Nazrul and Journalism (contd-1)

The 1919 Amritsar massacre, known alternatively as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre after the Jallianwala Bagh (Garden) in the northern Indian city of Amritsar, was ordered by General R.E.H. Dyer. On Sunday April 13, 1919, which happened to be 'Baisakhi', one of Punjab's largest religious festivals, fifty British Indian Army soldiers, commanded by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, began shooting at an unarmed gathering of men, women, and children without warning. Dyer marched his fifty riflemen to a raised bank and ordered them to kneel and fire. Dyer ordered soldiers to reload their rifles several times and they were ordered to shoot to kill. Official British Raj sources estimated the fatalities at 379, and with 1,100 wounded. Civil Surgeon Dr Williams DeeMeddy indicated that there were 1,526 casualties. However, the casualty number quoted by the Indian National Congress was more than 1,500, with roughly 1,000 killed.
Nazrul wrote a book, "Yugabani",  recommending  to construct a monument in the name of The Great Hero Dyer inscribing "Dyer's Smritistanbha" and for this the book was banded .
Nazrul used to write highly againstthe oppression of British Imperialism on Indian people . In 1920, Nazrul wrote an essay in Nabayug on " Who is responsible for the murder of Muhajirin" and for this reason the deposit money of Nabayug was confiscated in Aug-Sept.
Fazlul Haq tried a lot, collected Rs.2,000/- and deposited it again the money for re-publishing Nabayug. Nazrul had cut of his connection ith Nabayug in the month of Dec 1920, Muzaffar Ahmed continued for another one month and gave up his connection with Nabayug in jan 1921.

Nazrul and Journalism

In the background of Non-cooperation movement and Khilafat Movement Muzaffar Ahmed and Nazrul Islam decided to publish a daily news  paper . In this respect they contacted leaders of Congress and Khilafat . They also approached the advocate of Calcutta High Court, A.K.Fazlul Haq for extending his cooperation in this regard. It was a desire nourished by Haq Saheb to publish a dsily news paper. He assured them of all possible help.Fazlul Haq had a English press and he purchased a set of Bengali type for publication of the news paper. The name of the paper was fixed to be "Nabayug". The chief editor of the paper became A.K.Fazlul Haq.  Muzaffar Ahmed and Nazrul Islam became  Active Joint Editors.daily Nabayug was first published on 12th July 1920 which was 20" inches in breadth, 26" inches in length of one sheet of paper and cost One Paisa only. The address of the press of the paper was 22 Turner Street and the office of publication was 6 Turner Street, the ground floor of the residence of Fazlul Haq. For convenience Muzaffar Ahmed and Nazrul left the office of the Bangiya Muslim Sahitya Samity and came 8 Turner Street . For a short period they stayed in the office of Nabayug. Just at the publication of Nabayug, it became popular among both the communities, Hindus and Muslims. the demand of the paper was gradually increasing which became impossible to cope with. The role played by Nazrul was solely responsible for this popularity of Nabayug.. Muzaffar Ahmed wrote;
"... it is due to the powerful writing of Nazrul .....".      

Nazrul and Rabindranath- 1921

Nazrul and Muzaffar Ahmed left the office building of Muslim Sahitya Samity and changed their  abode to at first Marquise Lane and then in the office of Naba Yug at 6, Tarner Streetand lastly to 8A, Tarner Street, a rented house, for their convenience of publication of Naba Yug. But that place also was becoming full with the presence of different persons of poets and litterateurs.Poet Mohitlal Majumdar (1888-1952) was one who used to come regularly. He was then a teacher of Calcutta High School of Nebutala. He wrote an article in Moslem Bharat saying high of the poem Bidrohi of Nazrul. Oneday Nazrul along with Pabitra Gangopadhyay went to the residence of Mohit Babu at Amhirst Street to see him and they had long discussion on different topics of literature. From that day on , Nazrul became a close associate of Mohit Babu. Mohit expressed his likings and dislikings relating to the other poets and litterateurs. He showed his dislikings about the magazine "Pravasi". Nazrul too did not send any of his writings to Pravasi till he had good relation with Mohitbabu..
At that time there were two groups amongst the litterateurs. One was "Bharatir Adda" assembled at the office of the Bharati, and the other was "Gajendar adda" . In the former one, the poets and other artists and litterateurs  used to assemble there were Atul Prasad sen, Dinendranath Thaskur, Abanindranath Thakur, Satyendranath Datta, Charuchandra Bandyopadhyay, Sisir Bhaduri, Hemendra kumar Roy etc, and in the  latter the persons used to come were Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Nirmalendu Lahiri, Abanindranath Thakur, Ostad Karamatullah Khan, Satyendranath Datta, Premankuratirtha, Narendra Dev, Dhurjati Prasad etc. Nazrul used  to come in both the Addas. In GajendraChandra Ghosh's Adda at 38 Cornwallis Street Nazrul was introduced with Satyendranath Datta. Pabitra Gangopadhyay described the introduction between the two poets in his book ," Chalaman Jiban". Satyen datta said, " you have brought new wave in the literature. We are insignificant, you have  already impressed Gurudev." Nazrul enquired whether he has read any writings of Nazrul. Satyen Datta replied, "to speak you frankly , Gurudev asked me whether  I have read any poem of Narul." In his opinion, as Gurudev said, Nazrul was bringing harmony in literaure, a new avenue of cultural coordination.
Nazrul met Rabindranath some times in July/August of 1921 at  Jorasanko. As usual, Nazrul appeared before Rabindranath with his common dialogue " De garur ga Dhuiye" astonishing everybody present there.
The two poets became gradually close and closer.

Nazrul in Calcutta-1920

At the beginning of his life at Calcutta, Nazrul established himself as a litterateur as well he earned popularity in singing songs. He was invited to sing in all assembly of Hindus and Muslims, students and clerks and in different schools and colleges. He also used to sing in family gatherings. This time he was singing songs, mostly of Rabindranath Tagore. He had close contact with  Haridas Chattopadhyay, the then famous artist of Rabindrasangeet. Muzaffar Ahmed mentioned in his book, "Nazrul Smritikatha (memoirs of Nazrul)", " he had , at that time, many songs of Rabindranath by heart for which he was called Hafiz of Rabindrasangeet." 
Nazrul  had attended many music conference along with Haridas Chattopadhyay. Thus he made himself popular as a litterateur and as an artist."

