Basanti Devi - Freedom Fighter

  Basanti Devi

Basanti Devi (23 March 1880 – 7 May 1974) was a pioneering Indian freedom fighter, social reformer, and one of the earliest women leaders in the Indian independence movement. Born into an affluent Bengali Hindu family in Assam, she became a formidable figure through her marriage to Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das), a titan of the nationalist struggle known as "Deshbandhu" (Friend of the Nation). Basanti Devi's activism, rooted in Bengal but resonating nationwide, included mobilizing women, leading non-cooperation campaigns, and enduring imprisonment during the 1920s. As a trailblazer for women’s participation in the freedom struggle, she inspired figures like Sarojini Naidu and Kamala Nehru. Beyond politics, she championed education, social reform, and Dalit upliftment, challenging caste and gender norms. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1973, she remains a symbol of courage and inclusivity, celebrated for galvanizing Bengal’s revolutionary spirit during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922) and Swadeshi campaigns. Her legacy endures through institutions like Chittaranjan Seva Sadan and annual tributes in Kolkata.

Early Life and Education

Basanti Devi was born on 23 March 1880 in Telirbagh, a village in Dibrugarh district, Assam, under British colonial rule. Her father, Baradanath Haldar, was the diwan (administrator) of a prominent zamindari estate, indicating an upper-caste (likely Kayastha or Brahmin) Bengali Hindu background, though specific sub-caste details are undocumented. Her family’s elite status afforded her a privileged upbringing, rare for women of her time. Educated at Loreto House, a prestigious convent school in Kolkata, she gained fluency in English and exposure to liberal ideas, shaping her progressive outlook. Standing at approximately 5'2" with a dignified presence, she carried herself with poise, reflecting her cultured roots.

At age 17, in 1897, she married Chittaranjan Das (1870–1925), then a rising barrister from a wealthy Bengali Kayastha family in Kolkata. The couple settled in Kolkata, where Basanti transitioned from a private life to a public role, influenced by C.R. Das’s growing involvement in the Swadeshi Movement (1905–1908). Their marriage blended personal devotion with shared nationalist zeal, positioning Basanti as a partner in both domestic and revolutionary spheres. They had three children: Aparna Devi (b. 1898), Chiraranjan Das (b. 1900), and Kalyani Devi (b. 1902), all of whom later engaged in social work or education.

Role in the Freedom Struggle

Basanti Devi’s entry into the independence movement was catalyzed by her husband’s shift from legal practice to full-time nationalism after defending Aurobindo Ghose in the 1908 Alipore Bomb Case. As C.R. Das embraced the Indian National Congress and Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), Basanti emerged as a frontline leader, particularly during 1921–1922, when Bengal became a hotbed of anti-British agitation.

Key contributions include:

• Mobilizing Women (1920–1921): Basanti broke gender barriers by rallying women to join the Non-Cooperation Movement. She addressed public meetings, urging women to boycott British goods, adopt khadi, and picket foreign cloth shops. Her speeches in Kolkata’s markets galvanized thousands, earning her the title of Bengal’s “first lady revolutionary.” She co-founded the Nari Karma Mandir (Temple of Women’s Work) in 1920 to train women in spinning, weaving, and political organizing, empowering them to defy purdah and patriarchal norms.
• Leading Swadeshi Campaigns (1921): With C.R. Das, she promoted Swadeshi (indigenous goods) by selling khadi on Kolkata streets, defying British bans. Her leadership inspired women like Sarala Devi Chaudhurani to expand the movement.
• Imprisonment (December 1921): During a boycott campaign in Kolkata, Basanti was arrested for selling khadi at Kalighat, becoming one of the first women jailed in the Non-Cooperation Movement. Held for several weeks, her arrest sparked widespread protests, with thousands of women joining pickets. She was arrested again in 1922 alongside her sister-in-law, Urmila Devi, for leading Congress volunteers, amplifying the movement’s momentum.
• Support for Revolutionary Activities: While publicly aligned with Gandhi’s non-violence, Basanti quietly supported Bengal’s revolutionary groups like Anushilan Samiti. She provided safe houses for figures like Subhas Chandra Bose and sheltered activists, balancing her Gandhian image with covert aid to armed resistance.
• Political Leadership (1921–1925): When C.R. Das and other Congress leaders were jailed in 1921, Basanti assumed leadership of the Bengal Provincial Congress, organizing hartals (strikes) and fundraising. Her home at 39/1 Russa Road (now Syamaprasad Mookerjee Road) became a hub for nationalists, hosting Gandhi, Tagore, and Bose.

