“I had put up a whole edifice of hopes involving women in this great adventure. This was to be their breakthrough. The significance of a non-violent struggle is that the weakest can take an equal part with the strongest and share in the triumph as you yourself said.” It was these confrontational words by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, author and social reformer, that made Mahatma Gandhi relent and women joined the 1930 Salt Satyagraha, a mass civil disobedience movement started by Gandhi against the salt tax imposed by the British government in India.

Later, Mahatma Gandhi’s own words will solidify women’s role in India’s historic struggle. “When the history of India’s fight for independence comes to be written, the sacrifice made by the women of India will occupy the foremost place.”

Women’s participation in India's freedom movement can be traced way back to 1817 when a princess wielded her sword against the British. This is their story...

Video Producer: Aparna Singh
Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma