New Delhi, February 21: Kasturba Gandhi is often seen merely as the ‘shadow’ of Mahatma Gandhi in history. However, a deeper look reveals that she was an independent, fearless leader with strong convictions. Her journey from an uneducated girl in Porbandar to becoming the ‘Ba’ of the nation is both remarkable and inspiring.
Born on April 11, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, to a wealthy merchant, Gokuldas Kapadia, Kasturba’s early life was shaped by the conservative Gujarati society that deemed girls’ education unnecessary and contrary to social norms. At just seven years old, she was engaged to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi), and by thirteen, she was married.
Her early married life was tumultuous. Young Mohandas was a husband who expected Kasturba to comply with his every wish. He wanted her to be educated, but Kasturba had her own independent thoughts. After a long day of household chores, when Mohandas attempted to teach her at night, she often expressed her dissent through silence.
Interestingly, the principles of ‘Satyagraha’ and ‘Ahimsa,’ which would later shake the foundations of powerful governments, were born not in a political arena or library, but within their home. Mohandas imposed restrictions on her leaving the house without permission, while disobeying his mother was considered sinful. When his mother asked her to go to the temple, Kasturba would quietly go without her husband’s consent (as communication between husband and wife was forbidden during the day). When Mohandas grew angry, she calmly presented her arguments. Her peaceful yet firm resistance was so impactful that Gandhi had to lift his restrictions. He later admitted, “I learned the lesson of non-violence from my wife… her steadfastness forced me to realize that I was not born to rule over her.”
In 1897, Kasturba accompanied her husband to South Africa. This period transformed her from a traditional Hindu wife into a fearless political activist. The rampant racial discrimination and inhumane injustices she witnessed deeply affected her.
In 1904, a devastating ‘bubonic plague’ broke out in the Indian settlement of Johannesburg. Kasturba fearlessly engaged with patients, raising awareness about hygiene and prevention. That same year, Gandhi established the ‘Phoenix Settlement’ near Durban. When Gandhi was imprisoned, Kasturba took on the role of the ‘mother’ of the ashram. Demonstrating solidarity with her husband, she began eating the same simple boiled food that was provided to him in jail. On September 23, 1913, despite her poor health, she led the first group of sixteen Satyagrahis across the Transvaal border. They were arrested and sentenced to three months of harsh imprisonment.
After returning to India in 1914, Kasturba took charge of the Sabarmati and Sevagram ashrams. It was here that she earned the name ‘Ba,’ which immortalized her legacy. She became a shield and a wise friend to every politician, freedom fighter, and common worker who visited the ashram. During the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, while Gandhi fought for the farmers’ rights, Kasturba traveled from village to village, promoting hygiene and education among women.
If you think Kasturba merely supported from behind the scenes, history tells a different story. When Gandhi was imprisoned for six years, she traveled across the country, keeping the flame of freedom alive. In the 1923 Borsad Satyagraha, she delivered a powerful press statement against the brutal atrocities committed by police on women, awakening the entire nation.
During the Dandi March, she organized women and led the breaking of salt laws at the beach, resulting in her imprisonment.
During the Rajkot Satyagraha, the British government was so intimidated by Kasturba’s influence that they placed her in solitary confinement at the age of seventy. She fasted against the mistreatment in prison until the authorities yielded. By 1933, the British government officially recognized Kasturba as a significant threat to law and order, equal to Gandhi.
Kasturba Gandhi passed away on February 22, 1944, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
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