Matangini Hazra
Table of Contents
Early Life
- She was born in 1870 as Matangini Maita in Mindnapore, West Bengal. She belonged to a very poor family.
- Due to family circumstances, she was married at a very young age Trilochan Hazra and she became Matangini Hazra. She became widow when she was just 18 years of age.
- After this, she used to spent most of her time helping the poor and needy.
- This continued till she was 35 when she became the follower of Gandhi and joined the Indeendence movement.
Matangini Hazra’s Political Life
- Her involvement in freedom struggle started in 1905 taking inspiration from none other than Gandhi
- However, her role in the freedom struggle became significant from 1932.
- She became popularly known as Gandhi Buri or old lady Gandhi because of her non-violent protest inspired by Mahatma Gandhi
Why people called her Gandhi Buri?
- She was an ardent follower of Gandhi. It was because of Gandhi’s principles and ideology that she took part in the freedom struggle.
- She boycotted all foreign goods and stressed on swadeshi spun cloth
- She took active part in Salt Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience Movement because of which she also had to go jail once.
- She was called Old Lady Gandhi because of her commitment to Gandhi and his principles. She whole heartedly followed Gandhi’s directives till her death in 1942.
Conributions in Indian Freedom Struggle
- She took active part in protests against Chowkidari tax abolition, Salt Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience.
- Despite her weak eyesight, she spun Khadi to encourage Swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods.
- During smallpox epidemic, she tirelessly helped many people.
- In 1942, local Congress leaders decide to protest in front of local police stations under the leadership of Matangini Hazra with an Indian Flag in her hand. The police tried to stop the procession through open firing
- It was then the brave 73 year old Lady Gandhi stepped forward to request them not to open fire on them as they are silently protesting. But the police open fired on her and shot her dead. After her death, her body was lying in a pool full of blood but the flag was held high, unsoiled.
FAQs
She is remembered for her sacrifices in the freedom struggle. She took active part in Salt Satyagrah and Civil Disobedience Movement. To protect the fellow protestors, she took the gun fire on her. She sacrificed her life for the cause of the country.
Her husband name was Trilochan Hazra.
She was called Old Lady Gandhi or Gandhi Buri because of her commitment to the Gandhian principles of peace, satyagraha and non violence till her death in 1942.
She died in 1942 while protesting in front of a local police station when the police open fired on her forehead.