlal Mehta, was the recruiting officer at the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and a part of the [[Indian Independence League]]. At the age of 17, Khandwala and her sister Neelam joined the Regiment as [[sepoy]]s after hearing Bose's speech in Rangoon.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/for-these-ranis-netaji-was-like-king-elvis/articleshow/56708400.cms|title=For these Ranis, Netaji was like King Elvis {{!}} India News - Times of India|last=Jan 22|first=Manimugdha S. Sharma {{!}} TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2017|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02|last3=Ist|first3=0:00}}</ref> She attended a private school where the popular refrain was: "Britain shall always rule the waves".<ref name=":4" />
Khandwala was born on 3 December 1926<ref>[https://www.thebetterindia.com/229887/mumbai-rama-khandwala-freedom-fighter-subhas-chandra-bose-national-award-best-tour-guide-india-gop94/ India’s Oldest Tour Guide, This 94-YO Mumbai Woman Fought Alongside Netaji in INA]</ref> to an affluent family in [[Yangon|Rangoon]], [[Myanmar|Burma]] (now Yangon, Myanmar) as the fifth of seven siblings. Her grandfather was a doctor and a lawyer.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/rama-khandwala-91-yo-woman-ina-veteran-from-mumbai-is-the-best-tourist-guide-in-india-330802.html|title=Rama Khandwala, 91-YO Woman INA Veteran From Mumbai, Is The Best Tourist Guide In India|date=2017-10-01|website=indiatimes.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> Her mother, Lilavati Chhaganlal Mehta, was the recruiting officer at the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and a part of the [[Indian Independence League]]. At the age of 17, Khandwala and her sister Neelam joined the Regiment as [[sepoy]]s after hearing Bose's speech in Rangoon.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/for-these-ranis-netaji-was-like-king-elvis/articleshow/56708400.cms|title=For these Ranis, Netaji was like King Elvis |date=January 22, 2017|first=Manimugdha S. |last=Sharma |website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> She attended a private school where the popular refrain was "Britain shall always rule the waves".<ref name=":4" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
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As a part of the Regiment, she was trained to be a soldier and a nurse. Military training included rifle and bayonet practice, handling machine guns and [[Sten|STEN guns]], and defense and attack maneuvers. Medical training included working in general wards and operating rooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.khabar.com/magazine/cover-story/give_me_blood_and_i_will_give_you_freedom.aspx|title=Give me blood, and I will give you freedom|website=www.khabar.com|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>
As a part of the Regiment, she was trained to be a soldier and a nurse. Military training included rifle and bayonet practice, handling machine guns and [[Sten|STEN guns]], and defense and attack maneuvers. Medical training included working in general wards and operating rooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.khabar.com/magazine/cover-story/give_me_blood_and_i_will_give_you_freedom.aspx|title=Give me blood, and I will give you freedom|website=www.khabar.com|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>


In 1944, she worked as a nurse in a hospital located in [[Pyin Oo Lwin|Maymyo]] (now, Pyin Oo Lwin) and almost died in an air raid.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> After World War II, she and her family were put under house-arrest for six months and later moved to [[Mumbai|Bombay]] (now, Mumbai) in 1946. In the initial year, she worked as a secretary in a trading firm, nurse, and a Japanese language translator but she was not very keen on desk jobs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/meet-91-year-old-rama-khandwala-indias-oldest-tour-guide/|title=Meet 91-Year-Old Rama Khandwala, India's Oldest Tour Guide|last=Binayak|first=Poonam|website=Culture Trip|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> Later, she spotted an advertisement for becoming trained tourist guides and decided to pursue it. She had learned Japanese during their occupation of Burma between 1942 and 1945. She worked as a translator for documentaries created by Japanese television channels, and corporates.<ref name=":2" /> During her stint as an interpreter for a Japanese documentary, she met the Dalai Lama and accompanied the King of Bhutan on a hike to Elephanta's Buddhist caves as a guide.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1542942|title=Film festival to be held on theme of "Freedom Struggle and Freedom Fighters"|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>
In 1944, she worked as a nurse in a hospital located in [[Pyin Oo Lwin|Maymyo]] (now, Pyin Oo Lwin) and almost died in an air raid.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> After World War II, she and her family were put under house-arrest for six months and later moved to [[Mumbai|Bombay]] (now, Mumbai) in 1946. In the initial year, she worked as a secretary in a trading firm, nurse, and a Japanese language translator but she was not very keen on desk jobs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/meet-91-year-old-rama-khandwala-indias-oldest-tour-guide/|title=Meet 91-Year-Old Rama Khandwala, India's Oldest Tour Guide|last=Binayak|first=Poonam|website=Culture Trip|date=5 March 2018 |access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> Later, she spotted an advertisement for becoming trained tourist guides and decided to pursue it. She had learned Japanese during their occupation of Burma between 1942 and 1945. She worked as a translator for documentaries created by Japanese television channels, and corporates.<ref name=":2" /> During her stint as an interpreter for a Japanese documentary, she met the Dalai Lama and accompanied the King of Bhutan on a hike to Elephanta's Buddhist caves as a guide.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1542942|title=Film festival to be held on theme of "Freedom Struggle and Freedom Fighters"|website=pib.gov.in|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>


