August - 2014 Odisha Review

Role of Women in the

Quit India Movement in Odisha

Dr. Prabodh Kumar Rath

ABSTRACT

The failure of the Cripps mission to solve the political deadlock in India and the fear of Japanese
aggression led the Congress to launch another mass movement under the leadership of Gandhiji
against the British. A resolution to that effect was brought in the All India Congress Working
Committee at Wardha in July, 1942 and it was placed before the Bombay Session of the Congress.
Under the Presidentship of M.A.K. Azad it passed the historic ‘Quit India’ resolution on 8th August
1942. The Congress decided to launch a country-wide non-violent movement under the leadership
of Gandhiji. The British Govt. arrested top ranking national and provincial Congress leaders, declared
Congress offices as illegal and were seized. The people of Orissa suffering from War-time restrictions
reacted strongly to the arrest of their leaders. The movement spread rapidly from Balasore in the
North to Koraput in South. The active participation of Odia women like Rama Devi, Nandini Devi,
Gurubari Meher, Pravabati Devi, Parbati Giri and many others opened a new chapter in the history
of Orissa.

India’s struggle for freedom under the
leadership of Gandhiji is unparalled in the history
of mankind. Gandhiji launched five movements
of all India character against the British rulers
during his steward-ship of the Indian National
Congress from 1919 to 1947. These are the Non-
cooperation movements of 1919 and 1921, the
Civil Disobedience movements of 1930 and 1932
and the “Quit India Movements of 1942”. The
movements of twenties and thirties had many
things in common. Their goal was the attainment
of Self Government or Swaraj through
constitutional and non-violent struggle. During the
course of these movements, the people were
urged to promote Swedeshi, particularly to revive
spinning and weaving, remove untouchability,
promote unity among Hindus and Muslims and
exercise prohibition. During these movements
Gandhiji used Satyagrah technology which was
a process of purification and penance. The most
important result of these movements was the
intensification of political consciousness among the
people which paved way for attainment of
Swaraj.
In 1939 the Second World War broke
out. The war time Viceroy Lord Linlithgow with
out consulting the Central Assembly or peoples
representatives declared India to be at war. That
declaration vehemently protested by the Congress
and said it would co-operate in the war if India
was declared as an independent country. On the

