British people came thousands of kilometers away to undivided India not to develop us but they came to exploit our resources including human resources. And they left India in 1947 by dividing us as they were scared of freedom fighters and mass movement by the common people. Many many people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, and language contributed to the freedom movement - many people sacrificed their lives, many suffered physically, many were tortured mentally, etc. But in student days we read a few people’s names as if because of their contribution we are living in an independent country. Anyway, I am highlighting the contributions of a great woman who was born on 19 October 1870 and sacrificed her life for the independence of the country. So, this article is the birthday tribute to her and I offer my Pronam to Matangini Hazra.
Matangini Hazra was cruelly killed by the British police in front of the Tamluk Police Station (of then Midnapore/ Medinipur district of present West Bengal) on 29 September 1942. She was born on 19 October 1870 and was affectionately known as ‘Gandhi buri’, in Bengali called as “Old Lady Gandhi”. In 1932, Matangini participated in Gandhi's civil disobedience movement (Salt Satyagraha), manufactured salt at Alinan salt centre and was arrested for violating the salt act. After her arrest, she was made to walk a long distance as punishment. She also participated in the 'Chowkidari Tax Bandha' (abolition of chowkidari tax) movement and while marching towards the court building chanting slogan to protest against the illegal constitution of a court by the Governor to punish those who participated in the movement, Matangini was arrested again. She was sentenced to six months imprisonment and sent to Baharampur jail. (en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Hazra,_Matangini).
During the Quit India Movement, members of the Congress party planned to take over the various police stations of Midnapore / Medinipur district and other Government offices as a part of the freedom movement. Matangini Hazra, who was 72 years at that time, led the procession with thousands of people, mostly women volunteers. When the procession reached the outskirts of the town, they were ordered to disband under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code by the police. As she stepped forward, she was shot once. Apparently, she had stepped forward and appealed to the police not to open fire at the crowd. But she was repeatedly shot, she kept chanting Vande Mataram, "hail to the Motherland". She died with the flag of the Indian National Congress held high and still flying (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matangini_Hazra).
On the occasion of her birthday pronam to her and also my objective is to highlight her contribution so that children of this generation can know about her sacrifice.
Dr. Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad, 19 October 2021
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