Sarojini Naidu, also known as Sarojini
Chattopadhyaya, was a famous Indian poet and a major freedom fighter
who went on becoming the first Indian woman to be appointed the
president of the Indian National Congress and the Governor of any state
in India. Most of all, she was a noted child prodigy and a master of the
children's literature. Naidu was given a sobriquet Bharat Kokila (The
Nightingale of India) on account of her beautiful poems and songs. Some
of her best books that established her as a potent writer include The
Golden Threshold, The Gift of India, and The Broken Wing. An active
participant of the Indian Independence movement, Naidu joined the
national movement taking Gandhi's call and joined him in the popular
Salt March to Dandi. With the Indian Independence in 1947, Sarojini
Naidu was made the Governor of the Uttar Pradesh in the wake of her
contribution to the movement.
Childhood & Family
Sarojini Naidu was born on 13 February 1879 in Hyderabad, India to
the scientist, philosopher and a politieducator Aghornath Chattopadhyaya
and Barada Sundari Devi. She was the eldest daughter of her parents. A
political activist, her father was a co founder of the Nizam College and
the first member of the India National Congress in Hyderabad.
Chattopadhyaya was removed from his position as a penalty for his active
participation in Indian Independence movement.
Virendranath Chattopadhyaya, Sarojini's brother, was a political
activist who played a key role in establishing the Berlin Committee and
was influenced by Communism. He was allegedly killed by the Russian
troops in 1937. Sarojini's second brother Harindranath Chattopadhyaya
was a noted poet and playwright.
Education, Marriage & Children
A brilliant student, Sarojini won appreciation and fame by being
selected in Madras University at just 12. In 1895, she went on to study
at King's College in London and later at Girton College, Cambridge
University. She developed a liking and passion for reading and writing
poems whilst still in college where she became proficient in many
languages including Urdu, English, Persian, Telugu and Bengali.
Whilst still in college, Sarojini met Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu
Naidu and both grew closer by the end of her college. Upon finishing her
studied at age 19, she married him in 1898 during a period when
inter-caste were marriages were rare and considered a crime in the
Indian society. Nonetheless, the successful marriage of the couple
prevented people from intervening into their personal life and taking it
onto another stage.
The couple had four children; Jayasurya, Padmaja, Randheer and
Leelamani. Her daughter Padmaja followed in to her footprints and became
the Governor of West Bengal. In 1961, she published a collection of
poems entitled The Feather of The Dawn.
Indian Independence Movement
Sarojini Naidu had many credits to her, including a notable
contribution to the Indian Independence Movement. She joined the
movement at the rear of Bengal partition in 1905 and since then, she
stuck to her commitment to the cause. While working for the Indian
National Congress, she was introduced to many eminent personalities such
as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi with whom
she shared a special bond and a very good rapport.
During 1915-1918, she traveled across the India lecturing on social
welfare, women empowerment, emancipation and nationalism. Inspired by
Jawaharlal Nehru, she embarked on providing help and support for the
indigo workers in Champaran who were being subjected to violence and
oppression. In 1925, Naidu was appointed the President of the National
Congress thus making her the first Indian women to hold the post.
With the introduction of the Rowlett Act in 1919, Sarojini joined
the Non-Cooperation Movement organized and led by Mahatma Gandhi. In the
same year, she was appointed the Home Rule League's ambassador to
England. In 1924, she became a delegate to the East African Indian
Congress.
Sarojini Naidu as poet
The Nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu was a prolific writer and
poet. The first volume of her poetries The Golden Threshold was
published in 1905, after which two more collections The Bird of Time and
The Broken Wing arrived in 1912 and 1917 respectively. Meanwhile in
1916, she authored and published a biography of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
entitled as The Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity. Other acclaimed poems
that came following are The Wizard Mask and A Treasury of Poems. Other
selected works written by her include The Magic Tree and The Gift of
India. She was given the name Bharat Kokila on account of the beautiful
and rhythmic words of her poems that could be sung as well.
Later Life & Death
In her last years, Sarojini actively participated in the freedom
movement and was a part of the Round Table summit held in 1931. In 1942,
she was arrested along with Mahatma Gandhi for her involvement in the
Quit India movement and was jailed for almost 2 years. After her release
from the jail, she presided over the Steering Committee at the Asian
Relations Conference. With the independence of India in 1947, Sarojini
Naidu was made the Governor of the Uttar Pradesh in the wake of her
contribution to the movement. She was the first woman to become the
governor of a state. She died of a heart attack while working in her
office on 2 March 1949.