Nazrul and Different Magazines

After coming to Calcutta Nazrul had talks with Afjal- Ul-Haq Saheb to supply writings in " Moslem Bharat". At that time the first copy of Moslem Bharat was going to press for publication. Nazrul expressed his desire to publish a "Patra-upanyas" ( a novel in letter). The name of the Patra-upanyas was "Bandhan Hara". The novel was started publishing from the first issue of Moslem Bharat [ Baishakh 1327, (1920)] and ended in 8th issue..


Nazrul's creative personality was visible since his boy hood when he was in Leto group and when he was in teens and a student of High school his creativity was remarkably mention able. After going to Army he devoted himself full fledged in writing stories, poems, novels, songs etc and send them to different magazines from Karachi and other places. At that time his writings was published in Saugat, Bangiya Musalman sahitya Patrika, Pravasi, Nur etc.
Nazrul was also deeply attached with Moslem Bharat . Moslem Bharat published Nazrul's "Biraha bidhura", Hafizer Gazal, Bangiya Muslim Sahitya Patrika published  short story Sanjher Tara, Narayan Patrika published the song "Pathik ogo chalte pathe' with notation of Mohini Sengupta. In Falgun issue of Moslem Bharat two songs of Nazrul was published; 1. Marami, 2. sneha Bhitu. The first song was Ore e kon Sneha suradhani,  In Chaitra Sankhya  the second song was published "amar Gharer Pash Diye".
In the first year Nazrul had written Poetries, Short Stories, Songs, Some famous poems of Nazrul when he was 22 years old, are Bodhan, Shat il Arab, badal prater sharab, Agamoni, Kheya parr Tarani, korbani, Moharam, Abelay, Fateh -e- doyaj-daham. These were published within seven months only. These were published before publication of "Bidrohi, and Kamal Pasa and made Nazrul popular.
Nazrul could never forget the opportunity rendered by Bangiya Muslim Sahitya Samity at the beginning of his carrer in literature. He showed his gratitude in his presidential address in the Silver Jubilee celebration of Bangiya Muslim Sahitya Samity in 1941. He said;
" If the Sahitya Samity had not given me the shelter, I would have floated like a straw."     
         

Nazrul in army ( 1917- 1919)

When Nazrul was reading in Class X and his pretext examination was going on, the WWI was top of its situation.The Indian army consisting of soldiers of all provinces, excepting, Bengal, was fighting in different battle fields along with the allied powers. After 1857, the Bengsli Regiment was disbanded as they had initiated the Great Revolution. The British authority was forced to start the Bengali Regiment after repeated demands and the participation in the army became a sign of patriotism. Nazrul and Sailajananda decided to join the army. Nazrul got through but Sailajananda did not pass the preliminary test .
Nazrul joined the Bengali Battalion , 49th Battalion. Within a very short period Nazrul was promoted to the Quarter Master and Posted in Karachi.
It was presumed that Nazrul would sit for the final Matriculation Examination and pass the exam. with credit.

       While in Karachi Nazrul devoted himself , in his leisure time, into his literary work  and wrote several books as shown in the margin.
After the war the Bengali Regiment was disbanded on 20th March, 1920 . A few months earlier Nazrul took leave for a week and went to Churulia. He also stayed at that time in Calcutta . He met his friend Sailajananda as well as with Muzzaffar Ahmed in 32 college Street.
At first Nazrul took his shelter in the commune of Sailajananda but he could not stay there as he was a Mohammedan. He then went to the office of Bangiya Musalman Sahitya Samity at 32 College Street.
This is to be noted that having returned from the Army Nazrul got an interview from the office of the Burdwan District Magistrate for the post of Sub-register. But he was prevented to appear in the interview and advised to go on with his writings. Nazrul also agreed and took the same path. In the first month of his life of litterateur his following books were published;

Nazrul learned  Persian Language from Hafiz Nurunnabir while reading in Searsole School. There was a Panjabi Moulabi Saheb, a pundit in Persian Literature. Nazrul got opportunity of reading Kabyas of Persian poets with his assistance. Nazrul in his  preface note of "Rubaiyat-e-hafiz" wriotten by him mentioned;

" At that time I joined the Army escaping from my school. It was in the year 1917. I was first introduced with Hafiz in the army. There was a Panjabi Moulabi Saheb in our Bengal Regiment no.49. Once he recited some poems from Deoyan-i-HafizI was so much charmed, that I began to learn Persian language from him and I read almost all the Kabyas of Persian poets from him."

He began translating Gazal of Hafiz in Bengali which was published in the form of a book in 1930. The book "Rikter Bedan" was written by him  in Karachi consisting of - "Rikter Bedan", Baunduler Amakahini", "Meher-negar", "Sanjher Tara", :Rakshusi", "Salek", "Swami-Hara" , and "Duranta Pathik".

In Meher-Negar, and Sami-Hara it was found that he quoted some lines of poems written by Rabindranath which reminded that he was fond of Rabindrnath's poem. 

Nazrul in school (contd-2)

Nazrul  had studied in Darirampur School only for one year i.e. 1914.  After returning  his homeland Nazrul tried to get himself admitted in Raniganj Searsole Raj High School in  Raniganj Municipality through one of his friend But when he failed he wrote him a letter.

The  letter written by Nazrul expressing his willingness to get admission   was sent to the Headmaster of the school by the friend to whom it was written. The headmaster became charmed to notice the language and  excellency of the letter and admitted him in Searsole Raj School . He also awarded him free studentship and a stipend of merit.

Nazrul was admitted in Mathrun School in 1911 in Class VI, in Darirampur School in 1914 in Class VII, and in Searsole Raj High School, Raniganj Municipality,  in 1915 in Class VIII. He read there for three  years, 1915 to 1917 till he went to the Army. Nazrul wrote about this school in his first published book,
" Baunduler Atmakahini"
Nazrul stayed in a "Muslim Boarding House' while studying in Searsole Raj High School. The boarding house was  in a house made up of mud. Nazrul was living there along with four Mohammedan students. Nazrul was exempted to pay school fees or boarding charges which was borne by Rajbari. He was also given a stipend of Rs. 7/- pm as his pocket expenses. Nazrul's credential, as a student, was explained by his most intimate friend Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay in his book "keu bhole, keu bhole na". He wrote,
" Nazrul was  a student capable of securing scholarship. He stood first each year in his class. Once he got double promotion."
While studying in Searsole Raj School Nazrul was influenced by one of his teacher, Nibaran Chandra Ghatak in revolutionary activities of Jugantar Dal. Nazrul, in later life, wrote in his book, "Kuhelika " where he painted a teacher Pramatta with revolutionary zeal. Moreover, he got his first chance of expressing himself in the verse form in Searsole Raj School. He was always entrusted with the job of writing  farewell address of all teachers who left the school.

