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Ramkumari Sharma - The lady who sparked the revolution of August 1942
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In an era of subordination and royalty, the capital city being captured for 3 days and the rule of the people being established can actually be considered very astonishing. But this incident of unprecedented unrest would not have happened had a fearless housewife not stepped out to show indomitable spirit and courage.

Alike other regions in Rajasthan, in Kota, the 1942 movement for independence would have been restricted to processions and speeches only, if this determined lady had not protested in front of the Kotwali in Kota on 13th August.

The revolt in Kota was initiated by students of the local Herbert College, who had started protesting for independence on the streets of Kota from 9th August 1942. Students, government employees and local citizens also joined them. Loaded with enthusiastic slogans like “British – Leave India” & “Do or Die” this organized procession would move from Yaadghar through the streets of Kota to the maidans where the public leaders would deliver their speeches. This routine continued for 13 days and it led to unprecedented public consciousness in Kota and the entire state. Patriotism spread across the nation like fire. Enraged by this and on the orders of the British, the state government in the late hours of 13th August arrested the public committee leader Shambhudayal Saxena, Advocate Beni Madhav Sharma, Zoravar Singh and Pandit Abhinn Hari. These arrests infuriated an otherwise peaceful protest in Kota. The news of these arrests spread like wildfire throughout the area. Mobs of people from every street and society assembled in front of the Kotwali, where the arrested people were being held. Students and people from the area were demanding that their leaders be brought outside and be allowed to make their speeches.

Advocate Beni Madhav’s wife, Ramkumari Sharma heard the news and was shaken. In those days, despite being educated, the family traditions and decorum restricted her to remain a housewife under the veil. But determined in her spirit, she got a couple of garlands and headed towards the Rampura Kotwali. Once, in the middle of the crowd, her zeal sparked and she ran across the mob in front of the iron-rod doors of Kotwali and demanded that she be able to put the garland around her leader husband.

Her determined spirit wasn’t the output of a day; it was her family environment since childhood that had imbibed such nationalist and patriotic feelings in her. She was born on 10th June 1920, in Damoh Nagar, Madhya Pradesh. Her family was pro Independence and her elder uncle was RSS leader and younger uncle, a Congress leader, professor and author. Even in the early years of her childhood, she started working as a volunteer in processions for independence through her younger uncle. Her maternal uncle, Bhavani Prasad Tiwari was also in politics, who later moved on to become a member of the parliament. He taught her the Flag song – Jan Gan Man and she would sing the Flag song in all the national programs in Damoh and Jabalpur. When Gandhiji came to Jabalpur in 1930, Khaadi was being sold at 5p per sq. yard, her grandmother bought a length full of cloth and got clothes stitched for the entire family. She sang the national anthem in front of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and on the directives of Sarojini Naidu, sold a National newspaper. She sold the paper at 6 paisa instead of 4 paisa which was the actual price and when she brought her collections to Sarojini Naidu, the lady mockingly said that Ramkumari would rob everybody.

Having been surrounded by the colors of independence, since childhood, she forgot that she was the bride of Kota and looking at the condition, her feelings of Satyagraha and agitation prevailed. When the police refused her resolve to put the garland around her husband, she forcefully tried to get through the gates until a policeman pushed her. This policeman was none other than the I.G. Police Sant Singh. Not having taken this push lightly and feeling insulted, her hand rose and she slapped hard on Sant Singh’s face. The I.G. police then angrily ordered Lathi charge on the crowd. Ramkumari was in front of the crowd and standing next to her was a well built, muscular man – Nandlal Sharma (Sando) who was also holding the national flag. The moment laathis were targeted for Ramkumari’s head; Nandlal came forward and covered her from all directions and took the blows on his head. Ramkumari too received injuries on her shoulders and other body parts but other women somehow managed to get her away from that area. On the other hand, policemen attacked Nandlal, who bled profusely, got his skull fractured, and was thrown towards the ground and fainted. On that day, all freedom lovers got thrashed with laathis very badly. Some people managed to get Ramkumari in a semi-conscious state to her place. Within the ambush, her gold chain also got lost somewhere. It was a result of her courage that the procession took such an agitated form, which in turn led to the expulsion of police from Kotwali, capture of Kotwali by the commoners and rule of people being established for 3 days in the wall city kota. This also resulted in the termination of services of I.G. Sant Singh and his removal from Kota.

On that day while on one hand, Ramkumari’s determination and courage gave a radical form to a procession, on the other hand, the enlightened, elite and highborn of the region as well as the state, had the spark of independence ignited within themselves. It is commendable that Ramkumari, even without caring about her state of pregnancy, went off to participate in the procession. When her first girl child was born next year, she proudly named her “AGASTIKA” in memory of this freedom struggle.

The wall city of Kota had this significant incident of freedom fighting movement during the revolution of August 1942.Though every year on 15th August, this incident was highlighted in the News Papers, but Rajasthan Govt. never took step to officially recognize Mrs.RamKumari Sharma, as a Freedom Fighter. Sadly many others, who hardly played any role, were recognized as they had themselves or their kin to represent and fill false declarations.

During her last few years, this was the only thought which kept hurting Mrs.RamKumari Sharma. She had one mentally handicapped child to support during her old age, but never sought any financial help. “I am not interested in any Swatantra Senani Pension” she used to tell, but Govt. should give me the prestige and honor which is due to me. They are inviting me in functions on 15th August and 26th January by sending invitations as “Swatantra Senani Mrs.Ramkumari Sharma” but fail to register this in official books. With these hurt feelings and sad heart, she finally passed away on 02/11/2010.

We wish that Rajasthan Govt. at least will posthumously honor her by naming the place where this incident took place as “Swatantra Senani Mrs.Ramkumari Sharma Chowk.” This will be the best homage paid to a forgotten lady freedom fighter. .