Anjalai Ammal

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A brief profile

Anagha Jayakumar, Oct 30, 2024: The Indian Express


Anjalai Ammal was dubbed “South India’s Rani of Jhansi” by Mahatma Gandhi.

Anjalai Ammal, ‘South India’s Rani of Jhansi’


She was born in 1890 in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, to a family of weavers and became entrenched in activism early in life. After her marriage to Murugappan in 1908, the couple joined the freedom struggle.

In 1921, Anjalai Ammal joined the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919-22), deeply driven by Gandhian principles. This marked the start of a political career that saw her involvement in the Neil Statue Satyagraha — protesting a statue of Colonel James Neil, who had committed atrocities to suppress the 1857 revolt — as well as the Salt Satyagraha (1930) and the Quit India movement (1942). She also presided over the All India Women’s Congress in Madras in 1931.

She courted arrest on multiple occasions for inciting rebellion against the British and gave birth to her youngest son while serving a six-month sentence for protesting the salt laws. Although she was released on bail for her delivery, she was sent back to prison within two weeks of her son’s birth.

The British government barred her from meeting Mahatma Gandhi on his 1934 visit to Cuddalore. However, she wore a burqa and travelled in a horse-drawn carriage to meet him. He is believed to have then called her “South India’s Rani of Jhansi”.

Anjalai Ammal was the first woman to be elected to the Madras legislature, representing the Congress party, and remained politically active until she died in 1961.

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