WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT

Submitted By

Subham Das

UID: SM0117051

B.A. L.L.B. 1st year, 1st semester

Faculty-in-charge

Mrs Namrata Gogoi

National Law University, Assam

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………..3-4
1.1 Literature Review…………………………………………………..4-5
1.2 Scope and Objectives……………………………………………….6
1.3 Research Questions…………………………………………………6
1.4 Research Methodology……………………………………………...6
2. Notable Female Leaders in the Indian National Movement…………….7
2.1 Rani Lakshmi Bai…………………………………………………...7
2.2 Sarojini Naidu………………………………………………………7-8
2.3 Sarojini Naidu…………………………………………………........8-9
3. Women Organisations…………………………………………..………10-11
4. Participation of Female Leaders in the Indian National Movement.……12-15
5. Conclusion………………………………………………………………16
6. Bibliography…………………………………………………………….17

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 1. Introduction

Movements are group actions. They are large, sometimes informal, groupings

of individuals or organizations which concentrates on specific political or social issues. In
other words, they carry out, resist, or undo a social change. They provide a way of social
change from the bottom within nations. It is a mass movement and a collective attempt of
people to bring about a change, or to resist any change. The central idea to any movement is
that people intervene in the process of social change, rather than remaining mere spectators or
passive participants in the ebb and flow of life.

The Indian national movement was undoubtedly one of the biggest mass movements modern
society has ever seen. It was a movement which galvanized millions of people of all classes
and ideologies into political action and brought to its knees a mighty colonial empire. 

India's movement toward independence occurred in stages prompted by the inflexibility of

the British and, in many instances, their violent responses to peaceful protests. Many attribute
the Indian Revolt of 1857 (known by the British as the Sepoy Mutiny) as the first battle in the
struggle for Indian independence. The 1857 Indian Revolt revealed the miscalculations of the
British in understanding the social and cultural issues important to Indians. Indian soldiers
called sepoys (from the Hindi sipahi) grew increasingly uncomfortable with the British
encroachment on India's states and provinces as the English East India Company expanded its
influence in the region. In addition, poor wages and harsh policies made nationals
increasingly tired of the British presence in India. In 1885, the Indian National Union was
formed, which became the Indian National Congress and had as its goal the moderate
position of seeing more locals in political representation. The Indian National Congress
(INC) was created to help ease the tensions in the British relationship with Indians after the
Sepoy Mutiny. The INC is the oldest political party in India. After World War II two faction
developed within the INC. The split in the INC was eased under the influence of Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948) in 1920 when he became party leader. The push for
independence occurred in three interconnected stages: the noncooperative movement, the
civil disobedience movement, and finally the "Quit India" movement. None of these stages
were rigidly defined; they naturally flowed into one another as a result of contemporary
events. The foundational principles of the noncooperative movement included resisting the
British by not buying imported goods, refusing to pay taxes, and not working for the British,

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rather than violence as a means of gaining independence. In 1942 Gandhi announced the
"Quit India" campaign. Backed by the INC, all thoughts turned toward eliminating the British
presence in India and establishing self-governance. The issuance of the declaration resulted in
the British government outlawing the Indian National Congress and in the subsequent arrests
of INC leaders, including Gandhi. The public fray between the INC and the British brought
the Quit India campaign into prominence across the country, and resistance grew.1

Women’s participation in India’s, freedom struggle began over a century before country
became independent at the time when conservative traditions and social customs had derived
them their rightful place in the society. Among earlier women fighters to raise banner of
revolt were Lakshmi Bai, Rani Jhansi, Rani of Ramgarh, Rani of Taci and Begum Hazart of
Lucknow. After attaining independence in 1947, India had huge task of social reconstruction,
economic development and political awakening to be able to ensure justice and equality to all
its citizens. The framers of Indian constitution, which amongst others, had prominent women
like Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai, Renuka Ray and Malti chowdhry as its
members. The participation of women in Indian freedom struggle are landmarks in  the
history.2

1.1 Literature Review

 Sanjay Singh, INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT & GLIMPSES OF INDIAN

CULTURE, Arihant Publications

This book provides a concise account of the various movements of Indian National
Movement. It also highlights the various leaders that made the Indian National Movement a
success. This book gives description of the events in pointwise form. This book has helped
the researcher to fulfil the objectives of the project.

