Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam' was born out of the devotion and generosity of several people who were fired by the breath of nationalism that Mahatma Gandhiji brought with him when he visited Madras in the 1920s.
'Amjad Bagh', residence of one of the advocates of Madras - Srinivasa Iyengar - became the meeting place of national leaders. Bapu's momentous visit worked like magic in the young mind of Ambujammal, the daughter of Srinivasa Iyengar. Ambujammal claimed Gandhiji to be her foster father.
Her mind and heart were fired with dreams of a destiny, that had yet not been in the purview of Indian women of the time. She flung herself into social work, organising welfare schemes for destitute women and imparting vocational training to make them self-supportive. She started Balwadi programmes for the orphans, providing them with food and basic education.
She studied Hindi, and taught it, as Bapu emphasised that it was an important requisite for linking the people of India.
Although the young girl had no formal education after her twelfth year she was a self-taught person. Around this time, Ambujammal authored her book Naan Kanda Bharatham. Her other publications include My Father and In Memory of the Mahatma.
The Women's Indian Association that was earlier started by Annie Besant, was now revived, and with women like Ambujammal, Rukhmini Lakshmipathy, Kodanaiyikiammal, Radhabai Subbraya, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, Tara Cherian, Sarojini Varadappan and others, the association received a new lease of life.
Ambujammal helped organise the Congress Session at Avadi.
She served as Chairperson of the State Social Welfare Board from 1961-64 wherein she was instrumental in extending her social welfare programmes throughout the State. Ambujammal was awarded the Padmasri in 1964. Gandhiji's visit led to many more women and young girls joining the freedom struggle. One such was Vasumati, the wife of M.S. Ramaswamy, an advocate and a Government Pleader. Her 80 years have not yet withered her natural beauty. There is a gleam in her eyes, and excitement in her voice as she recaptures those youthful days when Gandhiji visited Madras and held a camp for 45 days at the Hindi Prachar Sabha.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment