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By:

Anusreeta Dutta

26 April 2026 at 1:22:24 pm

Forgotten Heroines, Living Injustice

The neglect of Bengal’s women revolutionaries mirrors a deeper failure to uphold the dignity and rights of women in the state today. Matangini Hazra featured on an Indian Stamp Bengali women have played a decisive role in shaping movements of resistance, reform and revolution throughout India’s long and complex history. Their contributions have been profound and transformative, from the anti-colonial struggle to social reform movements. But in modern narratives, these contributions are often...

Forgotten Heroines, Living Injustice

The neglect of Bengal’s women revolutionaries mirrors a deeper failure to uphold the dignity and rights of women in the state today. Matangini Hazra featured on an Indian Stamp Bengali women have played a decisive role in shaping movements of resistance, reform and revolution throughout India’s long and complex history. Their contributions have been profound and transformative, from the anti-colonial struggle to social reform movements. But in modern narratives, these contributions are often overshadowed, diluted or erased. More disturbing still are the continuing social stigmas that marginalise women, especially in rural and vulnerable communities, through accusations of black magic and witchcraft. This double injustice reflects a greater contradiction in society: a nation that once depended on its women's bravery is now unable to protect their dignity. Grim Reality Branding women as practitioners of black magic is not some archaic superstition of the past. That is the grim reality in parts of Bengal and throughout eastern India. Women, especially widows, the elderly and those living alone, are particularly vulnerable. Such accusations are rarely driven by sincere belief alone, but are often tools of control, fuelled by disputes over property, personal vendettas or deeply ingrained patriarchal norms. Women who assert their independence, question authority or simply exist outside prescribed social roles are easy targets. Once marked, they suffer terrible consequences: public humiliation, physical violence, social ostracism and, in extreme cases, death. This is a manifestation of systemic gender injustice. It exposes the latent misogyny embedded in social institutions, often cloaked as cultural or traditional belief. The society that once deified women as icons of strength and sacrifice now dehumanises them. The contradiction is jarring and disturbing, raising important questions about the values that underpin modern social attitudes. Compounding this ongoing injustice is the gradual erasure of Bengali women’s contribution to India's freedom struggle. Figures such as Matangini Hazra, who fearlessly marched with the national flag and was shot dead by the British while chanting “Vande Mataram,” and Pritilata Waddedar, who led an armed attack on colonial establishments and chose martyrdom over capture, rarely receive the recognition they deserve. Kalpana Dutta, Bina Das and hundreds of unnamed women risked their lives, endured imprisonment and sacrificed everything for the cause of independence. These women were not merely passive participants or symbolic figures, but leaders, strategists and revolutionaries. They worked within and beyond the constraints of their time, challenging both colonial authority and patriarchal norms. They were not supporting actors but played an essential role in shaping the direction and intensity of the freedom movement. Their bravery was not only inspirational but radical and transformative, expanding the very possibilities for women’s participation in public life. Memories Erased Yet today, their stories are disappearing from textbooks, public debate and national memory. Their exclusion from the mainstream historical narrative is part of a broader pattern of marginalising women's contributions. While male leaders are memorialised through statues, institutions and collective memory, many of these women remain confined to footnotes or local remembrance. This selective remembrance is not accidental but reflects a historical narrative that continues to privilege certain voices over others. The contrast between past and present is deeply unsettling. Bengal has a proud tradition of women who fought courageously against injustice and oppression. Yet many women today continue to be humiliated, violated and marginalised through false accusations and systemic neglect. This disconnect reveals how far society has drifted from the values it once claimed to uphold. Pritilata Wadeddar When the stories of these women are erased, society loses powerful examples of resilience and agency. Young people are growing up without seeing role models who look like them or come from where they come from. The invisibility of women’s contributions reinforces the notion that their work is secondary or inconsequential, perpetuating cycles of inequality and exclusion. Addressing this requires more than token recognition. It demands a conscious and sustained effort to restore Bengali women to their rightful place in India’s historical and cultural imagination. Educational curricula must incorporate their stories in a meaningful and comprehensive manner. Public spaces should celebrate their legacy through monuments, museums and commemorations that are widely accessible. The media and cultural institutions must also bring these stories to a wider audience. Urgent measures are also needed to end the continuing violence against women accused of witchcraft. Existing laws must be enforced more effectively and strengthened where necessary to protect vulnerable individuals. Community-level awareness campaigns can help dispel harmful beliefs and promote critical thinking. Grassroots interventions, led by local leaders and civil society organisations, are essential to dismantle the structures that allow such practices to persist. But legal and institutional measures alone will not suffice. Society itself must undergo a change in mindset. Women must be regarded as individuals with rights, dignity and agency, not as suspects or objects of control. We must recognise and honour in the present the same courage and determination displayed by Bengali women during the freedom struggle. India cannot claim to respect its past while remaining indifferent to the injustices of the present. Bengali women’s voices helped shape India’s path to freedom and continue to influence its social fabric. Now is the time to hear those voices again - not as faint echoes from a distant past, but as powerful reminders of what justice, courage and dignity truly mean today. (The writer is a columnist with experience in political research analysis. Views personal.)

