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Freedom Fighter

Basanti Devi

Born 23 March 1880 · West Bengal — Died 7 May 1974

Led the Bengal Women's League and supported the Non-Cooperation Movement after 1921.

Basanti Devi, also known as Basanti Haldar or Basanti Devi Haldar, was an Indian independence activist during the British rule in India. She was the wife of activist Chittaranjan Das. After Das' arrest in 1921 and death in 1925, she took an active part in various political and social movements and continued with social work post-independence. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1973.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Basanti Devi was arrested in 1921 for publicly selling khadi, making her one of the earliest Indian women jailed during the non-cooperation movement.

The Story

1
In 1921, Basanti Devi became the first Indian woman arrested for selling khadi on Kolkata streets during the non-cooperation movement, defying warnings from Subhash Chandra Bose.
2
🌟 After her husband Chittaranjan Das was imprisoned and later died in 1925, Basanti Devi took over his weekly publication "Bangalar Katha" and led the Bengal Provincial Congress in 1921–22.
3She co-founded the "Nari Karma Mandir" with Das' sisters in 1921, a training center designed to prepare women activists amid rising political unrest.
4🌿 Basanti Devi collected an extraordinary contribution of gold ornaments and 2000 gold coins from Jalpaiguri in 1920–21 towards the Tilak Swaraj Fund, showcasing grassroots support for the independence movement.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1973
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1920–21, Basanti Devi personally collected 2000 gold coins and numerous gold ornaments from the Jalpaiguri region to fund the Tilak Swaraj Fund, a remarkable display of grassroots mobilization during colonial rule.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth of Basanti Devi
Basanti Devi was born to Baradanath Haldar, diwan of a zamindary in Assam, and Swarnamayee Devi.
1880
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Other
Marriage to Chittaranjan Das
Basanti Devi married Chittaranjan Das at age 17 after meeting at Loreto House, Kolkata.
c.1897
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Career
Participation in Nagpur Congress Session
Basanti Devi took part in the 1920 Indian National Congress session at Nagpur.
1920
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Career
Arrest for Selling Khadi
She was arrested during the non-cooperation movement in Kolkata for selling khadi, despite warnings of British crackdown.
1921
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Career
President of Bengal Provincial Congress
Basanti Devi became president of the Bengal Provincial Congress and led political efforts in 1921–22.
1921
🌟
Other
Death of Chittaranjan Das
Her husband and prominent leader Chittaranjan Das died, after which Basanti Devi intensified her activism.
1925
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Award
Awarded Padma Vibhushan
Basanti Devi was honored with the Padma Vibhushan for her contributions to Indian independence and social work.
1973
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Death
Death of Basanti Devi
Basanti Devi passed away, leaving behind a legacy in political activism and women's empowerment.
1974
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Despite warnings from Subhash Chandra Bose about British retaliation, Basanti Devi led a group selling khadi publicly in Kolkata in 1921, resulting in her arrest and sparking widespread agitation.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Basanti Devi presided over the Bengal Provincial Congress in 1921–22 and used the 1922 Chittagong conference to call for grassroots agitation, highlighting her role as a political leader beyond mere symbolic presence.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

After her husband’s death in 1925, Basanti Devi became a trusted political advisor and maternal figure to Subhash Chandra Bose, who described her as one of the four most important women in his life.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Basanti Devi’s leadership in the Bengal Provincial Congress and her role in founding the Nari Karma Mandir helped institutionalize women’s political activism in Bengal. Her mentorship of figures like Subhash Chandra Bose influenced key nationalist strategies, while her advocacy for cultural resistance laid groundwork for intertwining feminism with the freedom movement. Post-independence, her continued social work and recognition with the Padma Vibhushan in 1973 underscored her enduring influence on Indian politics and society.

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