Contributions of women from Odisha in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was a landmark in the history of Odisha. It was the first time that women in the state broke the traditional "Purdah" system in large numbers to participate in the Salt Satyagraha. Under the leadership of pioneering women, Odisha became one of the most active centers of resistance in India.

1. The Inchudi Salt Satyagraha: The Epicenter

The Inchudi coast in Balasore was the second most important site for the Salt Satyagraha after Dandi.

  • Rama Devi and Malati Choudhury led a massive procession of women to Inchudi.
  • On April 20, 1930, several women officially broke the salt law.
  • This act was so successful that Mahatma Gandhi himself praised the women of Odisha for their exceptional bravery and commitment.

2. Prominent Women Leaders and Their Roles

Several women became the face of the movement, providing strategic leadership and moral courage:

  • Rama Devi: Often called the "Mother of Odisha" (Maa), she was the heartbeat of the movement. She organized the Banar Sena (children's brigade) and was arrested several times for her defiance of British laws.
  • Malati Choudhury: A radical leader who founded the Naba Jiban Mandal. She played a key role in spreading the movement to the rural and tribal belts of Odisha.
  • Sarala Devi: She was the first Odia woman to be arrested during the CDM. Her fiery speeches in Cuttack and Ganjam inspired thousands to boycott foreign cloth and liquor.
  • Kuntala Kumari Sabat: Although she was a physician and poet based in Delhi, her nationalist poetry (like Sphulinga) acted as a powerful literary weapon that ignited patriotic fervor among Odia women.

3. Forms of Participation

The participation of women in Odisha was multifaceted:

  • Picketing: Women organized groups to picket shops selling foreign goods and opium. They faced lathicharges and police harassment with unwavering non-violence.
  • Spreading Literacy and Swadeshi: While the men were often in jail, women took over the organizational work of the Congress, promoting Khadi and charkha in every household.
  • Rural Mobilization: In places like Kujanga, the "Rani" (Queen) Bhagyabati Patta Mahadevi led the local women to manufacture salt, showing that even the royalty was influenced by the Gandhian wave.

4. Impact on Odia Society

The CDM was a social revolution for Odisha. It led to:

  1. Female Literacy: The need to read nationalist literature encouraged many women to seek education.
  2. Political Empowerment: It prepared the ground for women to later enter the Odisha Legislative Assembly (e.g., Sarala Devi became the first woman legislator).
  3. Abolition of Social Evils: The movement helped in reducing the practice of untouchability and the Purdah system in Odisha.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the women of Odisha were not just silent supporters but vanguard soldiers of the Civil Disobedience Movement. From the salt pans of Inchudi to the jails of Cuttack, their sacrifice and leadership ensured that Odisha’s contribution to Swaraj was written in golden letters, forever changing the socio-political fabric of the state.