Today, on 13th February, we mark the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, popularly known as the Nightingale of India or Bharat Kokila. The day is now celebrated as the National Women’s Day in India. The lady is known to have served as a ‘first’ on many positions, being a national leader, political activist, a freedom fighter and a celebrated poet.
Sarojini Naidu was born on 13th February, 1879 in Hyderabad to scientist and philosopher father, Aghornath Chattopadhyaya and mother Barada Sundari Devi, typical Bengali Brahmin family. The art of poetry can be said to be adopted from her mother, who wrote in Bengali. Naidu finished her initial education in Chennai and then moved on to Cambridge, London for further studies.
Here is why you should know about the icon Sarojini Naidu, her contributions and the work:
The many ‘firsts’ of Sarojini Naidu
INC’s first woman President
Sarojini Naidu was known to be the first woman President of the Indian National Congress (INC). She had the needed political acumen and high education qualifications to serve at the post in the year 1925. Naidu was also the first Indian woman to preside over an INC conference.
During this period, there were more and more women coming ahead to participate in the nationalist movement. Naidu asserted the role of bringing women to duty to fight against Britain in the independence struggle. She even represented INC in the East African Indian National Congress.
First Woman Governor of a United Province
Sarojini Naidu served as the first woman governor of a state, then United Province of Uttar Pradesh. She was appointed as the Governor as India became independent in 1947. Naidu remained in office until her untimely death due to a cardiac arrest in March 1949 aged 70.
Flagbearer of Indian movements
Sarojini Naidu can be called as a major flagbearer of Quit India movement of 1942, earlier in the Non-cooperation movement too. Being an active leader in those days, she was even imprisoned by the British Government for a period of 21 months. She utilized her poetry and oration to promote the nationalist movement.
Following Gandhi’s arrest in the Dandi March, Naidu was appointed as the new leader of the campaign. Not only in the Quit India movement, Naidu was jaile din 1932 also.
Becoming the Nightingale of India
Sarojini Niadu’s literary work earned her the title of the ‘Nightingale of India’. Mahatma Gandhi gave her the title citing her imagery, the color and lyrical quality in her poetry. Naidu wrote poems on themes of patriotism and tragedy, with work on children as well. One of the most popular poems written by Naidu is the ‘Bazaars of Hyderabad’.
Naidu was only 12, when she wrote the play ‘Maher Muneer’ in Persian that impressed the Nizam of Hyderabad. Her English lyric poetry led Naidu being called as ‘India’s Yeats’. Some of the notable poems include The Golden Threshold, The Bird of Time, The Gift of India, Awake!, and the Feather of Dawn.
Naidu was also a proficient orator, with the skills she started promoting Indian Independence and Women’s rights. Her oratory was well known for her personality and its incorporation of her poetry.
An inter-caste marriage
When we say her to be ‘first’ in many things, it is her marriage also that is said to be ‘groundbreaking’. After returning from England, Sarojini Chattopadhyay got married to Govindaraju Naidu. It was an inter-caste marriage often referred as ‘groundbreaking and scandalous’. Govindaraju hailed from Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh who was a practicing doctor Sarojini met during her stay in England. The marriage was happy and harmonious, approved by both the families.
Women’s Indian Association
Sarojini Naidu also helped in the establishment of Women’s Indian Association in 1917. She had always advocated strongly for women’s rights using her poetry and writing for the same. In her speeches and debates, she always argued that India’s nationalism depended on women’s rights and they were the true nation builders.
With Women’s Indian Association, there was a platform for women where they could demand their rights and discuss their complaints. Naidu represented as the spokesperson of a delegation that discussed about the reforms for women with the Secretary of State for India. She moved a resolution for women’s franchise, where Naidu claimed at the Bombay Special Congress that “right of franchise is a human right and not a monopoly of one sex only”.
Today is the day dedicated to Indian Women who are pushing boundaries and breaking norms, rising to lead at the front. Let us take inspiration from Sarojini Naidu who has many ‘firsts’ accredited to her name that are actually path breaking. This also calls for all women to believe that-
“There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set to the freedom of my mind.” Keep breaking the glass ceiling, the barriers and being a woman, phenomenally!
