Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
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| Born | 3 April 1903 |
| Died | 29 October 1988 (aged 85) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
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| Alma mater | Queen Mary's College, Bedford College (London) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Ramakrishna Chattopadhyay |
| Awards | Ramon Magsaysay Award (1966) Padma Bhushan (1955) Padma Vibhushan (1987) |
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (born April 3, 1903 – died October 29, 1988) was an amazing Indian social reformer. She worked hard to help Indian women and to promote traditional Indian arts. These included handicrafts, handlooms (handmade fabrics), and theatre. She wanted to improve the lives of women and keep India's rich culture alive after India became independent.
Kamaladevi was the first woman in India to run for elections from the Madras area. Even though she lost, she opened the door for other women. She also led important cultural organizations like the National School of Drama and the Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 1974, she received the Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship. This is the highest honor given by India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. The Indian government also honored her with the Padma Bhushan in 1955 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1987. People sometimes called her Hatkargha Maa, which means "Handloom Mother," because of her great work in the handloom industry.
Contents
- Kamaladevi's Life Story
- Awards and Honors
- Books by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
- Books About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
Kamaladevi's Life Story
Growing Up in India
Kamaladevi was born on April 3, 1903, in Mangalore, Karnataka. She was the youngest of four daughters. Her father, Ananthayya Dhareshwar, was a District Collector, a high-ranking government official. Her mother, Girijabai, was well-educated and very independent.
Kamaladevi learned a lot from her family. Her grandmother knew many ancient Indian stories and myths. Her mother was also very smart. This helped Kamaladevi develop her own strong voice and intellect, which she became known for.
Even as a child, Kamaladevi was a brilliant student. She was also very determined and brave. Her parents were friends with many important leaders and thinkers who fought for India's freedom. These included Mahadev Govind Ranade and Annie Besant. Because of this, young Kamaladevi became interested in the swadeshi movement early on. This movement encouraged Indians to use Indian-made goods and support their own country.
She even studied an ancient form of Sanskrit drama from Kerala called Kutiyattam. She learned from a famous teacher, Nātyāchārya Māni Madhava Chakyar, by staying at his home.
Early Marriage and Challenges
Kamaladevi got married in 1917 when she was just 14 years old. Sadly, her husband passed away two years later, leaving her a widow at a very young age.
New Beginnings in the 1920s
Marriage to Harindranath
While studying at Queen Mary's College in Chennai, Kamaladevi met Suhasini Chattopadhyay. Suhasini was the younger sister of the famous poet Sarojini Naidu. Suhasini introduced Kamaladevi to her brother, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, who was a well-known poet, playwright, and actor.
Kamaladevi and Harin shared a love for the arts, which brought them together. When Kamaladevi was 20, she married Harin. This was a brave decision because, at that time, society often disapproved of widows remarrying. Despite the challenges, they worked together to create plays and skits.
Kamaladevi even acted in a few films. This was unusual for women from respectable families back then. She appeared in two silent films, including Mricchakatika (1931). Later, she acted in Hindi films like Tansen (1943).
Studying in London
Soon after their marriage, Harin went to London. A few months later, Kamaladevi joined him. She studied at Bedford College, University of London, and earned a diploma in Sociology.
Joining the Freedom Fight
While in London, Kamaladevi learned about Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement in 1923. She quickly returned to India to join the Seva Dal. This was a group that worked for social improvement. She was put in charge of the women's section. She helped recruit and train women of all ages to become volunteers, called 'sevikas', across India.
In 1926, she met Margaret E. Cousins, who founded the All India Women's Conference (AIWC). Margaret inspired Kamaladevi to run for a seat in the Madras Provincial Legislative Assembly. This made Kamaladevi the first woman in India to run for a legislative position. She campaigned for only a few days but lost by a very small number of votes.
Leading the All-India Women's Conference
The next year, Kamaladevi became a founding member of the All-India Women's Conference (AIWC). She was its first Organizing Secretary. Over the years, the AIWC became a well-known national organization. It had branches all over India and worked for important legal changes.
Kamaladevi traveled to many European countries during this time. She was inspired to start many social reform programs and educational institutions for women. She helped create the Lady Irwin College for Home Sciences in New Delhi.
The 1930s: A Time of Action
Kamaladevi was one of seven main leaders chosen by Mahatma Gandhi for the famous Salt Satyagraha in 1930. This was a protest where Indians made their own salt to defy British laws. Kamaladevi was the only other woman volunteer in the team besides Avantikabai Gokhale. In a bold move, she even offered to sell the "Freedom Salt" she had made to a magistrate at a nearby High Court!
On January 26, 1930, she became famous when she bravely held onto the Indian flag to protect it during a struggle.
The 1940s: Global Advocate and Nation Builder
When World War II started, Kamaladevi was in England. She immediately began a world tour to tell other countries about India's situation. She wanted to gain support for India's Independence after the war.
