Women@Work: The Many Incarnations of Bharat Mata

Courtesy: Vidya Kulkarni & Aalochana

The Beacon 

‘Bharat Mata’ 

 “Sometimes as I reached a gathering, a great roar of welcome would greet me: Bharat Mata ki Jai—Victory to Mother India. I would ask them unexpectedly what they meant by that cry, who was this Bharat Mata, Mother India, whose victory they wanted? My question would amuse them and surprise them, and then, not knowing exactly what to answer, they would look at each other and at me. I persisted in my questioning. At last a vigorous Jat, wedded to the soil from immemorial generations, would say that it was the dharti, the good earth of India, that they meant. What earth? Their particular village patch, or all the patches in the district or province, or in the whole of India? And so question and answer went on, till they would ask me impatiently to tell them all about it. I would endeavour to do so and explain that India was all this that they had thought, but it was much more. The mountains and the rivers of India, and the forests and the broad fields, which gave us food, were all dear to us, but what counted ultimately were the people of India, people like them and me, who were spread out all over this vast land. Bharat Mata, Mother India, was essentially these millions of people, and victory to her meant victory to these people. You are parts of this Bharat Mata, I told them, you are in a manner yourselves Bharat Mata, and as this idea slowly soaked into their brains, their eyes would light up as if they had made a great discovery.” —Jawaharlal Nehru 

** 

Courtesy: Vidya Kulkarni & Aalochana

 

Courtesy: Vidya Kulkarni & Aalochana

 

Courtesy: Vidya Kulkarni & Aalochana

 

“You cannot remain silent. If you come out and speak, someone will hear your voice. Coming out to work is my way of protesting.” Courtesy: Hindustan Times (Dar Yasin / AP)

 

 

Courtesy: The Tribune

 

 

 

Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

 

******* 

Notes  
--Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India. Published by Sheridian Books London 1956 p48
--Images by Vidya Kulkarni part of: Priceless Labour: A Photo Calendar on Women and Work. Aalochana 2004.  © Vidya Kulkarni & Aalochna