1
“Indian National Movement”, http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/indian-national-movement
2
Arun K tangnu, “Indian Women Past and Present”, http://creative.sulekha.com/indian-women-past-and-
present_499275_blog

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 Dr. Namrata Singh, THE WOMEN’s QUESTION: PARTICIPATION IN THE
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT, IOSR Journal of
Humanities and Social Sciences

This article provides a detailed account role played by women in the Indian National
Movement. It also highlights the various women organisations that were present during
the National Movement. This article has helped the researcher to fulfil the objectives of
the project.

 Atul Kulkarni, ROLE PLAYED BY WOMEN IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE,

https://atulkulkarni123.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/role-played-by-women-in-indian-
freedom-struggle/

This article provides a concise account of the role played by women in the Indian
National Movement. Moreover, it gives detailed accounts of the various women leaders
who contributed in the National Movement. This article has helped the researcher to fulfil
the objectives of the project.

 Shodganga, WOMEN IN THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT,

http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/2879/14/14_chapter%206.pdf

This article provides a detailed account of the of the role played by women in the Indian
National Movement. It also highlights the contribution of women in Indian National
Movement and also explains about the Indian National Movement in general. This article
has helped the researcher to fulfil the objectives of the project.

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 1.2 Scope and Objectives

Scope

This project shall focus on Indian National Movement, try to understand the concept of
Indian national Movement, and understand who are the main women leaders of Indian
National Movement. The project shall also try to analyse contribution of women in Indian
National Movement.

Objectives

 To try and understand what is Indian National Movement.

 To understand who are the main women leaders of Indian National Movement.
 To analyze the contribution of women in Indian National Movement.

1.3 Research Questions

 What is Indian National Movement?

 Who are the main women leaders of Indian National Movement?
 What is the contribution of women in Indian National Movement?

1.4 Research Methodology

In this research work, the Doctrinal Method of Explanatory Research Design has been
employed for conducing the research. Only secondary sources such as books, articles and
journals have been used for the collection of information for the research work.

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 2. Notable Female Leaders in the Indian National Movement

There are many women leaders who have participated and contributed in the Indian National
Movement but there are some more prominent and important women leaders. The researcher
would only focus on a few notable women leaders namely Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi,
Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant.

2.1 Rani Lakshmi Bai

Rani Lakshmi Bai was the queen of the princely state of Jhansi, which is located on the north
India. She was one of the most important women leader of the first war of India's
independence that started in 1857. 

Rani Lakshmibai was one of the leading warriors of India’s freedom struggle who laid an
outstanding influence on the succeeding women freedom fighters. She used to go into the
battlefield dressed as a man. Holding the reins of there, horse in her mouth she used the
sword with both hands. She fought valiantly and although beaten she refused to surrender and
fell as a warrior should, fighting the enemy to the last. Her remarkable courage inspired many
men and women in India to rise against the alien rule. She was a symbol of bravery,
patriotism, self-respect, perseverance, generosity and resistance to British rule. She fought till
her last breath for the welfare of women in the country and for the noble cause of India’s
independence.3

2.2 Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu was an India political leader best known as the first female President of the
India National Congress. In 1916 she met Mahatma Gandhi which sparked her interest in the

3
Atul Kulkarni, ROLE PLAYED BY WOMEN IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE,
https://atulkulkarni123.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/role-played-by-women-in-indian-freedom-struggle/

