Kasturba Gandhi

Kasturba Gandhi

Born: 11 April 1869
Died: 22 February 1944

Smt. Kasturba Gandhi who was an Indian political activist and wife of Shri Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born to Gokuldas and Vrajkunwar on 11 April 1869, in Porbandar. Her father was a leading merchant dealing in grains, cloth, and cotton.

Her family was close friends with the family of Shri Karamchand Gandhi, who was the Dewan of Porbandar and father of Gandhi Ji. Both of their parents made their friendship stronger by marrying their children. Both Kasturba and Gandhi Ji were engaged at the age of 7 and married when they were 13. She never received schooling prior to her marriage, and Gandhi Ji took the responsibility to educate her.

Being influenced by her husband Kasturba, in 1904 became involved in politics and social activities, helped Gandhi Ji and his fellow workers establish the Phoenix Settlement near Durban (a cooperative village where residents shared chores and grew their own food). In 1913 Kasturba was arrested and sentenced to prison for three months for being a participant in a protest against the treatment of Indian immigrants in South Africa.

Kasturba began experiencing serious medical problems and often was in poor health. She was even so strong that she continued her participation in the increasing number of civil actions and protests across India organized by Gandhi Ji and colleagues. The lady often took her husband’s place and worked when he was in prison. Every so often she undertook tasks against her husband’s wishes, as he was concerned for her health. More than half of her time was dedicated to managing various ashrams that Gandhi Ji found.

In 1917, while her husband was working for the enhancement of indigo farmers in Bihar, Kasturba concerned herself for the welfare of the women there. In 1922 she took part in Satyagraha Movement in Gujarat. Although she didn’t take part in Gandhi Ji’s Salt in March 1930, she joined several civil disobedience campaigns in the early 1930s and was arrested many times.

In early 1939 she participated in a protest against Rajkot for which she was arrested and kept in solitary confinement for a month, during that time her health further worsen. In 1942 she was again arrested, for participating in the Quit India Movement, and was imprisoned (along with Gandhi Ji and many others) and kept at the Aga Khan Palace, Pune. During imprisonment, her chronic bronchitis worsened contracted pneumonia and suffered a series of heart attacks after which she was confined to her bed and died in early 1944.

Kasturba Gandhi’s name is often lost in the face of Gandhi Ji’s influence but she was the pillar/support for her husband, the only individual who was a part of him like none other and was the ` She was his companion, his wife, his caretaker, and later in life his representative too.

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