Contribution of educated elite women from urban landscape in the national movement and nation building: A case study of Kamladevi Chattopadhyay

Abstract

Kamladevi Chattopadhyay donned many caps in her illustrious career. She was a fierce feminist who worked for the upliftment of the socio-economic status of women in the early twentieth century. She was the first woman in the pre-independence era to contest an election which though she lost yet, paved the way for the entry of women into the political arena. She was a part of the team led by Gandhiji in the famous 'Dandi March' in 1930. She was also appointed to the Congress Working Committee twice in her political career and was a founding member of the Congress Socialist Party. Post Partition, Kamladevi quit active politics and dedicated herself to the resettlement of Afghan refugees from NWFP in present-day Faridabad. She founded many national institutions to help revive the cottage and handloom industry and theatre in India as well as cooperatives to help uplift women, refugees, weavers, craftsmen and potters such as the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, Crafts Council of India, World Crafts Council, Indian Cooperative Union, National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Academy and the India International Centre.
Keywords: Feminist, freedom fighter, post-partition, refugee settlement, cottage and handloom industry, theatre, cooperatives.
Objective: Present paper aims to examine the role played by Kamladevi Chattopadhyay in the Indian Freedom Struggle and nation-building post-partition.
Research Methodology: The researcher has adopted the doctrinal method of research. The paper is based on secondary sources, which include biographies, books, research papers, newspaper articles and internet sources, as literature on Kamladevi Chattopadhyay's life and career is surprisingly scarce. She maintained no correspondence or private documents, avoided interviews and was a distant figure in her son's life, so her biographers had to rely mainly on anecdotes and interview material.