‘Ravi Rashmiya’ celebrates struggle of city’s women

Nagpur: ‘Ravi Rashmiya’, a book written by Prabha Mehta that talks about contribution of the city’s women to political and freedom struggle from 1920-1960, was released by senior journalist SN Vinod at Dhanwate Sabhagruh, Shankar Nagar, on Saturday.
The programme was organized by the divisional centre of Yashwantrao Chavan Foundation. Social worker Girish Gandhi and Pramod Sharma were present.
Speakers appreciated Mehta’s efforts to document the struggle and works of the city’s women who have helped set up institutions like Bal Jagat, Matru Seva Sangh and Bhagini Mandal which continue to serve the society.
Relatives of torchbearers like Subhgabai Kashikar and Sumati Sukalikar, who have been celebrated in the book, were presented with a copy of the book.
In his address, Gandhi said, “The book will serve as research material for future students and historians.” Mehta’s daughter Dr Bindu Chimote and Nalini Kanetkar, who played a crucial role in her journey while penning ‘Ravi Rashmiya’, congratulated her.
Speaking on the occasion, Mehta said, “There are a limited number accounts of women championing their rights during the freedom struggle. They don’t celebrate those voiceless women who worked at a much lower and local level, trying to emancipate themselves from the shackles of not just the British Raj but social evils as well.
“I wanted to share these stories of ordinary women who took upon themselves the responsibility of their freedom and social development to the world which has been my sole inspiration to pen the book.”
The idea was conceptualized 35 years ago while working on the topic ‘Nagpur women’s contribution to the country’s economic and social development’ for dissertation in Nagpur University under the guidance of Kanetkar, she said.
Mehta faced numerous personal obstacles and time constraints maintaining a family while writing the book due to which ‘Ravi Rashmiya’ was completed and published in 2017.
(Reporting by Sanjali Chandak)