A Dream Come True: My Mother’s Birthday in Switzerland

I want to celebrate my next birthday in Switzerland.” – My mother, 2014. And one day, we did.

“I want to celebrate my next birthday in Switzerland,” my mother said in 2014. Sadly, she was in the ICU then, recovering from a mild heart stroke. Seeing her so fragile was unbearable — I had never imagined my strong, vibrant mother in such a state. It was the hardest thing for me.


Each childhood year brought long, simple but exciting journeys across India. My mother meticulously researched, drafted itineraries, and planned every detail, while my father handled logistics — together creating unforgettable adventures.


Sameer, my colleague, mentor, and husband, shared my passion for travel, and I learnt much from his experience.


By the time I completed my education and entered the tourism field in 1999, I had specialised in customised travel planning, as nothing gave me greater joy than crafting journeys that perfectly matched a traveller’s dream.


One of my dearest dreams was to take my parents abroad. My mother’s first international trip was to Singapore and Malaysia, where she joined my group of 40 travellers from Pune, Sangli, and Kolhapur. As a tour leader, I saw her admire my coordination, and the joy on her face remains etched in my memory.


Later, my parents travelled to Thailand, where I showed them temples, beaches, gardens, wildlife, and local restaurants — an experience that left them awestruck. But after a few tours, my mother’s health declined; walking long distances grew difficult, and her heart weakened. Then she expressed her wish again: “I want to celebrate my birthday in Switzerland.”


Those words struck me deeply. I told her lovingly but firmly, “We’ll go to Switzerland for your birthday, but you must promise to take care of yourself. Together, we’ll make a simple plan for your health and diet. Follow it, and you’ll be stronger and ready to travel next year.”


She smiled, promised, and began a new phase. Starting with 10–15 minutes, she built up to an hour’s walk daily. I cooked her favourite dishes while keeping her diet balanced.


Slowly, she regained her energy, freshness, and glow. Her spirit and determination made her shine more beautifully than ever. Above all, she grew excited again — excited for life and, most of all, for Switzerland.


My family watched our efforts with quiet joy. One day, I said, “It’s time to plan Switzerland.” We crafted a European itinerary — France, Italy, then Switzerland — balancing comfort with memorable highlights. For my mother, we skipped long walks but kept the essence intact.


Sameer, an experienced travel professional, oversaw every detail with our team — from visas and flights to guides, hotels, transport, meals, insurance, and forex.


With the dates finalised, my parents shared the news. Some worried about her health; others encouraged her. As I explained the itinerary, more people wished to join. Soon, 30 travellers aged 11 to 86 formed a group—the eldest inspiring all: “If he can travel at 86, why can’t we?” The trip became not just ours but a shared adventure of friends and family.


I couldn’t join because of home and office responsibilities, but I was happy that Sameer would be guiding the group. As they departed, my mother held my hands at Mumbai airport and said through tears, “You gave me so much encouragement — that’s how I gathered the courage to travel so far.” Her happiness was my happiness.


The tour went beautifully. In France, they visited the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. In Italy, they visited the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and Piazza Venezia and explored Vatican City, including the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s Last Judgement. Florence was another highlight. In Switzerland, they enjoyed Interlaken, the Trümmelbach Falls, and the heights of Mt Jungfrau.


At Lake Lucerne, Sameer arranged a surprise birthday celebration for my mother in a lakeside restaurant. Surrounded by the group, she cut a cake as everyone sang, “Happy Birthday to you, may God bless you…”


It was magical. Everyone wished her and prayed for her long, healthy life. My father stood by, overwhelmed, unable to believe it was truly happening. And my mother, gazing at Lake Lucerne with tears of joy in her eyes, said, “Today I am very happy and satisfied.”


She came from a simple background and had seen many ups and downs. Honestly, I never thought her dream of celebrating her birthday in Switzerland would come true. But it did.


And it taught me something I will carry forever:

Always have dreams. However big or small, if you truly believe in them and trust yourself, one day they will come true.


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. Views personal.)

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