Whenever we talk about history of freedom struggle, the first name comes to our mind is Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi. But as it is rightly said that there is always a woman behind a man’s success. The Independence movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi but there was also a woman behind him that supported him in his every movement to get the ‘British’ out of the country. She was none other than his wife, Kasturba Gandhi or popularly known as ‘Ba’ among the masses.
Born as Kastur Kapadia in the year 1869, she was an important political activist figure fighting for the civil rights and Indian independence from the British regime.
On her death anniversary, here’s a brief look into Kasturba Gandhi’s life
- Kasturba Gandhi was born on April 11, 1869, in Porbandar. Her parents were Gokuldas Makanji and Vrajkunwerba Kapadia.
- Her father was a merchant and was a friend of Karamchand Gandhi, the father of Mohandas Gandhi
- Kasturba Gandhi was a source of courage and tenacity. She raised the toddler or two on her own when Mohandas Gandhi left for England and South Africa.
- She showed her courageous side as she helped Gandhi escape a white mob when she was stationed in South Africa with her husband.
- In May 1883, at the age of 13, in an arranged marriage, she married Mahatma Gandhi who was 14 years old at that time
- Kasturba was an absolute illiterate. Gandhi taught her the alphabets and how to read and write
- In the year 1906, Gandhi started practicing Brahmacharya and took the oath of celibacy and chastity. Kasturba supported her husband’s decisions even though she did not support some of his ideas
- Though an absolute illiterate, she was a woman with strong beliefs. She taught the nation not to bow to ideas which you don’t endorse
- In January 1944, Kasturba suffered two heart attacks, after which, she was confined to her bed. She died on February 22, the same year.