Nazrul tried to put his name in disguise in the poem written as a farewell address. he wrote a poem "Karun Gnatha" in the farewell of the teacher Bholanath Swarnakar, B.A.,(pic-1)
He wrote another poem in the address of Harishankar Misra,B.A.,(pic-2)

Nazrul had three friends in Searsole School, namely, 1. Saijananda Mukhopadhyay, 2. sailendra Kumar Ghosh (referred earlier), and 3. Abdul Jabbar.
Nazrul  called Sailajananda by the name "Saila". But he was not a student of Searsole School. He was a student of Raniganj School. They were very intimate friend. They used to meet every day, had exchange of thoughts by telling stories, sometimes they passed time by walking in Grand Trunk Road or on the rail line of E.I.R., sometimes in Sishy Saal forest. Some times they used took spicy

flattened rice, from the hawker in the boarding house, sometimes they learnt how to swim, sometimes they went to Christian Saheb's banglo for learning English etc. At that time Nazrul was writing Stories and Saila was writing poems. Later, Nazrul took up to write poems when opportunity was available.
Saijananda described about Nazrul's  writing of poems in his book, " Amar Bandhu Nazrul" which was published in, ( Haraf Prakashani, Kolkata 1375).(pic-3).
 

Nazrul in school (contd-1)

Probably, in 1911, Nazrul got admitted in Class VI in Nabin Chandra Institute in the village Mathrun by the side of the bank  Ajoy River within Mangalkot Thana of Burdwan district. The then Headmaster of the school was the renowned poet Kumudranjan Mullick (Kumud Ranjan Mullick (1883-1970) was a Bengali writer and poet. He was one of the most eminent poets of the Tagore era of Bengali literature. He was an early mentor and coach to the famous poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.) .  ( This picture of Kumud Ranjan Mallick is kept in Bangiya Sahitya parishd and drawn by an artist , probably, the name is Bhutnath mukherjee) He wrote about Nazrul,
" I became a teacher at the age of 23 in this Mathrun English High School. Nazrul was reading in Class VI at that time. The boy was lively and handsome. Whenever I entered in his class to inspect, he bowed down his head before me. I petted him smiling. He was timid but looked upon his headmaster respectfully. At his early age he attracted my attention.His classmates also loved him. But he did not continue his study in this school
. It appeared that he left the  school within a year."
The cause of his discontinuation of studies was on financial ground. He was again searching for job. He joined in the team of Music party of Basudev. Here he supplied them with lyrics and sometimes he had to sing songs by biting drums. On hearing his song in the rehearsal of Basudev, a Christian Railway Guard of Andal Branch liked him and put him in a service . His duty was to bring lunch for the guard from Prasadpur and to fetch him from railway station to Prasadpur on foot of a distance of one and half mile through rough unpolished path. Moreover, he had to bring foreign liquor by purchasing from Asansol and to sing before him. Anyway, instead of him, his wife Hirannaprava listened his songs frequently.Later on, the younger brother of the lady, Sailendra Kumar Ghosh became his classmate in Siarsole School.
It was known from the book "Keu bhole, keu bhole na " written by Nazrul's intimate friend  Sailajaranjan Mukhopadhyay that he was dismissed from the service for no fault of his own with an advance payment of two month's salary @ Rs.25/-. Narzul left prasadpur not to came back again.
He then took up a job in a "tea and bread" shop in Asansol in that year, i.e. 1911. At that time Nazrul's salary was Re 1/-with food but no shelter. Nazrul passed his night under the staircase of the adjacent twostoried building.The building belonged to the Police inspector Kazi Rafizullah. He became moved, one day,  on hearing the play of instrumental music of Nazrul.   He came to learn the distress story of Nazrul and  employed him for his domestic work. Kazi Rafizullah and his wife Samsunnesa had no children till then. they loved Nazrul and on sympathy they send him to their elder brother Sakhayatullah in his home land for continuing his study.
He was admitted in Class VII in Darirampur School in 1914 near the home-village  of Rafizullah Saheb after about two years of leaving the Mathrun School .At that time Nazrul stayed in the village Kazi-rasimla from where he had to go five miles everyday to attain his school. Nazrul got freestudentship in Darirampur School His teacher Mahimchandra Khasnabis said that Nazrul was found inattentive in his class but when a question was asked he could answer correctly. Once in the school, a Variety Performance was  held and Nazrul recited two poems of Rabindranath Tagore, 1. Dui Bigha jami, 2. Puratan Bhritya. and charmed everybody.Nazrul was a good student he always secured   1st or 2nd position in his class. After being promoted to class VIII, he went to his village. Nazrul read in Darirampur school for one year and that was his first introduction with East Bengal which deepened in due course. Nazrul, in his life time with good physical and mental condition, did not go in Trisal or Dariramur but it is found in his book "Agnigiri".     .

129. Kaji Nazrul Islam

Nazrul was born in Churulia of Asansol subdivision in Burdwan District on Tuesday,24th May,1899 ( 11th Jaistha 1306). He was born of Kazi Fakir Ahmed and Jaheda Khatun after the death of four sons of his parents. Fakir Ahmed was married second time after the death of his first wife who kept  four sons and one daughter. Nazrul had six brothers and two sisters of which two brothers and one sister were of same parents. The elder brother of Nazrul was Kazi Sahebjan and the younger brother was Kazi Ali Hosen. His own sister was Umme Kulsum. The pet name of Nazrul was Dukhu Mina.
The ancestors of Nazrul held from Hazipur of Patna. During the reign of Shah Alam they came to Churulia of Burdwan district. During the reign of Mughal they were gifted some land property because one of them was a judge of the district court.
  Nazrul's father and grand father maintained their families by serving the local mosque and the guest house. Kazi Fakir Ahmed was a secular person and had deep regards for Bengali and Persian literature. Nazrul inherited these qualities from his father.
 Nazrul's father died in 1908 when he was 9 years old and a student of lower Madrasa. After the death of his father their economic condition deteriorated in such a way that they could not get their full meals. As a result Nazrul had to find avenues for their lively hood.  Nazrul had strong memory and sharp intelligence.
From his very childhood Nazrul had strong love for music of different forms e.g. Kirtan, Kathakata, Jatra .w    He loved to get in contact with Baul, Suffi, Darbesh, and sages. His simplicity also attracted them and they called him " Tara Khyapa" or "Najarali".
At the age of ten i.e., in 1909 Nazrul passed the lower primary (class IV) from the Junior Madrasa of his village.
He served in this Junio Madrasa for one year as a step to remove his family's economic stringency. He was also seen to take up Mohammedan priest in the adjacent villages. Sometimes he took up caretaker job in the Guest house of Hazi Pahloyan like his father.He also performed the job of a priest in the mosque.
Nazrul first learned Parsee from his teacher of Junior Madrasa named Moulabi Kazi Fajle Ahmed. He had a paternal uncle, named Kazi Bajle Karim who was a great learned man  in Persee. He tried to write verses.At the inspiration, encouragement and guidance Nazrul attempted to write poems in Bengali of Muslim connotation and mingled with Arbi, Persee, and Urdu . The best example of which is

This was the beginning of his writing poetry.His best friend Sailajananda said that the first poetry written by Nazrul was " Rajar garh" (King's Fort.).

