Umabai Kundapur

Umabai Kundapur (1891–1992) was an Indian freedom fighter from Karnataka. She founded Bhagini Mandal, a group of freedom fighters. She was the head of the women's wing of the Hindustani Seva Dal founded by N. S. Hardikar.

Birth and education
Umabai born on March 25, 1892, into a Brahmin family in Kundapur, had the childhood name Bhavani Golikeri. Her father was Golikeri Krishna Rao and her mother was Tungabai. In 1898, Umabai and her brothers moved to the city of Mumbai.

Personal life
At the age of 13, she married Sanjeeva Rao Kundapur in 1905. She had five brothers.

Life
Umabai was inspired by the procession of Bal Gangadhar Tilak's funeral on August 1, 1920, to join the freedom struggle. After witnessing the service of the Congress during those times, she made the decision to join the freedom struggle.

When Mahatma Gandhi announced the Non-Cooperation Movement on September 4, 1920, Umabai, along with her brother Raghurama Rao and husband Sanjeeva Rao, took part in the movement. She promoted the use of Khadi, going from house to house to encourage women to participate in the fight for freedom. Additionally, she wrote and performed numerous plays that revolved around the movement with the aim of inspiring others to join the cause.

After the death of her husband Sanjeeva Rao Kundapur due to tuberculosis on 28 March 1923, Umabai, who was 31 years old at the time, decided to return to Hubli with her father-in-law. It was during this period that Ananda Rao established the Karnataka Press in Hubballi. Following her return, Umabai became involved in the Hindustani Seva Dal (HSD) founded by Hardikar in 1923, with the aim of motivating Indian youth to participate in the freedom struggle. Not only did she join the association, but she was also elected as the leader of the women's wing. Additionally, Umabai took on the responsibility of overseeing the Tilak Kanya School, which was originally established by Hardikar.

Umabai, an active participant in the freedom struggle, was arrested by the British government in 1932 and imprisoned in Yerawada jail for a period of 4 months. While in jail, Umabai received the news of hes father-in-law Ananda Rao's death. The loss of Ananda Rao, who had been a strong supporter, deeply affected Umabai. Sarojini Naidu, also imprisoned at the time, provided encouragement to Umabai and advised that all activities related to the struggle should be conducted covertly. Upon Umabai's release, she found that the British government had seized the Karnataka Press, established by Ananda Rao, and the Tilak Kanya School had been shut down. Additionally, Bhagini Mandal, an NGO founded by Ananda Rao, was deemed illegal. Despite these setbacks, Umabai continued to provide refuge to freedom fighters in her modest home.

During the Quit India Movement in 1942, the freedom struggle intensified. Many underground fighters sought shelter at Umabai's residence, where he provided them with food and accommodation while evading the British authorities.