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| known_for = | | known_for = | ||
| occupation = [[Indian independence activist]], social reformer | | occupation = [[Indian independence activist]], social reformer | ||
| parents = [[Gopala Ballabha Das]] | | parents = [[Gopala Ballabha Das]] <br/>Basanta Kumari Devi | ||
| spouse = [[Gopabandhu Choudhury]] | | spouse = [[Gopabandhu Choudhury]] | ||
| relatives = [[Uma Devi]] (sister) | | relatives = [[Uma Devi]] (sister) <br/>[[Madhusudan Das]] (uncle)<br/> | ||
[[Nabakrushna Choudhury]] | [[Nabakrushna Choudhury]] <br>(brother in law) | ||
| awards = [[Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award]] | | awards = [[Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Ramadevi Choudhury''' (3 December 1899 – 22 July 1985), also known as '''Rama Devi''', was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer. | '''Ramadevi Choudhury''' (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 her.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Freedom Struggle and Rama Devi |url=http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/April2006/engpdf/freedom_struggle_%20and%20rama%20devi_.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706094900/https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/April2006/engpdf/freedom_struggle_%20and%20rama%20devi_.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
==Family== | ==Family== | ||
She was born in an aristocratic [[Karan (caste)|Zamindar Karan]] family. She was the daughter of [[Gopala Ballabha Das|Choudhury Gopala Ballabha 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. | She was born in an aristocratic [[Karan (caste)|Zamindar Karan]] family. She was the daughter of [[Gopala Ballabha Das|Choudhury Gopala Ballabha 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== | ==Role during independence== | ||
Together with her husband, she joined the Indian independence movement in 1921. | 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 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== | ==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]]. | 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. | ||
During [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] she protested by bringing out her own newspaper along with [[Harekrushna Mahatab]] and [[Nilamani Routray]]. | 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|Nabakrushna Choudhury]], 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]]. | She established a primary school, ''Shishu Vihar'' and a cancer hospital at [[Cuttack]].<ref name=or/> | ||
==Honours== | ==Honours== | ||
In recognition of her services to the nation, Ramadevi was awarded the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Award]] | 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== | ==Memorials== | ||
[[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. | [[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>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rdwu.org/ |title=Ramadevi Womens University |access-date=26 May 2016 |archive-date=24 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224192517/http://www.rdwu.org/ |url-status=dead }}</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 at the age of 85. | 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]]. | |||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
She was born on 3 December 1899 at the Satyabhamapur village near [[Cuttack]] to Basanta Kumari Devi and Gopal Ballabh Das, then Deputy- | She was born on 3 December 1899 at the Satyabhamapur village near [[Cuttack]] to Basanta Kumari Devi and Gopal Ballabh Das, then Deputy- | ||
Magistrate, she was also the niece of ''Utkal Gaurab'' [[Madhusudan Das]]. She received her education privately at home. At the age of 15, she was married to Gopabandhu Choudhury, then a Deputy Collector and later a freedom fighter. a famous lawyer of Cuttack. and the couple had three children, two sons and a daughter. | Magistrate, she was also the niece of ''Utkal Gaurab'' [[Madhusudan Das]]. She received her education privately at home. At the age of 15, she was married to Gopabandhu Choudhury, then a Deputy Collector and later a freedom fighter. a famous lawyer of Cuttack. and the couple had three children, two sons and a daughter. | ||
-- | --> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 12:06, 22 March 2026
Ramadevi Choudhury | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 3 December 1899 |
| Died | 22 July 1985 (aged 85) |
| Other names | Maa Rama Devi |
| Occupation | Indian independence activist, social reformer |
| Spouse(s) | Gopabandhu Choudhury |
| Parent(s) | Gopala Ballabha Das Basanta Kumari Devi |
| Relatives | Uma Devi (sister) Madhusudan Das (uncle) Nabakrushna Choudhury (brother in law) |
| Awards | Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award |
Ramadevi Choudhury (3 December 1899 – 22 July 1985), also known as Rama Devi, was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer.[1] She was called Maa (Mother) by the people of Odisha. The Ramadevi Women's University in Bhubaneswar has been named after her.[2]
Family[edit | edit source]