At this time Nazrul joined in group of "Leto-Nach", an entertaintainment of song mixed with dance in a dual fight with another team. Nazrul supplied the team with his written lyrics. The best lyric writer was termed as " Goda Kabi" ( best lyricist). Nazrul was so much promising that the  "Goda Kabi" of the time termed him as "Byangachi" who in due course would take the shape of a snake. K

Anwarul Islam said about Nazrul's early life, " only for keeping his family Nazrul joined the "Leto group" for his economic depression. His age at that time was 12/13." Kazi Anoarul Islam, one of his relatives in an essay " Nazruler Balya Jiban" wrote, " Nazrul's  family income at that tiome was not good and he had to join the "Leto Group" his income. The quality of Nazrul's creation was so high that he was selected in three villages, 1. Nimsa, 2. Chrulia and 3. Rakhakhura for supplying materials for their Leto Group. This time he wrote several historic and mythological stories such as "Meghnad Badh". His first lesson of writing poems, and singing lyrics was in this "Leto Group."....." But Nazrul did not continue for long time in these  Leto Group. 

128. Kasturba Gandhi (1869-1944)

Kasturba Mohandas Gandhi  was the wife of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, marrying him in an arranged marriage.

 and was born on 11 April 1869 in a small city Porbandar at the sea side of Gujrat.. Her father was a businessman. At the age of 13 she was married to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi of same age. He also was born in 1869.She was an ideal wife for her 62 years of married life. She acted as a shadow of her husband throughout his political life.
She addressed meetings in different  parts of India to popularise "boycot of foreign goods" and Khadi movement. She first addressed  a meeting of females in 1922 at Punjab. At the ndws of her son's arrest she said that twenty thousands boys of Mother India were in jail .

  Then how she could say anything on her son's behalf.

Early life and background 

Born to Gokuladas and Vrajkunwerba Kapadia of Porbandar, little is known of her early life. Kasturba was married to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in an arranged marriage in 1882.
When Gandhi left to study in London in 1888, she remained in India to raise their newborn son Harilal Gandhi. She had three more sons: Manilal Gandhi, Ramdas Gandhi, and Devdas Gandhi.

Political career 

Working closely with her husband, Kasturba Gandhi became a political activist fighting for civil rights and Indian independence from the British. After Gandhi moved to South Africa to practice law, she travelled to South Africa in 1897 to be with her husband. From 1904 to 1914, she was active in the Phoenix Settlement near Durban. During the 1913 protest against working conditions for Indians in South Africa, Kasturba was arrested and sentenced to three months in a hard labour prison. Later, in India, she sometimes took her husband's place when he was under arrest. In 1915, when Gandhi returned to India to support indigo planters, Kasturba accompanied him. She taught hygiene, discipline, health, reading, and writing.

Health and death 

Kasturba Gandhi with Mohandas Gandhi in the 1930s.

Kasturba Gandhi and her husband Mohandas Gandhi (1902)

Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Stone (One on the right) with the memorial stone of Mahadev Desai in Aga Khan Palace, Pune where she died.

Kasturba suffered from chronic bronchitis due to complications at birth. While her husband could move his mind from one thing to another, she would sometimes brood over troubles. Stress from the Quit India Movement's arrests and hard life at Sabarmati Ashram caused her to fall ill. Kasturbai fell ill with bronchitis which was subsequently complicated by pneumonia.
In January 1944, Kasturba suffered two heart attacks. She was confined to her bed much of the time. Even there she found no respite from pain. Spells of breathlessness interfered with her sleep at night. Yearning for familiar ministrations, Kasturba asked to see an Ayurvedic doctor. After several delays(which Gandhi felt were unconscionable), the government allowed a specialist in traditional Indian medicine to treat her and prescribe treatments. At first she responded—recovering enough by the second week in February to sit on the verandah in a wheel chair for a short periods, and chat then came a relapse. The doctor said Ayurvedic medicine could do no more for her.

To those who tried to bolster her sagging morale saying "You will get better soon," Kasturba would respond, "No, my time is up." Even though she had a simple illness. Shortly after seven that evening, Devdas took Gandhi and the doctors aside. The doctors pleaded fiercely that Ba be given the life saving medicine, though Gandhi refused. It was Gandhi, after learning that the penicillin had to be administered by injection every four to six hours, who finally persuaded his youngest son to give up the idea. Gandhi didn't believe in modern medicine. After a short while, Kasturba stopped breathing. She died in Gandhi's arms while both were still in prison, in Poona (now Pune).

127. Kalyani Das, Bhattacharya ( 1907-1983)

Kalyani Das was born in Cuttak on 28.5.1907. Her father was a renowned teacher Benimadhab Das. They were inhabitants of Chittagung . While she was reading in M.A. in Calcutta Univrsity, she organised the ladies front "Chatri Sangha" of the political party. She was well connected with Revolutionary Dinesh Majumdar and Subhas Chandra Bose. She was arrested while participating in Civil dis-obedience movement in 1930. She was detained for eight months for organising an illegal meeting in Hazra Park in 1932. She also detained in jail for 5 years from 1933 for participating revolutionary work.
After being released she was married with Nirmalendu Bhattacharya. In 1933 she was detained in Hijli and Midnapore jail and was released in 1938. She published a political monthly paper "Mandira". In 1940, she along with her husband joined Civil Liberty movement in Bombay and was detained for three months in jail.During the famine she had done many relief work through "Bengal Relief Committee.The revolutionary Bina Das Bhowmik washer younger sister. She wrote an autobiography, "Jiban Adyayan.".

126. Kalpana Dutta, Joshi (1913-1995)

Kalpana Datta (Bengali: কল্পনা দত্ত) (27 July 1913 – 8 February 1995) (later Kalpana Joshi) was an Indian independence movement activist and a member of the armed resistance movement led by Surya Sen, which carried out the Chittagong armoury raid in 1930.Communist Party of India and married Puran Chand Joshi, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of India in 1943.