After C.R. Das’s death in 1925, Basanti reduced her political activity but remained a moral force, guiding Congress initiatives and mentoring younger women. During the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1932), she supported salt marches and anti-liquor campaigns, though her focus shifted to social reform. In 1942, during the Quit India Movement, she aided underground leaders, though advancing age limited her direct involvement.

Social Reforms and Education Advocacy

Basanti Devi’s activism extended beyond politics to dismantling caste and gender barriers. She worked to uplift Dalits and women, aligning with her husband’s vision of a casteless society. Key efforts include:

• Dalit Inclusion: She actively recruited Dalit women into the Non-Cooperation Movement, challenging untouchability. Her speeches emphasized social equality, echoing B.R. Ambedkar’s later ideas, though she operated within Congress’s framework.
• Women’s Education: In 1918, she co-founded the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan in Kolkata, a charitable institution offering education, vocational training, and healthcare to women and orphans. The Sadan, still operational, provided free schooling and midwifery training, empowering marginalized women.
• Literary Contributions: Basanti edited and contributed to Banglar Katha, a nationalist magazine launched by C.R. Das, promoting Swadeshi literature and women’s voices. Her articles called for unity across caste and religion, urging Bengalis to embrace self-reliance.

Her reformist zeal was rooted in her belief that national freedom required social emancipation, making her a bridge between elite nationalism and subaltern struggles.

Personal Life

Basanti Devi’s life was marked by personal sacrifice and resilience. Her marriage to C.R. Das was a partnership of equals, with shared commitment to India’s liberation. After his sudden death in 1925 from illness in Darjeeling, Basanti faced financial strain, as the couple had sold assets to fund the freedom struggle. She raised her three children—Aparna, Chiraranjan, and Kalyani—instilling nationalist values; all three later contributed to social work or education. Aparna joined Congress activities, while Kalyani ran schools.

Basanti lived frugally, embracing khadi and simplicity, and remained in Kolkata, dedicating herself to the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan. A devout Hindu with reformist leanings, she rejected caste orthodoxy, hosting inter-caste gatherings at home. No major health issues are recorded until her later years, when she withdrew from public life, passing away on 7 May 1974 at age 94 in Kolkata.

Awards and Recognition

• Padma Vibhushan (1973): Conferred by the Government of India for her contributions to the freedom struggle and social reform, one of the highest civilian honors.
• Congress Honors: Recognized as a “senior mother figure” by the Indian National Congress; Gandhi praised her as “Bengal’s lioness” in 1922.
• Legacy Institutions: The Chittaranjan Seva Sadan and Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (named after C.R. Das) indirectly honor her contributions. Kolkata’s Basanti Devi College, established in 1959, is named after her, focusing on women’s education.

Legacy

Basanti Devi’s legacy lies in her pioneering role as a woman freedom fighter who broke gender and caste barriers. She inspired a generation of women to join the independence movement, paving the way for leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali. Her work with Dalits prefigured later anti-caste movements, complementing figures like Ambedkar. The Chittaranjan Seva Sadan remains a testament to her vision of empowering women through education and healthcare.

Her story is celebrated in Bengal through plays, literature, and annual tributes on her birth and death anniversaries. Historians like Sumit Sarkar and Tanika Sarkar highlight her as a subaltern ally within elite nationalism, bridging class divides. Her home at Russa Road is a heritage site, visited by scholars and activists.

Recent Updates (2024–2025)

• March 2024: Basanti Devi’s 144th birth anniversary saw seminars at Basanti Devi College, Kolkata, focusing on her role in women’s mobilization. A new biography, Basanti Devi: The Unsung Heroine, was launched by a local publisher.
• 2024–2025: The Chittaranjan Seva Sadan expanded its free education programs, with state funding announced in Uttar Pradesh budgets to honor her legacy. A documentary on women freedom fighters, featuring Basanti, aired on Doordarshan in July 2024.
• October 2025: Posts on X highlighted her alongside Uda Devi Pasi for Dalit-inclusive nationalism, with hashtags #BasantiDevi trending during freedom struggle commemorations. Plans for a restored memorial at her Kolkata residence were proposed by the West Bengal government.

Basanti Devi’s life—from a zamindar’s daughter to a jailed revolutionary—embodies the fusion of personal courage and collective vision, proving that India’s freedom was won not only on battlefields but in the hearts of women who dared to lead.