Global Peace Secretariat pays homage to Kasturba Gandhi "Ba" for Women's History Month

Global Peace Secretariat pays homage to the powerful & historic force behind Mahatma Gandhi, his other half, Mrs. Kasturba Gandhi or “Ba”, during March Women’s History Month.

“Recently it came to my attention, that Gandhi ji learnt the art of nonviolence or “silent protest” by watching “Ba” resist doing something he asked of his new bride, when she didn’t want to but didn’t want to go against the Indian tradition of saying “yes” to whatever your husband asks of you. “What an Ah-ha moment that was! “….Secretary General Kumu Gupta.

“I used to be a tyrant at home…I used to let loose my anger at Kasturba. But she bore it all meekly and uncomplainingly…her unresisting meekness opened my eyes and slowly it began to dawn upon me that I had no such prescriptive right over her. If I wanted her obedience, I had first to persuade her by patient argument. She thus became my teacher in non-violence….” (Rajmohan Gandhi, Gandhi, 397-8; Gandhi CW Vol. 74, p. 147 [statement by Gandhi Oct 23, 1938]).

Kasturba Gandhi was born in a little town, Porbandar, in India in April 1869. In keeping with the customs of that time she was married at the age of 13. She had no schooling but learned to read and write under her husband Mohandas Gandhi’s tutelage. She acquired knowledge about life, socio-cultural situation and practices from her family and from reading.

Kasturba first involved herself with politics in South Africa, where Gandhi ji had moved to earlier &  in 1904 , with her husband and others, she established the Phoenix Settlement near Durban. In 1913 she took part in protests against the ill-treatment of Indian immigrants in South Africa, for which she was arrested and sentenced to hard labor. While in prison, she led other women in prayer and encouraged the educated women to teach the uneducated women how to read and write

“Today, I am honored and privileged to be working on global peace with Mrs. Ela Gandhi, Gandhi ji’s grand daughter who looks after the Phoenix Settlement” …..Secretary General Kumu Gupta.

Upon returning to India, majority of Kasturba Gandh’s time was dedicated to serving in ashrams and here she was referred to as "Ba" or Mother, because she served as mother of the ashrams in India.  In 1942, Kasturba was arrested, along with Gandhi ji and other freedom fighters, for participating in the Quit India movement.

“It is amazing to have grown up with this piece of history as my father, as a young man, took part in the Quit India movement “ …Kumu Gupta

*Kasturba once fell ill at Durban and the treatment mandated giving her beef tea. Gandhi ji records in his Autobiography," She gave a resolute reply: I will not take beef tea. It is a rare thing in this world to be born as a human being, and I would far rather die in your (Gandhi's) arms than pollute my body with such abominations." Further," But my mind is made up" were her words to a Swami who visited the family and attempted to plead in favor of the Doctor 's advice of ' taking beef tea' alluding to the scriptural texts from the Manu smriti. 

*Owing to acute bronchitis, she remained in bad health for most of the times but the poor health conditions could not deter her to work for the welfare of the weak.  Gandhi was working with indigo farmers in Champaran of Biharin 1917, Kasturba too was engaged in the welfare of women. She took part in civil disobedience movements and protests including the Satyagraha in Borsad Gujarat in 1922 which a number of times led to her arrests and imprisonments.

“I have heard of how helping Kasturba Gandhi in these marches, the grand mother of a friend here in the US, was inspired to launch Mahila (Women's) Samaj leading peaceful marches, near Sabramati Ashram where Gandhi ji and Kasturba lived.” ……. Kumu Gupta. 

*Kasturba Gandhi, “Ba” was a silent crusader who sacrificed her life in the journey of struggle for the country and the human well-being.

Thus, this March, Women’s History Month Global Peace Secretariat pays homage to “Ba” and “Nari Shakti (Woman Power)”.

Note: Kasturba Gandhi picture provided by National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi

*parts with Asterisk are by Mansi Sharma, Gandhi peace activist, India.

|