Early life

Kalpana Datta was born at Sripur(Boalkhali Upazila) in Chittagong District of Bengal Province in British India now Bangladesh . After passing her matriculation examination in 1929 from Chittagong, she went to Calcutta and joined the Bethune College for graduation in Science. Soon, she joined the Chhatri Sangha (Women Students Association).

Armed resistance movement

The Chittagong armoury raid was carried out on 18 April 1930. Kalpana joined the "Indian Republican Army, Cattagram branch", the armed resistance group led by Surya Sen in May 1931. In September, 1931 Surya Sen entrusted her along with Pritilata Waddedar to attack the European Club in Chittagong. But a week before the attack, she was arrested while carrying out reconnaissance of the area. She went underground after release on bail. On 17 February 1933 the police encircled their hiding place and Surya Sen was arrested but Kalpana was able to escape. She was arrested on 19 May 1933.

Trial, transportation and later life 

In the second supplementary trial of Chittagong armoury raid case, Kalpana was sentenced to transportation for life. After her release in 1939, Kalpana graduated from the Calcutta University in 1940 and joined the Communist Party of India. In 1946, she contested in the elections for the Bengal Legislative Assembly as a Communist Party of India candidate from Chittagong but could not win. She died in Calcutta on 8 February 1995.

Personal life 

In 1943, she married Puran Chand Joshi. They had two sons: Chand and Suraj. Chand Joshi was a noted journalist, who worked for the Hindustan Times. He was also known for his work, Bhindranwale: Myth and Reality (1985). Chand's wife Manini (née Chatterjee) penned a book on the Chattagram armoury raid, titled, Do and Die: The Chattagram Uprising 1930-34.

Artistic depictions 

In 2010, Deepika Padukone starred as Kalpana Datta, in a Hindi movie, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, which dealt with the Chittagong armoury raid and its aftermath. Another movie, Chittagong, was released on 12 October 2012, based on the uprising. It was produced and directed by Bedabrata Pain, an ex-NASA scientist.

125. Kartar Singh Sarabha (1896-1015)

Kartar Singh Sarabha (24 May 1896 – 16 November 1915) was an Sikh revolutionary who was amongst the most famous accused in the Lahore conspiracy trial. A leading luminary of the Ghadar Party, Kartar Singh was executed at Lahore in November 1915 for his role in the Ghadar Conspiracy in February 1915.
Kartar Singh Sarabha was born into a Sikh family at village Sarabha in the district of Ludhiana, Punjab in British India,on 24 May 1896. His father's name was Sardar Mangal Singh.His mother's name was sahib kaur. He was still very young when his father died.His grandfather brought him up with great care.After receiving initial education in his own village, Kartar Singh entered the Malwa Khalsa High school at Ludhiana for his matriculation. He was in tenth class when he went to live with his uncle in Orissa where, after finishing high school, he joined college. When he was fifteen, his parents put him on board a ship for America to work there. The ship landed at the American port of San Francisco in January 1912. The American Immigration officer put Indians through rigorous questioning while people of other countries were allowed to pass after slight checks. Kartar Singh asked one of the passengers about this type of behaviour. He told him, "Indians are the citizens of a slave country. As such, they are treated badly." This incident had a great effect on Sarabha.
In 1914, Indians worked in foreign countries either as indentured labourers or soldiers fighting for the consolidation of British rule or extending the boundaries of the British Empire. Kartar enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB), for a degree in chemistry. and also took up the work of picking fruit in orchards. He frequently talked to other Indians about getting his country freed.

The Ghadar Party and Newspaper 

Main article: Ghadar Party

On 21 April 1913, the Indians of California assembled and formed the Ghadar Party (Revolution Party). The aim of the Ghadar Party was to get rid of the slavery of the British by means of an armed struggle and set up a national democratic government. Their slogan was "Put at stake everything for the freedom of the country." On 1 November 1913, the Ghadar Party started printing a paper named Ghadar, which was published in the Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati and Pushto languages. Kartar Singh did all the work for that paper.
This paper was sent to Indians living in all countries throughout the world. The purpose of the paper was to unmask the truth about British rule to Indians, impart military training, and explain in details the methods of making and using weapons and explosives.
Within a short time, the Ghadar Party became very famous through its organ: 'The Ghadar". It drew Indians from all walks of life.
He was a very brave person and Bhagat Singh was inspired by him.

Revolt in the Punjab 

Main article: Hindu–German Conspiracy

with the start of World War I in 1914, the British became thoroughly engrossed in the war effort. Thinking it to be a good opportunity, the leaders of the Ghadar Party published the "Decision of Declaration of War" against the British in issue of 'The Ghadar' dated 5 August 1914. Thousands of copies of the paper were distributed among army cantonments, villages and cities. Kartar Singh reached Calcutta via Colombo on board SS Salamin in November 1914: he accompanied two other Gadhar leaders, Satyen Sen and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle, along with a large number of Gadhar freedom fighters. With a letter of introduction from Jatin Mukherjee, the Jugantar leader, Kartar Singh and Pingle met Rash Behari Bose at Benares to inform him that twenty thousand more Gadhar members were expected very soon. A large number of leaders of the Ghadar Party were arrested by the Government at the ports. In spite of these arrests, a meeting was held by members of the Ghadar Party at Ladhouwal near Ludhiana in which it was decided to commit robberies in the houses of the rich to meet requirements of finance for armed action. Two Ghadris, Waryam Singh and Bhai Ram Rakha were killed in a bomb blast in one such raid.
After the arrival of Rash Behari Bose at Amritsar on 25 January 1915, it was decided on a meeting on 12 February that the uprising should be started on 21 February. It was planned that after capturing the cantonments of Mian Mir and Ferozepur, mutiny was to be engineered near Ambala and Delhi.

Betrayal 

Kirpal Singh, a police informer ('mole') in the ranks of the Ghadar Party had a large number of members arrested on February 19 and informed the Government of the planned revolt. The Government disarmed the native soldiers due to which the revolt failed.
After the failure of the revolution-, the members who had escaped arrest decided to leave India . Kartar Singh, Harnam Singh Tundilat, Jagat Singh etc. were asked to go to Afghanistan and they did make a move towards that area. But his conscience did not permit him to run away when all his comrades had been held. On 2 March 1915, He came back with two friends and went over to Chak No. 5 in Sargodha where there was a military stud and started propagating rebellion amongst the armymen. Risaldar Ganda Singh had Kartar Singh, Harnam Singh Tundilat, and Jagit Singh, arrested from Chak No. 5, district Lyallpur.

