Page 46 - NIS English 16-30,April 2023

UJJWALA

MAZUMDAR MANIBHAI DESAI

SHE PLOTTED THE SHOOTING DEDICATED LIFE TO FREEDOM

OF GOVERNOR ANDERSON STRUGGLE AND RURAL

Born: November 21, 1914; Died: April 25, 1992 DEVELOPMENT

ndia's famous woman revolutionary, Ujjwala Born: April 27, 1920; Died: November 14, 1993
IMajumdar, was born on November 21, 1914, in Dhaka
(Bangladesh). Ujjwala's father was always willing anibhai Desai, a close associate of Mahatma
to assist revolutionaries, which influenced Ujjwala. MGandhi, was born on April 27, 1920, in Surat, Gujarat.
This was why she had been endowed with bravery Manibhai Bhimbhai Desai was his full name. He has
qualities since childhood. She began assisting the been a top athlete in sports and in the classroom since
country's freedom fighters since she was a child. he was a child. Manibhai had had a sense of simplicity
Ujjwala had mastered the art of eluding the police. She since childhood. Because his family wanted him to be
began actively participating in independence-related an engineer, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree
activities. Later, she became a member of the "Bengal in 1942. Manibhai Desai actively participated in the
Volunteers," a radical organisation. freedom movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi. When
After joining 'Bengal Volunteers,' she was introduced the Quit India movement began in 1942, Manibhai Desai
to another freedom-loving organisation, 'Deepali Sangh,' actively participated, for which the British imprisoned
and became a member. During this time, the 'Yugantar him. After being released from prison, he decided
Dal' was also working for the country's independence, that instead of becoming an engineer, he would work
and Ujjwala Majumdar also became a member of for village development. With Mahatma Gandhi, he
this organisation. Ujjwala was introduced to many discussed the importance of rural development. This
revolutionaries, particularly women revolutionaries, meeting was critical. Mahatma Gandhi sent Manibhai
after joining these organisations. Desai to Uruli Kanchan, near Pune, in 1946. He took
Meanwhile, in order to protest the British tyranny and and promoted many initiatives in the interest of rural
oppressive policies, Ujjwala planned to assassinate people. These include the establishment of drought-
Governor Anderson. The revolutionaries were given the prone water distribution systems, rural schools, and
task of firing on Anderson as part of the plan. Ujjwala joint cooperative agriculture societies with the specific
Mazumdar was not present when Anderson was shot on goal of promoting vocational training in Uruli Kanchan.
May 8, 1934, but a warrant was issued for her arrest. After Manibhai Desai had pledged before Mahatma
ten days, she was apprehended by police, in Calcutta Gandhi that he would work for the economic and social
and taken to the Darjeeling Jail. She was sentenced to development of poor villagers for the rest of his life.
life in prison by the special tribunal. Her sentence was He faithfully carried out the resolution. He dedicated
later reduced, and she was released in 1939. his life to the Indian freedom struggle, Gandhian
She remained active in India's freedom movement ideology, achieving Gram Swaraj, and villagers' social
even after this incident. When Mahatma Gandhi and economic development. Manibhai Desai founded
announced the Quit India Movement, she joined it. the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation in 1967,
Ujjwala was arrested and imprisoned again as a result giving life to Bapu's cow-protection philosophy.
of her activism in this movement. She was released Manibhai Desai was awarded the Padma Shri by the
after about a year and a half in 1946. In 1948, Ujjwala central government in recognition of his contributions.
married revolutionary litterateur Bhupendra Kishore Manibhai Desai was also awarded the 'Magsaysay
Rai. Even after the country's independence, she Award' in 1982 for his dedicated service. He died on
remained active and worked to rebuild it. November 14, 1993, in Pune.

44 New India Samachar April 16-30, 2023