Matangini Hazra, Early Life and Role in Freedom Struggle

Matangini Hazra was an important women freedom fighter from Bengal. She played an active role in India’s national movement. She is popularly called as the “Gandhi Buri” (Old Lady Gandhi) of Bengal for her unwavering commitment to non-violence and civil disobedience.

Matangini Hazra Early Life

• Matangini Hazra was born on 19 October 1870 in a small village in the Tamluk region of present-day West Bengal.
• She belonged to a poor peasant family and had no formal education.
• She married at a very young age to Trilochan Hazra, a 60 year old man and became a widow early in life at the age of 18.
• After her husband’s death, she devoted herself to social service and later to the freedom struggle.
• Matangini Hazra was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and Gandhian ideology of non-violence (Ahimsa) and civil disobedience and therefore she was popularly called as the “Gandhi Buri” (Old Lady Gandhi) of Bengal. 

Matangini Hazra Role in Freedom Struggle

Matangini Hazra became an active member of Indian National Congress and actively participated in India’s freedom struggle movement. 

• She actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) and the Quit India Movement (1942). 
• During the Civil Disobedience Movement (10930-34) she was arrested for her role in the Salt Satyagraha movement in Bengal.
• During the Quit India Movement (1942) she led a procession of thousands of freedom fighters, mostly women, to take over the Tamluk Police Station from British authorities. 
• During the Tamluk procession, the British police opened fire on the unarmed demonstrators. Despite being shot multiple times, she continued advancing while chanting “Vande Mataram” and holding the Indian national flag.
• She eventually succumbed to her injuries, becoming a martyr at the age of 72.

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