Verdict and execution 

He soon became the symbol of martyrdom and many were influenced from his bravery and sacrifice. Bhagat Singh, another great revolutionary of Indian freedom, regarded Kartar Singh as his guru, friend and brother. A statue of him was erected in Ludhiana, and Punjabi novelist Nanak Singh wrote a novel called Ikk Mian Do Talwaran based on his life. The judges during his trial were impressed by his intellectual skills, but nevertheless he was sentenced to death by hanging. He wrote a popular song which he would sing and it is said that he died singing it:

"ਸੇਵਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਜਿੰਦੜੀਅੇ ਬੜੀ ਔਖੀ,

ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰਨੀਆਂ ਢੇਰ ਸੁਖੱਲੀਆਂ ਨੇ,

ਜਿੰਨੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਚ ਪੈਰ ਪਾਇਆ,

ਓਹਨਾ ਲੱਖ ਮੁਸੀਬਤਾਂ ਝੱਲੀਆਂ ਨੇ."

Serving ones country is very difficult

It is so easy to talk

Anyone who walked on that path

Must endure millions of calamities.

The judgement in respect of 63 arrested Gadharites was pronounced on 13 September 1915, at the Central Jail, Lahore. In this first conspiracy case of 1914–15, 24 Gadarites were sentenced to death. Kartar Singh was one of them.

The court observed that Kartar Singh was the most dangerous of all the rebels. "He is very proud of the crimes committed by him. He does not deserve mercy and should be sentenced to death". Kartar Singh was hanged in the Central Jail of Lahore on 16 November 1915, aged 19.

124. KamalapatiTripathi *1905-1990)

Kamlapati Tripathi (September 3, 1905- 1990) was Indian National Congress leader from Varanasi. He served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as well as the Union Minister for Railways.
 He was  a writer, journalist, editor and freedom fighter and a senior congress leader.
His father's name was Pandit Narayan Pati Tripathi. He started his career as a journalist working for the daily Hindi newspaper Aaj and later Sansaar. He was also the editor of the two tabloids. He was married at the age of 19 and had 5 children.

Asahyog Andolan 

During 1921 he participated in Asahyog Andolan. He was also an active participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement, for which he was jailed. In 1942 he was on his way to Mumbai to participate in the Qut India Movement when he was arrested and jailed for 3 years.

CM of UP 

He remained Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 4 April 1971 until 12 June 1973. His resignation was a result of the 1973 Provincial Armed Constabulary revolt.

Union Minister for Railways 

He was Union Minister for Railways for two times first from 1975 to 1977 and then briefly in 1980. He presented Railway Budget of India four times: 1975-76, 1976–77, 1980-81 (interim) and 1980-81 (final). Following trains were introduced during his tenure:

• Sabarmati Express
• Ganga Kaveri Express
• Neelambari Exp.
• Varanasi Exp. (Delhi-Lucknow Exp. extended)
• Tamil Nadu Exp.
• Kashi Vishwanath Express.

A 8-kilometer long new Railway line between Telapur-Patanchera was opened during his tenure.

As an author 

He authored following works:

• Bapu aur Bharat,
  • Barcode  : 1990010092576
  • Country  : India
  • Language  : Hindi
  • Edition  : Hardcover (386 pages)
  • Publisher : (1945)

• Bapu aur manawata,
  • Barcode  : 1990010092577
  • Country  : India
  • Language  : Hindi
  • Edition  : Hardcover (413 pages)
  • Publisher : (1945)

• Gandhi and Humanity
  • ISBN  : ISBN 81-7156-335-X / ISBN 978-81-7156-335-7 / ISBN 81-7156-335-X
  • Country  : India
  • Language  : English
  • Edition  : Hardcover (248 pages)
  • Publisher : Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (1993)

• Freedom movement and afterwards
  • ISBN  : ISBN 81-7124-041-0 / ISBN 978-81-7124-041-8
  • Country  : India
  • Language  : English
  • Edition  : Hardcover (228 pages)
  • Publisher : Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan (1989).

123. Kamala Nehru ( 1899-1936)

Kamala Kaul Nehru  (1 August 1899 - 28 February 1936)(Jawaharlal Nehru - leader of the Indian National Congress and the first prime minister of India and the mother of Indira Gandhi.
 She was known to be deeply sincere, highly patriotic, serious minded and
  was a freedom fighter and the wife of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Kamala Nehru was born on 1 August 1899 and brought up in a traditional Kashmiri Brahmin middle class family of old Delhi. Rajpati and Jawaharmal Kaul were Kamala Nehru's parents. Kamala, their eldest child, had two brothers, Chand Bahadur Kaul and the botanist, Kailas Nath Kaul, and a sister, Swaroop Kathju. All her schooling had been at home, under the guidance of a Pandit and a Maulvi.and she did not know a word of English. Nehru's sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, looked upon Kamala with that unique contempt that only an English-speaking Indian can have for the unanglicized.

Marriage

Kamala wedded Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru at the age of 17. Her husband went to a trip in the Himalayas shortly after their marriage. In his autobiography, Jawaharlal Nehru, referring to his wife, stated "I almost overlooked her." Kamala gave birth to a girl child in November 1917, Indira Priyadarshini, who later succeeded her father as prime minister and head of the Congress party. Kamala gave birth to a boy in November 1924, but he lived for a week only.

Nehru in 1918 with wife Kamala and daughter Indira

Contribution to the Indian Freedom Movement

Nehru was involved with the Nehrus in the national movement, that she emerged into the forefront. In the Non Cooperation movement of 1921, she organized groups of women in Allahabad and picketed shops selling foreign cloth and liquor. When her husband was arrested to prevent him delivering a "seditious" public speech, she went in his place to read it out. The British soon realized the threat that Kamala Nehru posed to them and how popular she had become with women's groups all over India. She was thus arrested on two occasions for involvement in freedom struggle activities.

Friends

Kamala Nehru spent some time at Gandhi's ashram with Kasturba Gandhi where she built a close friendship with Prabhavati Devi.

Death and legacy

Kamala died from tuberculosis in Lausanne, Switzerland on 28 February 1936, with her daughter and her mother-in-law by her side. Kamala was cremated at the Lasagna Crematorium. A number of institutions in India, such as Kamla Nehru College, University of Delhi, Kamala Nehru Degree Evening college (Bangalore), Kamala Nehru Park, Kamala Nehru Institute of Technology(Sultanpur), Kamala Nehru Hospital are named after her.

!22. Kamala Chattopadhyay, Mukhopadhyay (1913 -?)

