Gujarat has often been regarded as the land of great personalities. It has given birth to many freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation. Today, we are going to talk about such a great woman freedom fighter of India who has been forgotten in the 21st century.
Yes, we are talking about Perin Ben Captain who was an Indian freedom activist, social worker, and the granddaughter of legendary Indian intellectual and leader, Dadabhai Naoroji. Born on 12 October 1888 in Kutch district, Gujarat, Perin Ben comes from a Parsi family. Her father was a medical doctor and her mother, Virbai Dadina, was a housewife. Her father passed away when she was just 5 years old. She did her education in Mumbai and completed her degree in French from Paris university. She is said to be involved in the process of releasing Vinayak Damodar Savarkar from prison in London.
Perin Ben returned to India in 1911 and met Mahatma Gandhi. She then decided to work with him and in 1920, she took to Swadeshi movement and started wearing Khadi. In 1921, she helped in establishing the Rashtriya Stree Sabha, a women’s movement based on Gandhian ideals. She played a crucial role in provoking many women to rise against British rule.
Perin was married to Dhunjisha S. Captain, a lawyer, in 1925, but they did not have children. Perin worked tirelessly throughout her life to raise the consciousness of Indian women. She wanted to improve their lives and engage them in the country’s destiny. She continued to work for India’s freedom and became the first woman president of the Bombay Provincial Congress Committee. She took part in the Civil disobedience movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi Seva Sena was reconstituted in the 1930s and Perin was appointed its honorary General Secretary. She died in the year 1958. She was honoured with the award of Padma Shri in 1954, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for her contributions to the country. She also received global attention for her determination and contribution as a freedom fighter.
