Rajkumari Amrit Kaur: The Unsung Support of Mahatma Gandhi

Sara Gogna

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur: The Unsung Support of Mahatma Gandhi

The Indian Constitution was drafted with a lot of minds and hands involved. As much as Jawaharlal Nehru was involved in getting the constitution on its feet, there were unsung women warriors involved as well. One such warrior was Rajkumari Amrit Kaur. She was believed to be a female version of Mahatma Gandhi, supporting him through thick and thin in helping India get its freedom.

The unsung freedom fighter, Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur; Source: Wordpress.com

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur opened her eyes for the first time in February 1887. Her parents, Raja Harnam Singh and Rani Harman Singh were one of the rich families of India at that time. Hence, Amrit Kaur too was one of the fortunate children who received a good and proper education. This was her lesson to learn how important education is and how few children are privileged to receive it. She was sent away from home at the age of 12 to receive her education. However, her interests shifted towards the service of India and its freedom.

Now, we all know that Mahatma Gandhi led the Quit India Movement, do we know the people behind him supporting through thick and thin? Yes, some names are very much heard of, as they contribute more than others in making India an Independent country, however, there were others as well without whom the Independence of the country wouldn’t have been possible.

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was one of the people backing Gandhi at all times. There wasn’t one movement that she wasn't a part of which were led by Mahatma Gandhi. Not only was she a huge helping hand in making India independent and drafting the constitution, but she was also a huge part of post-Independence India for the country to begin climbing the steps to reach where it is today as a free country.

Amrit Kaur was an active politician and freedom fighter. Her family had close connections to the Congress Party due to which her interests and thoughts matched that of Mahatma Gandhi. The moment that led Kaur to join politics and become a helping hand in making India free was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre where the British were responsible for killing over 400 Sikhs. That is when Kaur joined the fight for freedom and became an activist with full devotion.

Amrit was also elected to be a part of the first ever cabinet India had under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. She served under the government for ten years with full devotion and commitment and under the capacity of Health Minister as well as was appointed Order of Saint John’s Dame. Later, she was also elected to be the president of the World Health Assembly.

When Kaur became the responsible personnel for the ministry of Health in 1949, her full focus shifted to making India a better country through the health industry and led campaigns to remove tuberculosis. She also played a key role in making the All India Institute of Medical Sciences stand on its concrete feet and reach where it has today. All her efforts and devotion led her to her success as she became its first president.

Amrit Kaur’s contributions to the country as an individual as well as an activist are never ending and wonderous. In the last few years of her life, she remained a devoted member of the Rajya Sabha. She stood strong as president of AIIMS, New Delhi as well as for the committee she established for the eradication of Tuberculosis.

Her contributions made her win the TIME magazine’s woman of the year award in 1947. She parted from the world to a better place in 1964. Since then, India has continued to grow ever, her helping hand being one of the biggest ones. She still continues to live in the heart of every India with respect and gratitude, even though it will never be enough.

Amrit Kaur was working for Mahatma Gandhi as his secretary for 16 years upon joining the Congress Party. While she was busy with the work of the secretary, she was also active in social reforms such as removing the ‘Purdah system’ and abolishing the ‘Devdasi’ system. Amrit was also a part of the Dandi March making sure to not leave the side of her superior and leader, Gandhi.

There was no movement, campaign or protest that Amrit Kaur wasn't a part of when it came to Gandhi being involved in them. Proudly being an Indian, she fought for the freedom of her country along with every other freedom fighter. For her contribution in helping Indians take their country back, she was elected to the Indian Constituent Assembly. This committee was responsible for drafting and designing the constitution of India, according to which, India was to be governed henceforth.

Her contribution to the constitution included the establishment of a Uniform Civil Code and the protection of rights related to religion as well as the language that surrounded those rights.