'In our world of big names, curiously, our true heroes tend to be anonymous.'
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay- a freedom fighter, an entrepreneur, a reformer, a feminist- embodied all modern women by advocating for their interests. She revived Indian handicrafts and founded many reputed institutions charged with the development of art, music, theatre, and puppetry in India.
Kamaladevi was born on 3rd April, 1903 in Mangaluru in a liberal Brahmin family, to progressive parents. Sadly, her childhood was enveloped by tragedy. She lost her elder sister, Saguna, and when she was seven years old, she lost her father as well.
She used theatre as a catalyst for social change. She set up the Indian National Theatre and the Sangeet Natak Academy. Kamaladevi contributed to the revival of India’s rich craft traditions, by establishing the All-India Handicrafts Board and urging state governments to deal directly with craftsmen. Indian crafts are still alive and have a visible global presence, only because of her.
Kamaladevi was a staunch believer in women's rights. During the Dandi March, she convinced Gandhi to give women an equal opportunity to be at the forefront of the march. She joined Seva Dal and trained women activists, lobbied for better working conditions for women, and was a founder of the All-India Women's Conference.
She also had a direct political presence. She was the first woman to contest the Madras provincial elections. She joined the Indian National Congress in 1927. In a scuffle over the Indian tricolor, she clung to it to protect it.
Kamaladevi was an original thinker who was ahead of her time. She was one of the true builders of post-independence India and shaped modern Indian society. The legacy of bravery, feminism, and hard work she has left continues to inspire the youth of today.
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