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Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay: Difference between revisions
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->Pranesh Ravikumar (Please refer the link where it states "Born in a Saraswat Brahmin community of Mangalore, Kamaladevi was greatly inspired by Gandhian ideas") |
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{{short description|Indian freedom fighter}} | {{short description|Indian freedom fighter (1903–1988)}} | ||
{{EngvarB|date=August | {{EngvarB|date=August 2022}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay | | name = Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay | ||
| image = Kamaladevi_Chattopadhyay.png | | image = Kamaladevi_Chattopadhyay.png | ||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1903|04|03}} | | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1903|04|03}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Mangalore]], [[Madras Presidency]] (in present-day [[Karnataka]]), India | | birth_place = [[Mangalore]], [[Madras Presidency]] (in present-day [[Karnataka]]), British India | ||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1988|10|29|1903|04|03}} | | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1988|10|29|1903|04|03}} | ||
| death_place = [[Bombay | | death_place = [[Bombay, Maharashtra]], India | ||
| alma_mater = [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]], [[Bedford College (London)]] | | alma_mater = [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]], [[Bedford College (London)]] | ||
| spouse = {{marriage|Krishna Rao|1917|1919}}<br />{{marriage|[[Harindranath Chattopadhyay]]|1923|1955}} | | spouse = {{marriage|Krishna Rao|1917|1919}}<br />{{marriage|[[Harindranath Chattopadhyay]]|1923|1955}} | ||
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===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Born in a [[Saraswat Brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-03|title=Who was Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/who-is-kamaladevi-chattopadhyay-5121371/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>on 3 April 1903 in [[Mangalore|Mangaluru]], Kamaladevi was the fourth and youngest daughter of her parents. Her father, Ananthayya Dhareshwar, was the [[District Collector]] of Mangalore, and her mother, Girijabai, from whom she inherited an independent streak, belonged to a land-owning Chitrapur Saraswat brahmana family from [[coastal Karnataka]]. Kamaladevi's paternal grandmother was well-versed in the ancient Indian epics and [[purana]]s, and Girijabai was also well-educated, although mostly home-tutored. Together, their presence in the household gave Kamaladevi a firm grounding and provided benchmarks to respect for her intellect as well as her voice, something that she came to be known for in the future. | Born in a [[Saraswat Brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-03|title=Who was Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/who-is-kamaladevi-chattopadhyay-5121371/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> on 3 April 1903 in [[Mangalore|Mangaluru, Karnataka]], Kamaladevi was the fourth and youngest daughter of her parents. Her father, Ananthayya Dhareshwar, was the [[District Collector]] of Mangalore, and her mother, Girijabai, from whom she inherited an independent streak, belonged to a land-owning Chitrapur Saraswat brahmana family from [[coastal Karnataka]]. Kamaladevi's paternal grandmother was well-versed in the ancient Indian epics and [[purana]]s, and Girijabai was also well-educated, although mostly home-tutored. Together, their presence in the household gave Kamaladevi a firm grounding and provided benchmarks to respect for her intellect as well as her voice, something that she came to be known for in the future. | ||
Kamaladevi was an exceptional student and also exhibited qualities of determination and courage from an early age. Her parents befriended many prominent freedom fighters and intellectuals such as [[Mahadev Govind Ranade]], [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], and women leaders like [[Ramabai Ranade]], and [[Annie Besant]]. This made young Kamaladevi an early enthusiast of the [[swadeshi]] nationalist movement. | Kamaladevi was an exceptional student and also exhibited qualities of determination and courage from an early age. Her parents befriended many prominent freedom fighters and intellectuals such as [[Mahadev Govind Ranade]], [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], and women leaders like [[Ramabai Ranade]], and [[Annie Besant]]. This made young Kamaladevi an early enthusiast of the [[swadeshi]] nationalist movement. | ||
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===1920s=== | ===1920s=== | ||
====Marriage to Harindranath==== | ====Marriage to Harindranath==== | ||
Meanwhile, studying in [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]] in [[Chennai]], she came to know [[Suhasini Chattopadhyay]], a fellow student and the younger sister of [[Sarojini Naidu]], who later introduced Kamaladevi to their talented brother, Harin, by then a well-known poet-playwright-actor. It was their mutual interest in the arts, which brought them together. | Meanwhile, studying in [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]] in [[Chennai]], she came to know [[Suhasini Chattopadhyay]], a fellow student and the younger sister of [[Sarojini Naidu]], who later introduced Kamaladevi to their talented brother, Harin, by then a well-known poet-playwright-actor. It was their mutual interest in the arts, which brought them together. | ||
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Shortly after their marriage, Harin left for London, on his first trip abroad, and a few months later Kamaladevi joined him, where she joined [[Bedford College (London)|Bedford College, University of London]], and later she received a diploma in Sociology.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya {{!}} Making Britain|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/kamaladevi-chattopadhyaya|access-date=30 October 2017|work=www.open.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014652/http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/kamaladevi-chattopadhyaya|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | Shortly after their marriage, Harin left for London, on his first trip abroad, and a few months later Kamaladevi joined him, where she joined [[Bedford College (London)|Bedford College, University of London]], and later she received a diploma in Sociology.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya {{!}} Making Britain|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/kamaladevi-chattopadhyaya|access-date=30 October 2017|work=www.open.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014652/http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/kamaladevi-chattopadhyaya|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