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contrary, the colonial government was agreed to
modify the 1935 Act after the war was over, in
protest Congress ministries resigned in seven
provinces. Due to the change of war scenario,
Congress offered to co-operate with British
Government if a provisional national Government.
was setup at Centre and the right to independence
was recognized. In Aug. 40 British Government
offered to expand the Executive Council of
Viceroy with more Indian members and after war
a representative Indian body to frame constitution.
The Congress rejected this proposal. With the
entry of Japan on the opposite side of England
and their march nearer to India generated alarm.
Due to pressure of president Roosevelt of United
States of America and Chiang Kai Shek of China
British Government sent Sir Stafford Cripps to
solve the deadlock. The proposal of Cripps was
failed to satisfy the demands of the people. So
Gandhiji now asked for complete British
withdrawal from India.
AICC met on 8 August at Bombay
approved the Quit India resolution, “The Do or
Die era commenced”. Top ranking Congress
leaders of Orissa such as H. K. Mahtab, Srimati
Malati Choudhury, Surendranath Dwivedi,
Prahalad Ray Lath, and Laxmi Narayan Mishra
represented Orissa in the Bombay session of the
Congress. Early next morning Gandhiji along with
other leaders were taken into custody under the
Defence of India Rules. H.K. Mahtab was
arrested at Bombay and 24 top ranking leaders
were arrested from various places of Orissa.
Government declared District Congress
committees, Town Congress Committees and
Congress Ashramas numbering 38 as illegal.
Surendranath Dwivedi at that time was the chief
brain behind the Quit India Movement in Orissa.
He published two bulletins Congress Barta and
Satya Sambad to guide the movement.1 At that
juncture other parties of Orissa, such as the
Socialists, the Forward Blocists, the Communists,
and the student federationists combined together
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August- 2014
to lend their support to the national cause. The
demonstrations were expressed in the form of
strikes, picketing, protest meetings and pasting
of threatening posters on the walls. From 3rd week
of August people all over Orissa openly defied
the Government authorities, broke the law and
paid no taxes. Without proper guidance people
resorted to violence such as burning post offices,
police stations, Government offices, looting and
act of sabotage in different regions.
On 20 August 1942, the news of the
arrest of Gopabandhu Choudhury and Rama Devi
reached Bari and adjacent areas. Rama Devi had
great influence on social, political and cultural life
of the then Orissa.2 The people of neighbouring
villagers assembled in front of the granary office
located at Kaipada. On that day Annapurna
Maharana was addressing a meeting at
Sanyasipur. Before her arrival at Kaipada, police
reached there and detained some leaders, which
was seriously protested by the people. This led
to confrontation which resulted in blank firing.
Police took the arrested persons to Kaipada
Sevashram. People demanded their release and
sent their representative Hadibandhu Panda for
negotiation, but he was whipped and driven out.
Police then proceeded to Binjharpur Police
station. Thousands of people followed them. On
the way the people met Annapurna Maharana.
She also requested the police to release the
arrested persons, but police arrested few more.
So situation turned tense which led to firing and
the mob dispersed.3
Nandini Devi at the age of 12 led an anti
British procession and was arrested. She was
dropped in Chandaka jungle on 16th August.
Mangala Devi along with twelve women were
arrested while burning uniforms of Choukidars and
police officers. In Ersama area Bela Devi was
arrested for inciting the people against the
government. Sashibala Devi helped in the
distribution of secret bulletins and pamphlets
issued by underground organizations from
August - 2014
Cuttack. Kiranbala Mohanty preached the
message of “Quit India” in the villages and was
imprisoned in Cuttack Jail. In Ganjam women
leaders like A. Laxmi Bai, Champa Devi,
Suryamma, P. Taramma, and Sobha Devi joined
the agitation. Bimala Devi, Musu Mate, Sunamani
Devi, Uma Bharatiya, Gunamanjari Devi were
prominent participants of Puri district. On 20th
August in a meeting held on Goradiha hat near
Delang, Sunamani Devi , Ushamani Devi and
Uma Sundari Devi delivered provocative
speeches against the government which was
attended by thousands of people. Sulakshna Mali
Jena, the wife of Zamindar of Manijang gave plan
to occupy Nimapara Police Station, which led to
police firing and a person Uchhab Mallik died on
the spot.4
On 28 September, 1942 at Eram in
Basudevpur police station of Balasore district
about 6000 people assembled from neighbouring
areas at Melana ground. Many among them were
women. Revolutionary speeches were delivered
and situation was turned tense. Police fired in
which 29 people died, one women Pari Bewa
was killed on the spot.5
In Sonepur, people revolted against
excessive revenue. They were on a procession.
A patriotic woman Gurubari Meher at the front
of the procession was shouting not to give
revenue to the British Government. The police
started firing at the procession and she had to
sacrifice her life.6
Mesakasani and Subarna Lahara of
Dabugaon Police Station of Koraput district had
to give their lives after being subject to mass rape.7
This tragic incident occurred when they protested
police exaction and torture.
The involvement of Malati Choudhury, the
outstanding leader in the underground activities
was significant. She guided the movement by
sending instructions to different places.
In Sambalpur, prominent women leaders
like Pravavati Devi, Jambubati Devi, Parbati Giri
Odisha Review
actively participated in the Quit India Movement.
Parbati Giri led a procession of women of
Pradhanpada and organized a meeting at
Hatapada, where she made an appeal to destroy
the liquor shops in Bargarh town. She also led a
procession to S.D.O.’s Office and overpowered
the S.D.O. and tied him up. Then she was arrested
and imprisoned.
Women leaders like Sunamani Devi,
Priyambada Devi, Haripriya Devi, Haramani
Devi, Haramani Kanungo, Sasibala Kanungo,
Bela Devi, Nishamani Devi, Bilasi Devi, Usha
Devi, Sakuntala Devi, Kshetramani Devi, Uttara
Choudhury, Mangala Devi, Sobharani Panda,
Bimala Devi, Sushila Devi and Prabhabati Devi
rendered courageous and selfless service in the
cause of India’s freedom. Their sufferings and
sacrifices will continue to inspire the women of
Odisha to work for the good of the country. 8
These women leaders and thousands of
their followers participated in the freedom struggle
in the face of opposition from their family
members. They suffered from social ostracism and
prosecution.
References :
1. J. Patnaik, Landmarks of Quit India Movement,
Cuttack, 1992, P.34
2. S. Patnaik, Orissare Swadhinata Andolan (O) ,
Cuttack, 1972, P.173
3. Orissa Review, Vol. XIVI, August, 1989, P.174.
4. S.C. Barik, D. Sahoo (ed), Women’s Participation
in the Freedom Movement in Orissa, Jajpur, 2005,
P.27
5. Ibid, P.29
6. Sambad, 2 April, 1989
7. Ibid
8. S. Tripathy, Role of Women in the History of
Modern Orissa, Cuttack, 1998, P.99
Dr. Prabodh Kumar Rath, 184, Paikanagar, Bhubaneswar
- 751003.
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