She was born in the district of Howrah. During studying in Mymensingh Vidyamayee Balika Vidyalaya she was inspired in patriotism. She organised  strike in the School on the occasion of arrival of Simon Commission in 1928.As a result the students were aske d to leave the boarding house.She joined in thde civil diobedience movement of 1930. She worked as a poat woman  and as a store keeper of secret materials.She was connected with the plan of escape by the prisoners of the Chittagong Armoury raid from the jail by destroying the jail with the help of Dynamite. She was arrested in 1932 and was detained in Seuri jail and Hijli Jail as a political prisoner. She was released in 1938 and became a member of Communist Party of India at the end of 1938. She devoted herself in the service of famine affected people from Mahila Atmaraksha Samity. In 1944 she organised a "nari Seva Sangha " fo the orphan females. She played an important role in the riot of 1946-47. She contributed regularly in different magazines of freedom struggle and Salvation of Female personnel.  

121. Kamala Dasgupta ( 1907- ?)

Kamala Das Gupta (born 11 March 1907) was an Indian freedom fighter. She was born in 1907, to a bhadralok Vaidya family of Bikrampur in Dhaka, now in Bangladesh; the family later moved to Calcutta, where she got a Master of Arts degree in history from Bethune College, Calcutta University. Nationalist ideas were current among the young people in Calcutta she met at university, and she was filling with a strong desire to take part in the freedom struggle. She tried to quit her studies and enter Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram, but her parents disapproved. Finishing her education, she became friends with some members of the extremist Jugantar Party, and was quickly converted from her original Gandhism to the cult of armed resistance.

In 1930 she left home and took a job as manager of a hostel for poor women. There she stored and couriered, bombs and bomb-making materials for the revolutionaries. She was arrested several times in connection with bombings but was released every time for want of evidence. She supplied Bina Das with the revolver that she used to try to shoot Governor Stanley Jackson in February 1922, and was arrested also on that occasion, but released. In 1933 the British finally succeeded in putting her behind bars. In 1936 she was released and placed under house arrest. In 1938 the Jugantar Party aligned itself with the Indian National Congress, and Kamala also transferred her allegiance to the larger party. Thenceforth she became involved in relief work, especially with the Burmese refugees of 1942 and 1943 and in 1946–47 with the victims of communal rioting. She was in charge of the relief camp at  that Gandhi visited in 1946.

Noakhali

She worked for women’s vocational training at the Congress Mahila Shilpa Kendra and the Dakshineshwar Nari Swabalambi Sadan. She edited the groundbreaking women’s journal Mandira for many years. She authored two memoirs in Bengali, Rakter Akshare (In Letters of Blood, 1954) and Swadhinata Sangrame Nari (Women in the Freedom Struggle, 1963).Kamal Das Gupta - By A. R. Qureshi

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An outstanding accomplishment of Kamal Dasgupta is evident in "Nazarul Geetee" rendered by Mst. Firoza Begum. Her incomparable singing on composition of ..

120. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1903- 1988)

                               Kamaladedevi

                   Chattopadhyay (3 April 1903 – 29 October 1988) was an Indian social reformer and freedom fighter. She is most remembered for her contribution to the Indian independence movement; for being the driving force behind the renaissance of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre in independent India; and for upliftment of the socio-economic standard of Indian women by pioneering the co-operative movement.
Several cultural institutions in India today are a gift of her vision, including the National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Central Cottage Industries Emporium, and the Crafts Council of India.
The doyen of Indian arts and crafts, a person single-handedly responsible for reviving Indian crafts back from oblivion of 200 years of foreign rule where they went without any patronage, be it government or public, due lack of awareness of its richness as well as its accessibility to the common man.

She stressed the significance which handicrafts and cooperative grassroot movements, play in the social and economic upliftement of the Indian people. To this end she withstood great opposition both before and after independence from the power centres, but managed to leave behind a rich and formidable legacy of thriving Indian handicrafts, theatre forms and arts that have now become an integral of our rural economy, across the nation.
Born on 3 April 1903, Kamaladevi was the fourth and youngest daughter of a Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin couple in Mangalore. Her father, Ananthaya Dhareshwar was the District Collector of Mangalore, and her mother Girijabai, from whom she inherited an independent streak, belonged to an aristocratic family from Karnataka. Kamaladevi's grandmother was herself, a scholar of ancient Indian texts, and her a mother was also well-educated though mostly home-educated. Together their presence in the household, gave Kamaladevi a firm grounding and provided benchmarks to respect for her intellect as well as her voice, something that she came to known for in the coming years, when she stood as the voice of the downtrodden as well as the unheard.
Kamaladevi was an exceptional student and also exhibited qualities of determination and courage from an early age. Her parents’ befriended many prominent freedom fighters and intellectuals such as Mahadev Govind Ranade, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and women leaders like Ramabai Ranade, and Annie Besant, this made young Kamaladevi an early enthusiast of the swadeshi nationalist movement.
She studied about ancient Sanskrit drama tradition of Kerala- Kutiyattam, from its greatest Guru and authority of Abhinaya, Nātyāchārya Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār by staying at Guru's home at Killikkurussimangalam.
Tragedy struck early in life, when her elder sister, Saguna, whom she considered a role model, died in her teens, soon after her early marriage, and when she was just seven years old her father died as well. To add to her mother, Girijabai's trouble, he died without leaving a will for his vast property, so according to property laws of the times, the entire property went to her stepson, and they only got a monthly allowance. Girijabai defiantly refused the allowance and decided to raise her daughters on her dowry property.
Her rebellious streak was visible even as a child, when young Kamaladevi questioned the aristocratic division of her mother’s household, and preferred to mingle with her servants and their children wanting to understand their life as well.

First Marriage and widowhood 

In 1917, when was only fourteen years of age, she was married to Krishna Rao, and within two years she was widowed, while she was still at school. According to orthodox Hindu rules of the times, being a widow she was not allowed to continue her education, yet she defiantly moved to Chennai, and continued her education from St. Mary's School, Chennai and finally completed her high school in 1918.

