Niyogi Books Inner Recesses Outer Spaces: Memoirs

by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

1903-47 marks a period of fundamental change in India. A strong force swept the country which compelled the world to recognise the power of spiritual energy. Mahatma Gandhi evolved the spiritual methods, and a rare band of individuals adopted them. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay is such a person who changed the course of her comfortable existence to join the national struggle first as a Sevika volunteer, later designated as an organiser of woman workers in the Indian National Congress and finally as a member of the National Working Committee of the Congress.

In this book Kamaladevi describes the events of the turbulent years as she lived and experienced them. She writes about her close association with fascinating leaders of the nationalist movement including Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, Motilal Nehru, Acharya Kriplani, Jayaprakash Narayan. She spent a total of 5 years in jail, and here recalls some of her experiences.

After Independence, Kamaladevi left the Congress, and did not join the government though invited to in several capacities. She did not consider it necessary to be in political power to execute powerful ideas. The urgent task before her was rehabilitation of the refugees. She sought Gandhiji's advice who promised her his support on condition she generated her own energy and labour and did not depend on the government. She set up the Indian Cooperative Union. She persuaded thousands of homeless refugees from West Pakistan to mobilise their internal strength and to rebuild their lives through their own labour, through cooperatives.

424 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[SHOBHA MENON · Rating 4 out of 5]

1903-1947 - a tumultuous period in India. Gandhiji evolved the spiritual methods and Kamaladevi adopted them. She joined the national struggle first as a sevika volunteer, later designated as an organiser of women workers in the Indian National Congress and finally as a member of the National working committee of the Congress. The author writes of her close association with Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, Kriplani, Jayaprakash Narayanan. She spent 5 years in jail. She set up the Indian cooperative union and persuaded thousands of homeless refugees from west Pakistan to mobilise their internal strength and to rebuild their lives through their own labour. Thus was born Faridabad. She focused on revival of the theater, puppetry and handicrafts as a component of cultural renaissance in the country. As Chairperson of the All India Handicrafts Board, she introduced national awards to be conferred on worthy craftsmen. Women advancement has been the focus of her activities and she has promoted far reaching educational reforms. Bhikaji Cama, Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins are some of the women of the period. She travelled widely around the world and had met president of US, Chou en lai, the Pope and many others during her adventurous travels.