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The old lady who was a nightmare for British’’
Known as ”Gandhi Buri or Granny Gandhi” in Midnapore, Matangini Hazra was one of the most courageous, heroic and fearless personalities of great Indian freedom movement.
Her ‘Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar’ was a nightmare to local Britis h administration of Midnapore and her iconic bravery was a message to younger and older people of India to come and fight till the last breath.
Born in the family of a poor peasant, Matangini Maity could not get proper education or other facilities that were necessary for survival at that time. She had to marry with Mr. Trilochan Hazra, who was thrice of her age and after few years died. At that time society had harsh barriers and strict regulations for a widow woman and Matangini also became a victim. She had social and economic problems but she did not surrender. She moved near her husband’s former home and started helping others in distress. She took part in Swadeshi Movement and protested against British government for a united and integrated Bengal.
On 26 January 1932, which came to be known during the freedom struggle as Independence Day, a procession was taken out in her village, mostly attended by men. When it passed her hut, she came out and joined it, vowing to fight for the freedom of her country. She was then 62. It was a momentous decision to take at such an age, but she stuck to it with total faith and fortitude till her last breath.
In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi started Quit India Movement at pan India level and declared the goal to do or die. All the leaders of congress including Gandhi got arrested and local leaders took the charge even at the remotest areas. As a part of the Movement, members of Congress planned to take over the various police stations. This was to be a step in overthrowing the British government in the district and establishing an independent Indian state. Matangini Hazra, who was 73 years at the time, led a procession of six thousand supporters, mostly women volunteers, with the purpose of taking over the Tamluk police station.
When the procession reached the outskirts of the town, they were ordered to disband by the Crown police. As she stepped forward, Matangini Hazra was shot once. Apparently, she had stepped forward and appealed to the police not to open fire at the crowd.
As she was repeatedly shot, she kept chanting Vande Mataram. She died with the flag of the Indian National Congress held high and still flying.
A statue now stands at the spot where she was killed in Tamluk. In 2002, as part of a series of postage stamps commemorating sixty years of the Quit India Movement and the formation of the Tamluk National Government, the Department of Posts of India issued a five rupee postage stamp with Matangini Hazra’s likeness.
We as proud Indians will always admire her dedication, passion and heroic attitude. Nations salutes this grand old lady Gandhi of India, Gandhi Buri Matangini Hazra. Salute this legendary fighter and follow her principles as a responsible citizen of India.
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