Purubai Ben: Mahatma Gandhi was primarily responsible for the social resurgence of Indian women. He was different in his perception about the role of women in family, society, community and the freedom struggle, very different from the views of most of the regional and the national leaders of his time. One of the best examples of Gandhi’s views on the role of women is Purubai Ben and her work in Odisha. Her silent dedication and devotion for the Gandhian ideals and the cause of national movements has till yet remained in palpable obscurity.
Purubai Liladhara Ben, was born in Nov 1871 in a wealthy family of Kutch. She was widowed early in her marriage with an infant daughter. Leaving the child with her relatives, she had come to Sabarmati Ashram. She became adept in the ashram routine, both spinning and khadi weaving and did the daily chores of sweeping and cleaning the prayer hall, well bases and the latrines.
In 1927, Gandhi asked Purubai to go to Odisha and work in the famished rural coastal areas. Gandhiji was to come to Calcutta and it was decided that Purubai would accompany him and then proceed for Odisha. Before her departure, Purubai went to her village to meet her relatives. While she was there, her only daughter died during childbirth. Purubai had to cremate her deceased daughter as per the Gujarati tradition.
Right after the funeral, she went straight to the railway station without going back to her house for there was little time for the departure of the train to Odisha. She broke the news of her daughter\’s demise to Gandhiji only after they had reached Calcutta for the fear lest Bapu would have cancelled her programme and would not have allowed her to proceed to Odisha. Gandhiji became astonished to see her utter patience and her dedication and blessed her to dedicate her entire life for the cause of the suffering and famished masses of the rural Odisha.
When relief works ceased many returned to their states. However Purubai, Makhanlal and Iswarlal decided to stay back in Odisha and dedicate their lives till their last breath. Makhanlal and Iswarlal went to Kupari (Balasore district) and Aul (previously in undivided Cuttack district, now in Kendrapara district) respectively and Jivaramji sent Purubai with a letter to Mukund Prasad Das, an advocate and a Gandhian at Balasore.
She reached at Soro in 1930 and dedicated her life for the cause of the poor and famished people. With the help of Keshavlal T. Vora, Mulji Chowda, Hazarilal Khandelwal and others she started an ashram for orphaned girls in Soro, which was later named later as Purubai Ashram. Initially the was ashram opened in a house with 5 orphaned baby girls. She reared them in the ideals of a pure ashram life and she herself led a pure life of a hermit. She would never rest for a while and never let inmates of the to rest. She was self-reliant and taught everybody to be self-reliant. She went to villages, spreading the message of self-reliance. The people of the region affectionately called her Maa.
After the Dandi March, the Provincial Congress Committee decided to hold the Salt Satyagraha in Odisha. At Inchudi, on the sea-shore and nearly 20 KM. from Balasore, salt was collected violating the Salt Law. On 20 April, a long procession of women led by Rama Devi, Annapurna Devi, Malati Devi and Puribai many others also collected salt at Inchudi.
In 1934 when Gandhiji came to Odisha for the fifth time and on 6th May started his the padayatra from Puri to Bhadrak, Purubai also accompanied him along Rama Devi, Malati Devi, Arnapurna Devi, and several others. Purubai also greatly helped the Congress leaders in their mission.In 1955 Vinoba Bhave, while touring in Odisha padayatra visited this at Soro and had lavishly praised Purubai for her work and dedication.
Purubai, at her ripe age got incapacitated and in 1970 requested Kapil Charan Das, a freedom fighter and Gandhian, with whom she had developed a filial relationship of a son to take over the charge of the ashram. As the health of Purubai deteriorated, she went to her relatives to Calcutta and breathed her last on the 25th September 1971.
Purubai will be remembered in history for her selfless sacrifice and utter dedication in ameliorating the grief and suffering of the poor and common masses of Odisha and particularly by the people of Soro Bhadrak-Balasore region.