During this tour, she traveled through the southern United States. In 1941, she boarded a train that had separate sections for different races. In Louisiana, a conductor tried to make her move from the section reserved for white passengers. When he realized she wasn't a Black American, he became confused. Kamaladevi told him, "It makes no difference. I am a colored woman obviously and it is unnecessary for you to disturb me for I have no intention of moving from here." The conductor left her alone.
Helping India After Independence
When India gained independence, it also faced the Partition of India. This meant the country was divided, causing many people to become refugees. Kamaladevi immediately started working to help these refugees.
Her first step was to create the Indian Co-operative Union. Through this Union, she planned a new town based on cooperation. After much effort, she got permission from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The town of Faridabad was built near Delhi, helping over 50,000 refugees from the Northwest Frontier region. She worked tirelessly to help them build new homes and learn new skills. She also helped set up health facilities in the new town.
This marked the beginning of her important work in helping people and reviving India's lost crafts. She is largely credited with bringing back Indian handicrafts and handlooms after independence. This is considered her greatest gift to modern India.
The 1950s and Beyond: Preserving Culture
Around this time, Kamaladevi worried that new factory-based production methods from the West might harm traditional Indian artisans, especially women. She created a series of crafts museums to collect and preserve India's traditional arts and crafts. These museums became places to store ancient Indian knowledge and skills. One example is the Theater Crafts Museum in Delhi.
She also promoted arts and crafts by starting the National Awards for Master Craftsmen. Her efforts led to the creation of Central Cottage Industries Emporia across the country. These stores helped sell traditional Indian crafts and celebrate India's rich heritage.
In 1964, she founded the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC) in Bangalore. This institute was part of the Bharatiya Natya Sangh, which was connected to UNESCO.
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was truly ahead of her time. She played a key role in setting up the All India Handicrafts Board and was its first chairperson. She was also the first president of the World Crafts Council, Asia Pacific Region.
She led the National School of Drama and later the Sangeet Natak Akademi. She was also a member of UNESCO. Her autobiography, Inner Recesses and Outer Spaces: Memoir, was published in 1986. Kamaladevi passed away on October 29, 1988, in Bombay, at the age of 85.
Awards and Honors
The Government of India honored Kamaladevi with the Padma Bhushan in 1955 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1987. These are some of the highest civilian awards in India. She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1966 for her leadership in the community. In 1974, she was given the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest award from India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama.
UNESCO also recognized her in 1977 for her contributions to promoting handicrafts. Shantiniketan, a famous university, gave her its highest award, the Desikottama.
On April 3, 2018, which would have been her 115th birthday, Google honored her with a special picture (a Doodle) on their homepage.
Books by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
- The Awakening of Indian women, Everyman's Press, 1939.
- Japan-its weakness and strength, Padma Publications 1943.
- Uncle Sam's empire, Padma publications Ltd, 1944.
- In war-torn China, Padma Publications, 1944.
- Towards a National theatre, (All India Women's Conference, Cultural Section. Cultural books), Aundh Pub. Trust, 1945.
- America,: The land of superlatives, Phoenix Publications, 1946.
- At the Cross Roads, National Information and Publications, 1947.
- Socialism and Society, Chetana, 1950.
- Tribalism in India, Brill Academic Pub, 1978, ISBN: 0706906527.
- Handicrafts of India, Indian Council for Cultural Relations & New Age International Pub. Ltd., New Delhi, India, 1995. ISBN: 99936-12-78-2.
- Indian Women's Battle for Freedom. South Asia Books, 1983. ISBN: 0-8364-0948-5.
- Indian Carpets and Floor Coverings, All India Handicrafts Board, 1974.
- Indian embroidery, Wiley Eastern, 1977.
- India's Craft Tradition, Publications Division, Ministry of I & B, Govt. of India, 2000. ISBN: 81-230-0774-4.
- Indian Handicrafts, Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Bombay India, 1963.
- Traditions of Indian Folk Dance.
- The Glory of Indian Handicrafts, New Delhi, India: Clarion Books, 1985.
- Inner Recesses, Outer Spaces: Memoirs, 1986. ISBN: 81-7013-038-7.
Books About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
- Sakuntala Narasimhan, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. New Dawn Books, 1999. ISBN: 81-207-2120-9.
- S.R. Bakshi, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya : Role for Women's Welfare, Om, 2000, ISBN: 81-86867-34-1.
- Reena Nanda, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya: A Biography (Modern Indian Greats), Oxford University Press, USA, 2002, ISBN: 0-19-565364-5.
- Jamila Brij Bhushan, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya – Portrait of a Rebel, Abhinav Pub, 2003. ISBN: 81-7017-033-8.
- M.V. Narayana Rao (Ed.), Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay: A True Karmayogi. The Crafts Council of Karnataka: Bangalore. 2003.
- Malvika Singh, The Iconic Women of Modern India – Freeing the Spirit. Penguin, 2006, ISBN: 0-14-310082-3.
- Jasleen Dhamija, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, National Book Trust, 2007. ISBN: 8123748825.
- Indra Gupta , India's 50 Most Illustrious Women. ISBN: 81-88086-19-3.