She was born in an aristocratic Zamindar Karan family. She was the daughter of Choudhury Gopala Ballabha Das and Basant Kumari Devi and the niece of Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das. At the age of 15, she married Gopabandhu Choudhury, then a Deputy Collector.[3]
Role during independence[edit | edit source]
Together with her husband, she joined the Indian independence movement in 1921.[3] She was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi[4] 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.[4] Others who influenced her were Jai Prakash Narayan, Vinoba Bhave and her uncle, Madhusudan Das.[4] In 1921, she had her first meeting with Gandhiji and, together with her husband, joined the Non Cooperation Movement.[4] The same year they joined the Indian National Congress and started wearing khadi.[4] In 1930, she took active part in the Salt Satyagraha movement at Orissa level. She went to Inchudi and Srijang, with other activist like Kiranbala Sen, Maltidevi, Sarala Devi, Pranakrushna Padhiari.[4] 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.[5][6][7][4] She attended the 1931 Karachi session of the Indian National Congress and, at that time, requested leaders to hold the next session in Orissa.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4] She started an Ashram at Bari, Orissa which Gandhiji named Sewaghar.[4] During the Quit India Movement of 1942, members of Rama Devi's entire family, including her husband, Gopabandhu Choudhury, were arrested.[4] After the death of Kasturba Gandhi, Gandhji assigned her work as the representative of the Orissa chapter of the Kasturba Trust.[4]
Role after independence of India[edit | edit source]
After the Independence of India in 1947, Rama Devi dedicated herself to the cause of Bhoodan and Gramdan movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave.[8] 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.[8][9][10][11][12][13] From 1928, Rama Devi stayed in the Alaka Ashram at Jagatsingpur.[14]
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 she protested by bringing out her own newspaper along with Harekrushna Mahatab and Nilamani Routray.[4] The Gram Sevak Press, was banned by the government and was arrested along with other leaders from Orissa like Nabakrushna Choudhury, Harekrushna Mahatab, Manmohan Chowdhury, Smt. Annapurna Moharana, Jaykrushana Mohanty, and others.[15]
She established a primary school, Shishu Vihar and a cancer hospital at Cuttack.[4]
Honours[edit | edit source]
In recognition of her services to the nation, Ramadevi was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award[16][17] on 4 November 1981 and the Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) by Utkal University on 16 April 1984.
Memorials[edit | edit source]
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.[18] The school – Shishu Vihar – started by her at Cuttack is now named Ramadevi Shishu Vihar.[19]
Death[edit | edit source]
She died on 22 July 1985 at the age of 85.[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Freedom Struggle and Rama Devi" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Philomena Royappa Reddy; P. Sumangala (1998). Women in development: perspectives from selected states of India. B.R. Pub. Corp. ISBN 978-81-7018-978-7. Retrieved 22 April 2011.. Rama Devi Rama Devi along with her husband Gopabandu Choudhury joined the Freedom Movement in 1921
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 Freedom Struggle and Rama Devi Orissa Review April 2006
- ↑ People's Revolt in Orissa: A Study of Talcher by Debi P. Mishra – 1998 – Page 138
- ↑ Women and Social Change in India by Snehalata Panda – 1992 – Page 14
- ↑ Encyclopaedia of women biography: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh by Nagendra Kr Singh – 2001
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dharam Paul Chowdhry (1992). Profile of voluntary action in social welfare and development. Siddhartha Publishers. ISBN 978-81-85464-01-5. Retrieved 22 April 2011.. In 1952 the Bhoodan and Gramdan movement claimed the services of both Mrs. Rama Devi and her...
- ↑ 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 ..."
- ↑ 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 ..."
- ↑ 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 ..."
- ↑ 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 ..."
- ↑ 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. ..."
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Orissa: the dazzle from within (art, craft and culture of ...by G. K. Ghosh – 1993 – – Page 37
- ↑ "Jamnalal Bajaj Awards Archive". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.
- ↑ British Empire Leprosy Relief Association. Indian Council; Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh (1 January 1982). Leprosy in India. Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh. Retrieved 22 April 2011.. 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 ...
- ↑ "Ramadevi Womens University". Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ↑ rmss
External links[edit | edit source]
- Ma Rama Devi Biography at Rama Devi Women's college website.
- Rama Devi : An Epitome of Women Emancipation. Govt. of Orissa website
- Rama Devi : The New Light Among the Women Freedom Fighters of Modern Orissa. Orissa Review, August 2005
