Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Matangini Hazra, affectionately known as ‘Gandhi Buri,’ was a dedicated Gandhian and a prominent figure in the Indian freedom struggle.
- She met a tragic end during the Quit India Movement in Tamluk, Bengal, when she led a protest march against British rule. Her death turned her into a martyr and marked one of the early casualties of the Quit India movement.
About Matangini Hazra:
- Matangini Hazra was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s message and charisma, leading her to join the freedom struggle with great enthusiasm.
- One noteworthy incident from her life involved a daring protest march in 1933 when she confronted British authorities in front of the Governor’s palace, holding the freedom movement’s flag high and demanding, “Go back, lat sahib.”
- Hazra’s involvement in the freedom struggle intensified during the Quit India Movement of 1942. At the age of 73, she led a procession of around 6,000 protesters, primarily women.
- She was shot three times by British police while holding the Indian flag high.