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fight for India’s freedom. In 1925 she was elected as the first female President of the India
National Congress. After India’s independence from England, Naidu became the first woman
Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India, was a distinguished poet, renowned freedom fighter
and one of the great orators of her time. She was elected as the president of Indian National
Congress. The dynamic phase of Sarojini’s career was from 1917-1919. She campaigned for
the Khalifat Movement. When Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement, she
proved a faithful lieutenant. With great courage she quelled the rioters, sold proscribed
literature, and addressed frenzied meetings on the carnage at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. In
1930 when Mahatma Gandhi chose her to lead the Salt Satyagraha the stories of her courage
became legion. After Gandhi’s arrest she had prepared 2,000 volunteers under the scorching
sun to raid the Dahrsana Salt Works, while the police faced them half a mile up the road with
rifle, lathis (canes) are steel tipped clubs. She gave up writing poetry and fully devoted
herself to emancipation of women, education, Hindu-Muslim unity etc. She became a
follower of Gandhiji and accompanied him to England. Whenever in England, she openly
criticized British rule in India which caught the attention of scholars and intellectuals.4

2.3 Annie Besant

Annie Besant was a prominent British women's rights activist, writer and orator and

supporter of Indian self-rule. She became involved in politics in India, joining the Indian
National Congress. During the World War I in 1914, she helped launch the Home Rule
League to campaign for democracy in India and gaining dominion status within the British
Empire. This led to her election as president of the India National Congress in late 1917.
After the war, she continued to campaign for Indian independence.

Annie Besant an Irish lady the leader of the Theosophical Society joined the Indian National
Congress and gave it a new direction. She was the first woman president of the Congress and
gave a powerful lead to women’s movement in India. She soon became a leading labour
4
Atul Kulkarni, ROLE PLAYED BY WOMEN IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE,
https://atulkulkarni123.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/role-played-by-women-in-indian-freedom-struggle/

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organizer, strike leader and reformer. She also became involved in Indian Nationalism and in
1916 established the Indian Home Rule League of which she became President. She started a
newspaper, “New India”, criticized British rule and was jailed for sedition. She came to be
associated with rationalistic congress group of workers who did not appreciate Gandhi’s
views. She got involved in political and educational activities and set up a number of schools
and colleges, the most important of which was Central Hindu College High School at
Banaras which she started in 1913.5

3. Women Organisations

5
Atul Kulkarni, ROLE PLAYED BY WOMEN IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE,
https://atulkulkarni123.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/role-played-by-women-in-indian-freedom-struggle/

9|Page
When the Indian National Movement was going on which saw some active participation form
women for the freedom of India from under the British Empire, the Indian women got
together in central as well regional levels to form women’s organisations in order to fight for
women’s rights in aspects like women’s education, abolition of evil social customs like
purdah, child marriage, equality of rights and opportunities and women’s suffer- age and
right for representation in legislatures and most importantly for attaining independence of
India from the British Empire.

Women’s organization appealed to both government and nationality for support. However
government support was often a compromise. The nationalists on the other hand were more
sympathetic for the women’s question, since 1920, because they needed their participation in
the nation-building project. Women too privileged these “pieces of universalisation” by
placing nationalism before women’s issues. The women’s fight for suffrage was granted in
Government of India Act 1935 where the ratio of female voters was raised 1:5 and women
also got reserved seats in legislative. Similarly, various social legislations and acts tried to
improve gender parity. For example: The Sarda Act. Of 1929 – which fixed the minimum age
of marriage for females at 14 and male at eighteen, laws defining women’s woman’s right to
property, inheritance, divorce, to restrain dowry and control position.6 

In the early, twentieth century many women’s organization came into picture who were
active in the public arena and also focused on women’s political and legal rights.

-Rashtriya Stree Sangha or Das Devika Sangha was started as auxiliary body of Congress.

-1910 Sarala Devi Chaudhurani ‘Bharat stree Mahanandala’ tried to spread education

-In 1917, in Madras women’s Indian Association was started by enlightened European and
Indian ladies – Margaret Cousins and Annie Besant.

-1925, the National Council of Women in India was formed as a branch of the International
council of Women Lady Mehribai Tata was an actives of this society.

6
Dr. Namrata Singh, THE WOMEN’s QUESTION: PARTICIPATION IN THE INDIAN NATIONAL
MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

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-1927, All India, Women Conference came into existence which championed for all sorts of
women rights, from franchise to marriage reform and the rights of women laborers.

- In 1920 in Bengal, Bangiya Nari Samaj campaigned for women’s voting rights.

