Nuapada: At a time when ‘Purdah Pratha’ (veil custom) was strictly observed during pre-Independence era, she dared to unveil herself and come out of the four-walled confinement to join India’s freedom movement.
With her passion to make the nation a better place for its citizens, she fought the British with full vigour. Now, at 91, her energy level to bring a change in the society can give girls of her granddaughter’s age a run for their money.
Meet Taramani Joshi, wife of late Purnachandra Joshi, of Bhela village under Komna block in Nuapada district. Born in Karangamal in Boden block in 1928, Taramani was married to Purnachandra in 1943.
Reminiscing about her younger days, Taramani recalled the spirit of freedom struggle when the whole of India used to reverberate with slogans against the British. Her husband used to conduct meetings in villages inspiring people to join the movement.
The veil system was strictly practiced during the time and it was stricter for newly married. Women were generally not allowed to go beyond the thresholds of their houses. But, Taramani was not someone who would be held back by the norms of the society. Inspired by her husband, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Gopabandhu Das, Taramani also put her foot forward to join the fight for freedom.
She along with her husband went from village to village and created awareness among the people, encouraging women to come out of the customary veil, join the freedom struggle, light lamps at altars praying for freedom and write patriotic songs to encourage the fighters.
Similarly, after Independence, when India was fighting against China, India had no money to procure arms from the USA. At that time, money was being collected from villages. And Taramani took the lead in this fund collection in her locality. She was the first one to donate her gold ornaments and managed to collect gold and money for the national fund.
Since that day she has never worn ornaments, proving her grit how an Indian woman can sacrifice for the motherland. Today, after so many years of Independence, she still isn’t done with her struggle for the nation.
“It gives me immense pleasure whenever I go down memory lane, but at the same time it hurts me as I come across news of natural calamities visiting upon the state and the dangers from neighbouring countries looming large on our nation whenever I go through newspapers or watch news channels.”
Despite her old age, she is fit and fine. Even today she goes around nearby villages making people aware of many evil practices like dowry and superstition. When asked about the secret of her agility, she owes it to her patience and nature of sacrifice.
However, she has a feeling of regret. For, the government has little sympathy for the people who had sacrificed their best part of their lives for the sake of the country.
PNN