She was just 17 when she left home and started marching with Gandhiji. She not only made the English bow down to her will, she also brought the conservative Muslim League to its knees. She was fighting simultaneously on two fronts - one against the British Colonialism and the second against Muslim separatism. She got patronage and support from Gandhi but she did not join mainstream politics and preferred to work at a grassroots level.
She was the first woman who opened schools for women all over Gujarat and worked for expanding footprint of educational institutions. She fought for women's education so hard that Congress offices started holding special classes for women. She was instrumental in making the "Jan Jagaran" movement of congress and founded "Rahbar" which was the first adult education program in British India. She wrote umpteen books on this topic, none of them are available now.
The light of education and empowerment that she lit in her state proved very effective in countering Muslim League propaganda. It can be gauged from the fact that there was negligible migration by Gujarati Muslim communities like Bohras, Ismailies, Kathiwaris etc even though Gujarat shares a border with Pakistan and the Kucchis share historical ties with Sindh. (compare this with far flung states like UP and Bihar which had a massive exodus). Jinnah himself was a Kathiawari Muslim yet his personal appeal was negated in Gujarat. Post independence she refused to be a part of the power structure and continued to work for upliftment of women through education. She is one of the million frontline soldiers who has punched much above her weight and lies buried unsung and forgotten.
The lady is Kulsum Sayani and it is her death anniversary today. We need to dig deep to feel the hands that shaped the foundations of our country in a self less manner. You may not have heard of Kulsum aapa, as he was fondly called, ever. But you would undoubtedly know the most recognizable radio voice of yesteryears, Amin Sayani, who is her son.
She was the first woman who opened schools for women all over Gujarat and worked for expanding footprint of educational institutions. She fought for women's education so hard that Congress offices started holding special classes for women. She was instrumental in making the "Jan Jagaran" movement of congress and founded "Rahbar" which was the first adult education program in British India. She wrote umpteen books on this topic, none of them are available now.
The light of education and empowerment that she lit in her state proved very effective in countering Muslim League propaganda. It can be gauged from the fact that there was negligible migration by Gujarati Muslim communities like Bohras, Ismailies, Kathiwaris etc even though Gujarat shares a border with Pakistan and the Kucchis share historical ties with Sindh. (compare this with far flung states like UP and Bihar which had a massive exodus). Jinnah himself was a Kathiawari Muslim yet his personal appeal was negated in Gujarat. Post independence she refused to be a part of the power structure and continued to work for upliftment of women through education. She is one of the million frontline soldiers who has punched much above her weight and lies buried unsung and forgotten.
The lady is Kulsum Sayani and it is her death anniversary today. We need to dig deep to feel the hands that shaped the foundations of our country in a self less manner. You may not have heard of Kulsum aapa, as he was fondly called, ever. But you would undoubtedly know the most recognizable radio voice of yesteryears, Amin Sayani, who is her son.
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