- All Bengal Women’s union campaigned for legislation against trafficking of women.7

Some of the important women’s organisations were:

 Bharat Mahila Parishad
 Bharat Stri Mahamandal
 Women’s Indian Association
 National Council of Women in India
 All India Women’s Conference
 Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust

4. Participation of Female Leaders in the Indian National Movement

Women played a significant role in the Indian National Movement which actually started
after the sepoy mutiny of 1857. Even though the contribution of women in attaining
independence of India is generally neglected and not given importance to but in reality, they
played a crucial role in the movement. Apart from the prominent, famous and popular women
7
Dr. Namrata Singh, THE WOMEN’s QUESTION: PARTICIPATION IN THE INDIAN NATIONAL
MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

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leaders like Rani Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant, Kasturba Gandhi, etc there are
numerous other less known women who have given their all and contributed in the Indian
National Movement. Women’s participation in India’s, freedom struggle began over a
century before country became independent at the time when conservative traditions and
social customs had derived them their rightful place in the society.

The Nationalist struggle in India against the British colonial rule brought about the political
mobilisation of both men and women. It encouraged middle-class and elite women to adopt
new models in the public domain and to engage in the range of activities such as social
reform spreading the nationalist message and mobilisation for the movement. From liberal
homes and conservative families, urban centres and rural districts, women-single and
married, young and old came forward and joined the struggle against colonial rule. Women's
participation called into question the British right to rule, legitimized the Indian nationalist
movement and won for activist women, at least for a time, the approval of Indian men.8

Indian women association with the freedom struggle took a new dimension with the growth
of popular politics of the Gandhian congress mass movements. The women’s participation
before Gandhi was in a limited manner for example in Swadeshi Movement in Bengal (1905-
11) and Home Rule Movement. They also attended sessions of Indian National Congress. But
the involvement of really large number of women in freedom struggle began with Gandhi
who gave special role to women. “The nationalist expressions of women in the freedom
struggle needs to be analysed from following standpoints:

1. That women engaged with Nationalist polities despite constraints of social practices like
the purdah system, backwardness and low level of female literacy.

2. That women participated in INM through two parallel processes.

a) The domestication of the public sphere - women participated in the streets without
compromising on their domestic values.

b) The politicization of the domestic sphere - women handled situations in their families
when nationalism entered households through the activities of their husbands and sons.

8
Shodganga, WOMEN IN THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT,
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/2879/14/14_chapter%206.pdf

12 | P a g e
3. That women used the symbolic repertoire of the INM and the political language of Gandhi
to facilitate their own participation.”9

Women participated in all the important movements like the Non-Corporation Movement
(NCM), Civil Disobedience Movement and also Quit India Movement. The women have
continued to work and participate in movements even after independence for the upliftment
of women in the society.

Now we can take a look at the important contributions of women in the some of the most
important movements regarding the Indian National Movement like Non-Corporation
Movement (NCM), Civil Disobedience Movement and also Quit India Movement.

The Non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom
from British rule. Many women participated in this movement by performing their domestic
and social roles. Sarla Devi, Muthulaxmi Reddy, Susheela Nair, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur,
Sucheta Kripalani and Aruna Asaf Ali are some the women who participated in the Non -
violent Non-cooperation movement. Kastruba Gandhi, Kamla Nehru, Vijayalakshmi Pandit
and Swarup Rani also participated in the national movement, Lado Rani Zutshi and her
daughters Manmohini, Shyama and Janak led the movement in Lahore. Women, literate and
illiterate, rural and urban swelled the ranks of the freedom fighters, took over positions of
responsibility, courted imprisonment, and were arrested in large numbers. It was in the
political struggle against imperialism (British rule) that Indian women began actively
participating in life outside the home. The participation of women legitimised the Indian
National Congress. Women marched and picketed in sex-segregated groups, usually wearing
distinctive orange or white saries to emphases their purity and sacrifice. Women won great
respect for their political work and social benefits followed. Women's in activities validated
Indian unity and Satyagraha.10

One of the most important features of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the large-scale
participation of women. During Gandhiji’s salt march, thousands of women participated in

