Some people from the history are born motivators.
Their stories keep motivating generations to come.
Their thoughts, acts, activities are so inspiring and so valuable that every time you read or hear about them, you get a new boost of energy!
Madam Cama who is one among many great Indians who fit into this category.
Despite being a woman, despite not being in India, despite her health issues, what Madam Cama has contributed to freedom struggle is unimaginable.
The struggle for Indian independence was not restricted to the rulers of various territories. Once all the fight from the rulers ceased and the kingdoms came under the invaders, the common people put up resistance.
The able leadership came from people like Madam Cama.
Once all the fight from the rulers ceased and the kingdoms came under the invaders, the common people put up resistance.
The able leadership came from people like Madam Cama.
Yet, Madam Cama wasn’t that kind of freedom fighter who went to the battlefield and dictated a bloodshed encounter but yet she was a great force behind freedom struggle. Her struggle made her get exiled from her own motherland for its freedom!
Her struggle made her get exiled from her own motherland for its freedom!
Background of Madam Cama
Bhikhaji Rustom Cama, born in the year 1861 in a well-to-do Gujarati family in Mumbai. Right from her early days, she started being popular among people as her father, Bhikai Sorab Patel, was very popular and respected within her community.
Her father, a professional merchant and a lawyer as well was a very influential person within the Parsi community.
Right from her early days, she started being popular among people as her father, Bhikai Sorab Patel, was very popular and respected within her community.
Her father, a professional merchant and a lawyer as well was a very influential person within the Parsi community.
Right from her early education days, she showed signs of being a very hardworking and diligent student. She attended the Alexandra Native Girl’s English Institution, besides having a flair towards studying languages.
She attended the Alexandra Native Girl’s English Institution, besides having a flair towards studying languages.
Madam Cama was married to Rustom Cama in 1885, but it eventually wasn’t a very successful one. Her husband was a rich and influential lawyer and wished to enter the political circuit back then.
But Cama spent a lot of time on social work and philanthropic activities.
Her husband was a rich and influential lawyer and wished to enter the political circuit back then.
But Cama spent a lot of time on social work and philanthropic activities.
The build-up to her active years
A few years later in 1896, following a famine, a deadly plague broke out in Bombay. This was the time when one of her major notable social works came to the fore.
This was the time when one of her major notable social works came to the fore.
She joined hands with the Grant Medical College and worked towards getting the affected people cured and saving the unaffected with vaccines.
But, while she was engrossed in this activity, she caught the plague herself and her condition weakened.
Although she survived the disease, she was moved to the Great Britain for her medication.
Her life outside India
By the time she was cured and ready to return to India, she had got acquainted with Shyamji Krishna Varma, who is known for his advocative speeches for the freedom of his country in Hyde Park.
She also came across Dadabhai Naoroji and became his private secretary.
Dadabhai was the president of the INC (Indian National Congress) of the British Committee.
It was only then (in 1905) that she, along with Singh Rewabhai Rana and Dadabhai, worked towards forming the Indian Home Rule Society.
Due to this, the British community asked her to sign a bond via which she had to abstain from taking part in such nationalist activities after she returned to India. She denied to sign and shifted to Paris where she, jointly with Munchershah Burjorji Godrej and S. R. Rana, founded the popular Paris India Society.
She wrote and published various revolutionary literary works that were illegally brought inside India via Pondicherry, which was French colony.
She denied to sign and shifted to Paris where she, jointly with Munchershah Burjorji Godrej and S. R. Rana, founded the popular Paris India Society.
She wrote and published various revolutionary literary works that were illegally brought inside India via Pondicherry, which was French colony.
She had even unfolded the “Indian Independence Flag” in Germany. This later went on to become one of the templates to the flag we have today.
This later went on to become one of the templates to the flag we have today.
The story of this lady who could do so much for the Country way back in 1890s is certainly motivating for the women of today. It shows how a determined mind can achieve things against all odds.
Madam Cama is just one among the many gems.
It shows how a determined mind can achieve things against all odds.
Madam Cama is just one among the many gems.
Author Bio :- Amit is an avid traveler and a passionate writer. His weekends are dedicated to travel and free time is dedicated to writing. His passion for both these hobbies made him start realbharat. The blog is intended to bring out the real India and present it to the world!