====Call of the | ====Call of the freedom movement==== | ||
While still in London, Kamaladevi came to know of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s [[Non-Cooperation Movement]] in 1923, and she promptly returned to India, to join the [[Seva Dal]], a Gandhian organisation set up to promote social upliftment. Soon she was placed in charge of the women's section of the Dal, where she got involved in recruiting, training and organising girls and women of all ages women across India, to become voluntary workers, 'sevikas'. | While still in London, Kamaladevi came to know of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s [[Non-Cooperation Movement]] in 1923, and she promptly returned to India, to join the [[Seva Dal]], a Gandhian organisation set up to promote social upliftment. Soon she was placed in charge of the women's section of the Dal, where she got involved in recruiting, training and organising girls and women of all ages women across India, to become voluntary workers, 'sevikas'. | ||
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When [[World War II]] broke out Kamaladevi was in England, and she immediately began a world tour to represent India's situation to other countries and drum up support for [[Indian independence movement|Independence]] after the war. | When [[World War II]] broke out Kamaladevi was in England, and she immediately began a world tour to represent India's situation to other countries and drum up support for [[Indian independence movement|Independence]] after the war. | ||
====Post- | While on this tour she journeyed across the southern United States. In 1941 she boarded a segregated train. In Louisiana, a conductor tried to remove her from a car reserved for white passengers. Upon realizing that she was not a Black American, the conductor reportedly grew confused about how he should proceed and asked her where she was from. To her first answer, "New York," he pressed to learn "which land [she hailed] from," to which she reportedly responded: “It makes no difference. I am a colored woman obviously and it is unnecessary for you to disturb me for I have no intention of moving from here.” The conductor left her sitting in that train car.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Slate|first=Nico|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UsH9nQEACAAJ|title=Colored Cosmopolitanism: The Shared Struggle for Freedom in the United States and India|date=2012-01-15|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-05967-2|language=en}}</ref> | ||
====Post-independence work==== | |||
Independence of India, brought [[Partition of India|Partition]] in its wake, and she plunged into rehabilitation of the refugees. Her first task was to set up the [[Indian Cooperative Union]] to help with rehabilitation, and through the Union she made plans for a township on cooperative lines. At length Jawahar Lal Nehru reluctantly gave her permission on the condition that she did not ask for state assistance, and so after much struggle, the township of [[Faridabad]] was set up, on the outskirts of Delhi, rehabilitating over 50,000 refugees from the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|Northwest Frontier]]. She worked tirelessly in helping the refugees to establish new homes and new professions; for this they were trained in new skills. She also helped set up health facilities in the new town. | Independence of India, brought [[Partition of India|Partition]] in its wake, and she plunged into rehabilitation of the refugees. Her first task was to set up the [[Indian Cooperative Union]] to help with rehabilitation, and through the Union she made plans for a township on cooperative lines. At length Jawahar Lal Nehru reluctantly gave her permission on the condition that she did not ask for state assistance, and so after much struggle, the township of [[Faridabad]] was set up, on the outskirts of Delhi, rehabilitating over 50,000 refugees from the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|Northwest Frontier]]. She worked tirelessly in helping the refugees to establish new homes and new professions; for this they were trained in new skills. She also helped set up health facilities in the new town. | ||
Thus began the second phase of her life's work in rehabilitation of people as well as their lost crafts. She was considered singlehandedly responsible for the great revival of Indian handicrafts and handloom, in the post-independence era, and is considered her greatest legacy to modern India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ignca.nic.in/nl002806.htm |title=Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya at IGNCA |access-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707021245/http://ignca.nic.in/nl002806.htm |archive-date=7 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | Thus began the second phase of her life's work in rehabilitation of people as well as their lost crafts. She was considered singlehandedly responsible for the great revival of Indian handicrafts and handloom, in the post-independence era, and is considered her greatest legacy to modern India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ignca.nic.in/nl002806.htm |title=Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya at IGNCA |access-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707021245/http://ignca.nic.in/nl002806.htm |archive-date=7 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
===1950s and beyond=== | ===1950s and beyond=== | ||
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In 1964 she started the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC), [[Bangalore]], under the aegis of Bharatiya Natya Sangh, affiliated to the UNESCO. Its present director is famous danseuse [[Maya Rao]]. | In 1964 she started the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC), [[Bangalore]], under the aegis of Bharatiya Natya Sangh, affiliated to the UNESCO. Its present director is famous danseuse [[Maya Rao]]. | ||