9
Dr. Namrata Singh, THE WOMEN’s QUESTION: PARTICIPATION IN THE INDIAN NATIONAL
MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
10
Ganamukhi, THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE NON COORPORATION MOVEMENT, Golden Research
Thoughts

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marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail.
In urban areas, these women were from high caste educated family e.g. Sarojini Naidu,
Satyavati Devi, Kamala Nehru, Vijaylakshmi Pandit, Kasturba Gandhi, etc. In rural areas,
women came from rich peasant households. Bengal being the nerve centre of female
education in India, increased the women’s participation in nationalism. In 1930, women
rallied before Bethune College, Calcutta in support of Gandhiji’s Civil Disobedience
Movement.
In Bombay, large section of women of Gujarati community was influenced by Gandhiji’s
idealism and participated in National Movement. But all these participations were symbolic
as women did not hold any position of authority for a long time.

Women in the Quit India Movement featured prominently, partaking of the movement in
every way possible. There were a number of prominent women leaders, such as Matangini
Hazra, Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Mehta and Sucheta Mazumdar Kripalani who took the reins and
led the movement in different parts of the country. Women in the Quit India
Movement formed a prominent part of the agitating crowds. The participation of women in
the Quit India Movement took many different forms. Usha Mehta, a committed patriot set up
a radio transmitter, called the 'Voice of Freedom' to disseminate information about the war
for freedom, for which she was sentenced to four years of jail. In the rural areas large
numbers of peasant women joined men in protesting against taxes, land tenure, and
landholder's rights.
Aruna Asaf Ali was another leader of the Quit India Movement. Aruna broke the salt law,
was arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned in Lucknow. She became a leader of the
underground movement in 1942 and was forced to remain in hiding until 1946. During her
three and a half years in hiding, Aruna was constantly in motion, urging people to liberate the
land from foreign rule. Some historians have labelled Aruna as the most important leader of
the resistance. She is widely remembered for having hoisted the national flag at Mumbai
during the Quit India Movement. the involvement of women in the Quit India movement took
different forms, from active protests to the organisation of non-violent movements. Methods
notwithstanding. The participation of women in the Quit India Movement went a long way in
making it a success.11
11
Usha Mehta, WOMEN IN THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT,
http://www.indianetzone.com/7/women_quit_india_movement.htm

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 5. Conclusion

After the completion of the research project by the researcher the researcher can conclude
that the Indian National Movement began after the sepoy mutiny in 1857 which saw a surge
in the nationalist sentiments develop in the people of India which led to various other
movements like Non-Corporation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India
Movement among others taking place in order to attain freedom from the British Empire. It

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was not only the Indian men who participated and contributed in the National movement but
the women also played an active role in the movement. There were a lot of women
participating in the movement but some the prominent ones who have been dealt with in this
research are Rani Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Annie Bessant. The contribution of women in
the freedom struggle of India is often overlooked but in reality, they played a very important
role in the movement and without the women’s contribution attaining freedom would be
much more difficult. During the period of the National Movement the Indian women formed
various women organisations in order to boost the plight of women in the country as well as
help in attaining the bigger goal of independence from the British Empire.

6. Bibliography

 Sanjay Singh, INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT & GLIMPSES OF INDIAN

CULTURE, Arihant Publications
 Dr. Namrata Singh, THE WOMEN’s QUESTION: PARTICIPATION IN THE
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT, IOSR Journal of
Humanities and Social Sciences

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 Atul Kulkarni, ROLE PLAYED BY WOMEN IN INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE,
https://atulkulkarni123.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/role-played-by-women-in-indian-
freedom-struggle/
 Shodganga, WOMEN IN THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT,
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/2879/14/14_chapter%206.pdf
 “Indian National Movement”, http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-
almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/indian-national-movement
 Arun K tangnu, “Indian Women Past and Present”, http://creative.sulekha.com/indian-
women-past-and-present_499275_blog
 Ganamukhi, THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE NON COORPORATION
MOVEMENT, Golden Research Thoughts
 Usha Mehta, WOMEN IN THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT,
http://www.indianetzone.com/7/women_quit_india_movement.htm

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