Module 1: Women Freedom Fighters and Social Reformers

Subtopic 1.1: Women in Bihar's freedom struggle

• Women in Bihar broke feudal limits during the freedom struggle. They joined Gandhi's constructive work, revolutionary groups, the boycott of foreign cloth, and the picketing of liquor shops. They also campaigned against purdah and for women's education and empowerment.
• On 27 November 1921 the Bihar Congress Committee formed the Qaumi Sevak Dal. Leela Singh, wife of Deep Narayan Singh, was president of its women's wing.
• At the 1922 Gaya session of Congress, Vindhyavasini Devi set up the Swayamsevika Dal to organise women volunteers.
• In the 1930 Salt Satyagraha, women in north Bihar defied police bans. Rajkishori Devi led the campaign in Darbhanga.
• Ramswaroop Devi, called Bahuria and remembered as the Lakshmibai of Bihar, was born at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur. In 1932 she organised and presided over the All India Women Congress session at Gaya.
• Sharda Kumari Devi was active mainly in Muzaffarpur. She edited and published the women's journal Mahila Darpan.
• Bhavani Mehrotra, born in Muzaffarpur, was provincial director of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust in Bihar. She worked against purdah and for women's literacy.
• In the Quit India Movement of 1942, police shot Phulena Prasad Srivastava as he tried to hoist the flag at the Siwan police station. His wife Tara Rani Srivastava bandaged him with her sari and carried the tricolour forward. Ramdulari Sinha and Krishna Devi are also remembered among Bihar's women freedom fighters.