Defying Conventions: The Unstoppable Durgabai Deshmukh

During the freedom struggle, India's freedom fighters and patriots fought till the very end to see India as an independent country. In that list of people stood, away from the crowd, a person whose name not many books mention—Durgabai Deshmukh. Also known as the Iron Lady, she devoted her life to the well-being of women and became the voice of the people who had been silenced or were not heard.

Deshmukh on a 1982 stamp. Source: Wikipedia

If you look into the story of any discovery, invention, or significant sociopolitical change in society and match them with the pages of our history books, you will see how evident it is that women are very conveniently forgotten and their contributions have been, subtly or overtly, credited to men.

This is the story of a headstrong woman who was not only one of the most integral parts of the freedom struggle but also a social activist who championed the causes of women and the disabled.

Durgabai Deshmukh was truly a force to be reckoned with. Since her teen years, she was an active member of the society. Her first demonstration was against the imposition of English-medium teaching in schools. Even the first prime minister of India was at the end of his wits when he found himself face-to-face with a young Durgabai at the entrance of the Khadi exhibition being held in her hometown, Kakinada, in 1926, without an entry ticket.

A true satyagrahi, she actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi during the Civil Disobedience Movement. Durgabai played a pivotal role, channeling her passion for justice into organized efforts alongside fellow satyagrahis. Her ability to rally women around the cause became a testament to her exceptional leadership and persuasive capabilities, marking a significant chapter in her life as a dedicated social reformer. She didn’t fail to get noticed by the British authorities, which landed her in jail not once but thrice between 1930 and 1933 in Madurai Jail.

After her sentence, Durgabai went on to complete her bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from Andhra University and then further went on to pursue law at Madras University in 1942, subsequently starting her practice at the Madras High Court.

In her time in prison, she was exposed to a lot of injustice against illiterate women, who were falsely accused and were made to sign papers that they did not understand. The lack of education for women made Durgabai take up law.  She worked many pro bono cases and fought for women's emancipation. She established Andhra Mahila Sabha in 1937, which became a vital institute for women and social reform related to them. She was at the front, representing devadasis and oppressed women. She even roped in Gandhi by collecting five thousand rupees and donating it at the suggestion of AP Venkatappaiah, who used to translate Hindi speeches to Telugu for Gandhi. This donation led her to meet the Mahatma for ten minutes to talk about the current condition of women in the country and the hardships faced by them.

She was the only woman member of the Constituent Assembly from the Madras province. Even with her impeccable track record and work, Durgabai failed to get elected to the Parliament in 1952 but was later nominated to be a member of the Planning Commission. Drawing on her background as a social reformer, she brought a unique perspective that extended beyond purely economic considerations

She founded a blind relief association and many other establishments that helped train, educate and rehabilitate people. First married at the age of eight because of societal pressure and separated right after she got her first period to getting married again in 1953 with her own will to Chintaman Deshmukh, Durgabai became a beacon of hope for many people whose voices were perpetually unheard. She was called the Iron Lady of India for the work she put into society, for the oppressed and the destitute.