The Life and Times of Madam Bhikaji Cama

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Madam Bhikaji Cama was a Parsi woman, who became famous for hoisting the Indian Flag for the first time in Stuttgart and proclaiming it as 'A Flag of Independence'. She devoted her life for the freedom of India helping the revolutionaries in various ways.

A dedicated nationalist, she, along with Dadabhai Naoroji and Rewabhai Rana worked relentlessly for independence. Even in exile, she wrote, published and distributed revolutionary literature for the cause. A determined woman, she was also a philanthropist. Few know the life of this woman who spent her time, money and all her means for the freedom of India.

An inspiring and motivating biography of one of the most devoted freedom fighter of India.

Rachna Bhola `Yamini' is a post-graduate in journalism and contributes regularly to columns. A prolific writer she has covered various genre — stories, biography, novel, etc. She has written over 150 books on various subjects. With command over both English and Hindi languages she has translated a number of fairy tales and classics.

Madam Bhikaji Rustam Cama, better known as Madam Cama, has been a patroness and source of inspiration for the Indian revolutionaries in true sense of the term. She was the first Indian woman to struggle against the British rule for India's freedom. It was she who accomplished the historical task of hoisting India's national flag at an international forum. She had played a major role in the revolutionary organisations formed for the freedom struggle in England and France in the beginning of the twentieth century.

The remarkable achievements during the life of Madam Cama comprise the revelation of the actual prevailing conditions in repressing India under the foreign rule, rendering every possible assistance to Indian revolutionaries, undertaking propaganda for nationalism through newspapers, getting support of revolutionaries from other countries, promoting and distributing secret revolutionary literature, making arrangements for transport of arms and ammunition from foreign countries, and the like.

The daughter and daughter-in-law of an affluent family, Madam Cama had to face expulsion from the country only because she wanted to see her country independent; she wanted to root out the oppressive and atrocious British rule from India. She wanted to establish a republic which could stand straight before the whole world proudly and gloriously.

Madam Cama had to pass thirty-five years of her life abroad in exile. She was not allowed to return to India. Such a mighty British empire was frightened of this lady who had been termed as a dangerous and aggressive revolutionary. The memory of Mother India never dimmed in her mind even when she was abroad. The sole goal of her life was the realization of freedom for the country.

She became the harbinger of revolution and shared the pleasures and sorrows of the revolutionaries. She inspired and initiated every Indian youth in patriotism. Not only this, she sacrificed her private property, pleasure and comfort for the cause of her motherland. She was isolated from her home and family completely; her relation with her relatives had yet she was cursed by these, solitary sojourn proved a boon for her. Had she been in India, family and social limitations and opposition by the English government could not have allowed her to implement her ideas. On the foreign soil, she worked for the country's freedom using all her strength.

Taking pride in the culture and traditions of her country, Madam Cama abided by her religious beliefs and traditions throughout her life, she brought into practice the teachings life. She also taught and tenets of Parsi faith in her the Indian youths studying abroad that they must not forget their own language, culture and civilization wherever they might go or live.

Though major part of her life was spent in foreign countries, yet Madam Cama continued to play a leading role amongst all revolutionary women of the Indian freedom struggle. Her ideology and principles continued to awake public consciousness. Once she determined her goal with the hailing of Vande Mataram, she did not allow herself to falter from this path.

This book has been written as a tribute to this great revolutionary: Madam Cama; regrettably who has been almost forgotten by the countrymen. This biography will be able to let the readers know about her life, mission and activities.