Chattopadhyay was a woman ahead of her times, she was instrumental in setting up the All India Handicrafts Board, she was also its first chairperson. The Crafts Council of India was also the first president of the [[World Crafts Council]], Asia Pacific Region.<ref>[http://www.wccapr.org/activities/kamala-centenary.html Kamala centenary, World Craft Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026095819/http://www.wccapr.org/activities/kamala-centenary.html |date=26 October 2007 }}</ref> | Chattopadhyay was a woman ahead of her times, she was instrumental in setting up the [[All India Handicrafts Board]], she was also its first chairperson. The Crafts Council of India was also the first president of the [[World Crafts Council]], Asia Pacific Region.<ref>[http://www.wccapr.org/activities/kamala-centenary.html Kamala centenary, World Craft Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026095819/http://www.wccapr.org/activities/kamala-centenary.html |date=26 October 2007 }}</ref> | ||
Chattopadhyay also set up the [[National School of Drama]] and later headed the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], and also a member of [[UNESCO]]. Her acclaimed autobiography, ''Inner Recesses and Outer Spaces: Memoir'' was published in 1986. She died on 29 October 1988 in [[Bombay]], aged 85.{{citation needed|date=June | Chattopadhyay also set up the [[National School of Drama]] and later headed the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], and also a member of [[UNESCO]]. Her acclaimed autobiography, ''Inner Recesses and Outer Spaces: Memoir'' was published in 1986. She died on 29 October 1988 in [[Bombay]], aged 85.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} | ||
==Awards and recognition== | ==Awards and recognition== | ||
The [[Government of India]] conferred on her the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1955, and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1987, which are among the most revered [[civilian award]]s of the [[Republic of India]].<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https:// | The [[Government of India]] conferred on her the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1955, and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1987, which are among the most revered [[civilian award]]s of the [[Republic of India]].<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref> She was awarded the [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] in 1966 for Community Leadership. In 1974, she was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]], Ratna Sadasya, in recognition of her lifetime's work. The Fellowship is the highest award of [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama.<ref>[http://www.sangeetnatak.com/aboutsna_ratnasadsya.html Ratna Sadsya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927131252/http://www.sangeetnatak.com/aboutsna_ratnasadsya.html |date=27 September 2007 }} [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] website.</ref> | ||
[[UNESCO]] honoured her with an award in 1977 for her contribution towards the promotion of handicrafts. [[Shantiniketan]] honoured her with the ''Desikottama'', its highest award.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter|title=A tribute to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/a-tribute-to-kamaladevi-chattopadhyay/article8501079.ece|access-date=30 October 2017|work=The Hindu|date=21 April 2016|language=en-IN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107032610/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/a-tribute-to-kamaladevi-chattopadhyay/article8501079.ece|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | [[UNESCO]] honoured her with an award in 1977 for her contribution towards the promotion of handicrafts. [[Shantiniketan]] honoured her with the ''Desikottama'', its highest award.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter|title=A tribute to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/a-tribute-to-kamaladevi-chattopadhyay/article8501079.ece|access-date=30 October 2017|work=The Hindu|date=21 April 2016|language=en-IN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107032610/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/a-tribute-to-kamaladevi-chattopadhyay/article8501079.ece|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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==Books on Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay== | ==Books on Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay== | ||
* ''[[Sakuntala Narasimhan]]'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. ''New Dawn Books, 1999. {{ISBN|81-207-2120-9}}. '' | * ''[[Sakuntala Narasimhan]]'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. ''New Dawn Books, 1999. {{ISBN|81-207-2120-9}}. '' | ||
* ''S.R. Bakshi'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya : Role for | * ''S.R. Bakshi'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya : Role for Women's Welfare, ''Om, 2000, {{ISBN|81-86867-34-1}}.'' | ||
* ''Reena Nanda'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya: A Biography (Modern Indian Greats), ''Oxford University Press, USA, 2002, {{ISBN|0-19-565364-5}}.'' | * ''Reena Nanda'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya: A Biography (Modern Indian Greats), ''Oxford University Press, USA, 2002, {{ISBN|0-19-565364-5}}.'' | ||
* ''Jamila Brij Bhushan'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya – Portrait of a Rebel, ''Abhinav Pub, 2003. {{ISBN|81-7017-033-8}}.'' | * ''Jamila Brij Bhushan'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya – Portrait of a Rebel, ''Abhinav Pub, 2003. {{ISBN|81-7017-033-8}}.'' | ||
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* ''Malvika Singh'', The Iconic Women of Modern India – Freeing the Spirit. ''Penguin, 2006, {{ISBN|0-14-310082-3}}.'' | * ''Malvika Singh'', The Iconic Women of Modern India – Freeing the Spirit. ''Penguin, 2006, {{ISBN|0-14-310082-3}}.'' | ||
* ''[[Jasleen Dhamija]]'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, ''National Book Trust, 2007. {{ISBN|8123748825}}'' | * ''[[Jasleen Dhamija]]'', Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, ''National Book Trust, 2007. {{ISBN|8123748825}}'' | ||
*''Indra Gupta '', | *''Indra Gupta '', India's 50 Most Illustrious Women. ''{{ISBN|81-88086-19-3}}.'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{reflist}} | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
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[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]] | [[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]] | ||
[[Category:Gandhians]] | [[Category:Gandhians]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Indian cooperative organizers]] | ||
[[Category:Mangaloreans]] | [[Category:Mangaloreans]] | ||
[[Category:Indian arts administrators]] | [[Category:Indian arts administrators]] | ||