1920s 

Marriage to Harin 

Meanwhile studying at Queen Mary’s College in Chennai, she came to know with Suhasini Chattopadhyay, a fellow student and the younger sister of Sarojini Naidu, who later introduced Kamaladevi to their talented brother, Harin, by then a well-known poet-playwright-actor. It was their mutual interest in the arts, which brought them together.
Finally when she was twenty years old, Kamaladevi married Harindranath Chattopadhyay, much to the opposition of the orthodox society of the times, which was still heavily against widow marriage. Their only son Ramu was born in the following year. Harin and Kamaladevi stayed together to pursue common dreams, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise, and in spite of many difficulties, they were able to work together, to produce plays and skits.
Later she also acted in a few films, in an era when acting was considered unsuitable for women from respectable families. In her first stint, she acted in two silent films, including the first silent film of Kannada film industry, 'Mricchakatika'(Vasantsena) (1931), based on the famous play by Sudraka, also starring Yenakshi Rama Rao, and directed by pioneering Kannada director, Mohan Dayaram Bhavnani. In her second stint in films she acted in a 1943 Hindi film, Tansen, also starring K. L. Saigal and Khursheed, followed by Shankar Parvati (1943), and Dhanna Bhagat (1945).
Eventually after many years of marriage, they parted ways amicably. Here again, Kamaladevi broke a tradition by filing for divorce much to the chagrin of the society, rather than stay in a non-functional marriage.

Move to London 

Shortly after their marriage, Harin left for London, on his first trip abroad, and a few months later Kamaladevi joined him, where she joined Bedford College, University of London, and later she received a diploma in Sociology.

Call of the Freedom Movement 

While still in London, Kamaladevi came to know of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement in 1923, and she promptly returned to India, to join the Seva Dal, a Gandhian organisation set up to promote social upliftment. Soon she was placed in charge of the women's section of the Dal, where she got involved in recruiting, training and organizing girls and women of all ages women across India, to become voluntary workers, 'sevikas'.
In 1926, she met the suffragette Margaret E. Cousins, the founder of All India Women's Conference (AIWC), and was inspired her to run for the Madras Provincial Legislative Assembly. Thus she became the first woman to run for a Legislative seat in India. Though she could campaign for only a few days, she lost only by 200 votes.

The All-India Women's Conference 

In the following year, she founded the All-India Women's Conference (AIWC) and became its first Organizing Secretary. In the following years, AIWC, grew up to become a national organization of repute, with branches and voluntary programs run throughout the nation, and work steadfastly for legislative reforms. During her tenure, she travelled extensively to many European nations and was inspired to initiate several social reform and community welfare programs, and set up educational institutions, run for the woman, and by women. Another shining example in this series was the formation of Lady Irwin College for Home Sciences, a one of its kind college for women of its times, in New Delhi.

1930s 

Later she was a part of the seven member lead team, announced by Mahatma Gandhi, in the famous Salt Satyagraha (1930), to prepare Salt at the Bombay beachfront, the only other woman volunteer of the team was Avantikabai Gokhale. Later in a startling move, Kamaladevi went up to a nearby High Court, and asked a magistrate present there whether he would be interested in buying the 'Freedom Salt' she had just prepared.
On 26 January 1930 she captured the imagination of the entire nation when in a scuffle, she clung to the Indian tricolour to protect it.

First Indian woman to be arrested 

In the 1930s, she was arrested for entering the Bombay Stock Exchange to sell packets of contraband salt, and spent almost a year in prison. In 1936, she became president of the Congress Socialist Party, working alongside Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Minoo Masani. For her, feminism was inseparable from socialism, and where necessary she opposed her own colleagues when they ignored or infringed women’s rights. For instance, when Mahatma Gandhi opposed the inclusion of women in the Dandi March (claiming that Englishmen would not hurt women, just as Hindus would not harm cows), Kamaladevi spoke out against this stand. Some time in the 1920s she and Harindranath separated and divorced by mutual consent; their marriage had largely been one of convenience and they had followed different paths.

1940s 

When World War II broke out Kamaladevi was in England, and she immediately began a world tour to represent India’s situation to other countries and drum up support for Independence after the war.

Post-Independence work 

Independence of India, brought Partition in its wake, and she plunged into rehabilitation of the refugees. Her first task was to set up the Indian Cooperative Union to help with rehabilitation, and through the Union she made plans for a township on cooperative lines. At length Mahatma Gandhi reluctantly gave her permission on the condition that she did not ask for state assistance, and so after much struggle, the township of Faridabad was set up, on the outskirts of Delhi, rehabilitating over 50,000 refugees from the Northwest Frontier. She worked tirelessly helped the refugees to establish new homes, and new professions, for this they were trained in new skills, she also helped setting up health facilities in the new town.
Thus began the second phase of life's work in rehabilitation of people as well their lost crafts, she is considered single handedly responsible for the great revival of Indian handicrafts and handloom, in the post-independence era, and is considered her greatest legacy to modern India.

1950s and beyond 

Around this time she became concerned at the possibility that the introduction of Western methods of factory-based mass production in India as part of Nehru's vision for Indian's development would affect traditional artisans, especially women in the unorganised sectors. She set up a series of crafts museums to hold and archive India's indigenous arts and crafts that served as a storehouse for indigenous known how. This included the Theatre Crafts Museum in Delhi.
She equally promoted arts and crafts, and instituted the National Awards for Master Craftsmen, and a culmination of her enterprising spirit lead to the setting up Central Cottage Industries Emporia, throughout the nation to cater to the tastes of a nation, rising to its ancient glory.
In 1964 she started the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC), Bangalore, under the aegis of Bharatiya Natya Sangh, affiliated to the UNESCO. Its present director is famous danseuse Smt. Maya Rao.
Kamaladevi was a woman ahead of her times, she was instrumental in setting up the All India Handicrafts Board, she was also it's the first chairperson, The Crafts Council of India was also the first president of the World Crafts Council, Asia Pacific Region.
She also set up the National School of Drama and later headed the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and also a member of UNESCO. Her acclaimed autobiography, Inner Recesses and Outer Spaces: Memoir was published in 1986.

Awards and recognition 

The Government of India conferred on her the Padma Bhushan (1955) and later the second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 1987, which are among the highest civilian awards of the Republic of India. She also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1966) for Community Leadership. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya, the highest award of Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, given for lifetime achievement in 1974,.
UNESCO honoured her with an award in 1977 for her contribution towards the promotion of handicrafts. Shantiniketan honoured her with the Desikottama, its highest award. UNIMA (Union Internationals de la Marlonette), International Puppetry organization, also made her their Member of Honour.

Legacy 

In 2007, the Outlook Magazine chose Kamaladevi amongst its list of 60 Great Indians.^[12] and she was India Today's, 100 Millennium People.
Today, the World Crafts Council gives two awards in her memory, the Kamaladevi Awards and the Kamala Sammaan, for exceptional craft persons or to individual for their outstanding contribution to the field of Crafts. Apart from that the Crafts Council of Karnataka, also gives the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Vishwakarma Awards, each year to noteworthy crafts persons.
For over three decades now, Bhartiya Natya Sangha has been awarding the 'Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya Award' for the best play of the year.

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.

Book on Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya 

• 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..