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Bhikaji Cama
Context:
Bhikaji Cama, also known as Madam Cama, was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement, born on September 24, 1861, in Mumbai.
About:
- She belonged to a wealthy Parsi family and was deeply influenced by the nationalist sentiments of her time.
- Due to her significant contributions to India’s struggle for freedom from British colonial rule, Cama is often referred to as the “Mother of the Indian Revolution“.
Contributions to the Freedom Struggle:
Pioneering Activism:
- First Indian Flag: In 1907, at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, Germany, she unfurled one of the earliest versions of the Indian national flag, which featured horizontal stripes of green, saffron, and red and bore the words “Vande Mataram” . This act marked her as the first person to hoist an Indian flag on foreign soil.
- Literary Contributions: Cama co-published and edited revolutionary literature such as Bande Mataram and Madan’s Talwar, which played a crucial role in spreading nationalist sentiments among Indians both domestically and abroad .
- Paris Indian Society: In 1905, she co-founded the Paris Indian Society with fellow activists Munchershah Burjorji Godrej and SR Rana. This organisation aimed to mobilise support for India’s independence among expatriates .
- International Advocacy: Cama actively participated in international forums to raise awareness about India’s plight under British rule. She addressed various conferences in Europe and the United States, highlighting issues such as famines and oppressive taxation .
- Arrest and Exile: Her involvement in anti-colonial activities led to her arrest in 1915 while attempting to incite Indian soldiers in France. Although she faced imprisonment, she continued her activism from exile until she returned to India in 1935 after receiving a pardon .
Associations with Freedom Leaders:
- Dadabhai Naoroji: She worked as a private secretary for Naoroji, who was then president of the British Committee of the Indian National Congress. This position allowed her to engage closely with nationalist strategies.
- Shyamji Krishna Varma: Cama met Varma while preparing to return to India in 1904. He was a significant influence on her political ideology and activism, leading her to become involved with his Indian Home Rule Society.
- Vinayak Damodar Savarkar: Together with Savarkar, she contributed to designing the flag she later hoisted at Stuttgart. Their collaboration exemplified the unity among different factions within the nationalist movement. She also helped in publishing Savarkar’s “The First War of Independence” as noted in Sanjeev Sanyal’s book “Revolutionaries”.