Khandwala served as a tour guide for over 50 years, remaining active into her later years, and was particularly popular with Japanese tourists visiting India.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2019, she became a [[TED (conference)|TEDx]] speaker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://homegrown.co.in/article/802039/meet-indias-oldest-tour-guide-former-freedom-fighter-rama-khandwala|title=Meet India's Oldest Tour Guide & Former Freedom Fighter, Rama Khandwala|last=Homegrown|website=homegrown.co.in|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>
Khandwala served as a tour guide for over 50 years, remaining active into her later years, and was particularly popular with Japanese tourists visiting India.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2019, she became a [[TED (conference)|TEDx]] speaker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://homegrown.co.in/article/802039/meet-indias-oldest-tour-guide-former-freedom-fighter-rama-khandwala|title=Meet India's Oldest Tour Guide & Former Freedom Fighter, Rama Khandwala|website=homegrown.co.in|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==

Latest revision as of 08:11, 26 October 2022


Rama Satyendra Khandwala[1] (née Mehta, 3 December 1926 – 28 October 2021) was India's oldest tour guide and was the oldest living member of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment,[2] formed by Subhas Chandra Bose during India's freedom movement.[3]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Khandwala was born on 3 December 1926[4] to an affluent family in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar) as the fifth of seven siblings. Her grandfather was a doctor and a lawyer.[5] Her mother, Lilavati Chhaganlal Mehta, was the recruiting officer at the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and a part of the Indian Independence League. At the age of 17, Khandwala and her sister Neelam joined the Regiment as sepoys after hearing Bose's speech in Rangoon.[3][6] She attended a private school where the popular refrain was "Britain shall always rule the waves".[5]

Career[edit | edit source]

Joining as a Sepoy, Khandwala soon became the Second Lieutenant at the Regiment and led 30 Ranis for two years in Rangoon. Speaking about her experience with Conde Nast Traveller, she said:[7]

My years in the INA were the most precious ones. The training was tough. I was promoted to be a Second Lieutenant and led 30 Ranis. That training still keeps me going. They aren’t going to make any freedom fighter-tour guides anymore, are they?

As a part of the Regiment, she was trained to be a soldier and a nurse. Military training included rifle and bayonet practice, handling machine guns and STEN guns, and defense and attack maneuvers. Medical training included working in general wards and operating rooms.[8]

In 1944, she worked as a nurse in a hospital located in Maymyo (now, Pyin Oo Lwin) and almost died in an air raid.[7][5] After World War II, she and her family were put under house-arrest for six months and later moved to Bombay (now, Mumbai) in 1946. In the initial year, she worked as a secretary in a trading firm, nurse, and a Japanese language translator but she was not very keen on desk jobs.[9] Later, she spotted an advertisement for becoming trained tourist guides and decided to pursue it. She had learned Japanese during their occupation of Burma between 1942 and 1945. She worked as a translator for documentaries created by Japanese television channels, and corporates.[7] During her stint as an interpreter for a Japanese documentary, she met the Dalai Lama and accompanied the King of Bhutan on a hike to Elephanta's Buddhist caves as a guide.[10]

Khandwala served as a tour guide for over 50 years, remaining active into her later years, and was particularly popular with Japanese tourists visiting India.[3][9] In 2019, she became a TEDx speaker.[11]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Khandwala married in Bombay in 1949. Her husband died in 1982, and she had one daughter.[7][5]

She died in Mumbai on 28 October 2021, at the age of 94.[12]

Recognition[edit | edit source]

In 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind felicitated Khandwala with the Best Tourist Guide Award at the National Tourism Awards.[3][13] On India's 72nd Independence Day, Khandwala inaugurated and was the chief guest at the Indian Film Festival organised by the Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.[10]

A documentary film about her wartime experiences, entitled "Elephants do Remember," was released in 2019.[14]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "How 89-Year-Old Rama Ben Went from Being a Veteran Soldier to a Veteran Tour Guide". The Better India. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  2. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "This woman was once a part of Netaji's army; now she is India's oldest tour guide". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  4. ↑ India’s Oldest Tour Guide, This 94-YO Mumbai Woman Fought Alongside Netaji in INA
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Rama Khandwala, 91-YO Woman INA Veteran From Mumbai, Is The Best Tourist Guide In India". indiatimes.com. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Sharma, Manimugdha S. (22 January 2017). "For these Ranis, Netaji was like King Elvis". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "This 91-year-old freedom fighter is India's oldest tour guide". Condé Nast Traveller India. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom". www.khabar.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Binayak, Poonam (5 March 2018). "Meet 91-Year-Old Rama Khandwala, India's Oldest Tour Guide". Culture Trip. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Film festival to be held on theme of "Freedom Struggle and Freedom Fighters"". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Meet India's Oldest Tour Guide & Former Freedom Fighter, Rama Khandwala". homegrown.co.in. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  12. ↑ Rama Satyendra Khandwala obituary
  13. ↑ "For 91-year-old tour guide Rama, age is just a number". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 28 September 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  14. ↑ Pandya, Sonal. "Elephants Do Remember review: 93-year-old freedom fighter Rama Khandwala has lost none of her spark". Cinestaan. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
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