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| MAA
RAMA DEVI |
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Our
college was named after Rama Devi during her
life time as an humble tribute to the values
and sacrifices she stood for. |
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Rama
Devi Choudhury, adoringly called Maa (Mother)
by the people of Orissa, was a celebrated
freedom fighter and a social reformer. Born
on the 3rd December, 1899 at Cuttack, she
inherited a great legacy as the daughter of
Gopal Ballav Das and the niece of Utkal Gaurab
Madhusudan Das. At the tender age of 15, she
married Gopabandhu Choudhury, then a Deputy
Collector and later a freedom fighter. |
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The
historic day of Dola Purnima, the 23rd March,
1921 marked the turning point in Rama Devi's
life, when she was fortunate to meet Gandhiji
and Kasturba in the Women's Meeting at Binod
Behari. They inspired her to dedicate herself
for the cause of the country. Rama Devi with
her son Manamohan and young daughter Annapurna
in her arms religiously followed the footsteps
of her firebrand husband and plunged, heart
and soul, into the Non-cooperation movement.
In 1928, she left Cuttack and stayed at the
Alaka Ashram, Jagatsinghpur, to organise constructive
activities of spinning of Khadi, prohibition
of liquor and removal of untouchability. |
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Rama
Devi was imprisoned on the 8th November, 1930
for leading the Salt Satyagraha at Srijanga
(Balasore) and Kujanga (Jagatsinghpur). Two
years later at Cuttack, she was arrested again
while taking the Solemn Oath on the 26th January,
1932 for complete independence of the country.
After release from the prison, Rama Devi founded
Seva Ghar (now a College) at Ramachandrapur,
Bari to reconstruct the flood ravaged villages
along the Brahmani river coast. Gandhiji blessed
her noble endeavour and inaugurated the ashram
of austerity on the 20th May, 1934 in the
midst of his famous Harijan Padayatra in Orissa. |
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It
was a momentous event of modern India when
Rama Devi was arrested once again on the 9th
August, 1942, the day Gandhiji gave the clarion
call of Quit India. The scene was soul-stirring
as she went to Cuttack Jail with her whole
family consisting of her husband, son, daughter,
brother-in-law Nabakrushna, sister-in-law
Malati Devi, and son-in-law Sarat Chandra. |
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On
the eve of the independence, Rama Devi was
nominated the State Convener of Kasturba National
Memorial Trust and she took the opportunity
to launch several programmes for the emancipation
and empowerment of women. |
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After
independence, Rama Devi dedicated herself
entirely to the cause of Bhoodan and Gramdan
movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. Along with
her husband she travelled on foot about 4000
kilometers across the state to propagate the
message of gifting land and wealth to the
landless and poor. |
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In
recognition of her selfless services to the
nation, Rama Devi was honoured with the Jamnalal
Bajaj Award on the 4th November, 1981 and
the Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) by
Utkal University on the 16th April, 1984.
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A
remarkable saga of courage, dedication, and
supreme sacrifice came to an end on the 22nd
July, 1985, the day Rama Devi breathed her
last |
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