Ushaben Malji a Freedom Fighter

Amazing woman, my aunt, Ushaben Malji. An absolutely fascinating life she has led and what stories she weaves. A lazy afternoon, post lunch, sipping tea, a wizened lady, elegant, twinkling positive energy eyes. Sitting up in bed with a sheaf of papers, writing Gujarati long hand, large letters her memories that she begun a couple of years back. A pictorial history of black and white photos abound with surroundings along with knick knacks and mementos of an eventful life, still going strong through eighty five years of Indian history. A remarkably sharp mind, with a child like inquisitiveness and hunger for new knowledge and the desire to know, to learn, the countless intellectual arguments she loves having, discussions galore and she does love to talk.

A childhood spent growing up in Khadia amidst a progressive family, she was enrolled in Ahmedabad’s first co-educational school in Sarangpur, while evenings were spent doing calisthenics at an open ground in Khadia. Due to an outbreak of plague in the city the family shifted across the river bank to the western side of the city. There surrounded by berry bushes, fields and goat herders the family was instrumental in setting up Ahmedabad’s first cooperative society, Pritam Nagar. Its proximity to the Kochrab Ashram and my grandfather’s stern Gandhian outlook, the family compulsorily attended the evening prayers. This was the molting and training ground for a young impressionable girl. The year 1938 saw her joining the Sewa dal which sent her to Haripura for training and work. Not wanting to send a 15 year old girl alone, the family shifted to Haripura for the duration of the Shivir. Ushaben’s hands weave through the air in imaginary brush strokes as she recollects Nandalal Bose and nine artists who had arrived from Santiniketan and were given the task of beautifying the entrance gate. Brushes were in short supply so the artists took neem twigs, tied rags at one end and used them in a symphony of bold lines conducted by Nandalal Bose. Daily chores kept Ushaben extremely busy, hot water for Sarojini Naidu, a special breakfast for Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, and a host of other mundane jobs besides. The evenings were fun as everybody gathered around campfires, sang patriotic songs, danced and watched activist theatre. At the closure of the Haripura Congress the family returned back and Usha Lakhia was enrolled in Gujarat College as a science student. Gujarat College in those days was at the forefront of political activities.

Leaders such as Jayanti Bhai, Dr Kanunga, and aspiring communists such Jaswant Thakkar and Dinaben Gandhi were among Ushabens peer group. interference in the college union and restriction of acting on stage for women were some of the reasons which fuelled the passions of peaceful rebellions. It was at the peak of the Quit India movement. All the senior leaders were already state guest at the incarceration center at Sabarmati while others were in various stages of hiding. It was left to students to launch a series of peaceful protests culminating in the raising of the Tricolor over what was then known as the George V Hall in the College. A procession of students, boys and girls decided to take out a peaful demonstration to that effect from the Law College to the gate of Gujarat College. A determined twenty year old Ushaben was amongst them with the flag hidden in an inner pocket of her sari to avoid detection. An Indian detachment led by a British officer Drew was on guard. A previous attempt the other day had gone horribly wrong when her companion and friend Vinod Kinariwala was shot and the flag trampled underfoot in the resultant confusion. As he tripped and fell, she reached out and almost touched him, but she was pulled away and apart by the fleeing crowd.

True to Gandhiji’s philosophy the next day an announcement was made that they would succeed were the previous attempt had failed. There were more than fifty girls in the group along with the boys while the boys created a distraction below the girls wound their way up stairs. As Drew gave the order to shoot college professors rushed in and managed to convince the officer to step down. The girls made their way up and Ushaben unfurled the tricolor over the auditorium. In the chaos Ushaben and few others slipped away and Drew’s name was enshrined in history with a newspaper headline which said “Drew Withdrew”.

Suddenly the tone of fervor and determination softened to warmth as Ushaben turned to us and asked whether we would be staying for dinner. As we were getting ready to leave, she had this far away look in her eyes as she said bye and mentioned offhand that “you know it was almost two months before the authorities finally arrested me and I had the privilege of spending an extremely invigorating time at Sabarmati gaol but that is another story.”

Published: Ahmedabad Mirror