My Science School

          Sarojini Naidu was born in a brilliant, Bengali Brahmin family. She spent her childhood at a comfortable home in Hyderabad, with a garden in front, and woods at the rear. Sarojini Naidu became a national sensation when she passed the Madras matriculation in the first place at the age of twelve. She was already a poetess at eighteen. She was guided by Edmund Gosse and Arthur Symons, her lecturers at Cambridge.

            While trying to solve a problem in algebra, she wrote hundreds of lines of poetry. She chased beautiful music and colourful words and wove them into rhyming lines. The passionate love for the motherland, nature and the inner joy of spiritual emotion breathe a magical life in to her poems.

            She was the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress. She was a great freedom fighter. In fact, she was the greatest Indian woman of her time, and perhaps, one of the greatest in the world. 

“Only two sons of mine have gone to jail, but twenty thousand sons of Mother India are in jail. How can I bemoan my fate?” said Kasturba Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi highlights Kasturba’s selfless devotion in his autobiography. She led a simple life. Kasturba toured various states, spreading the message of freedom and Swadeshi. She called upon women to take to khadi, and practice spinning. Her words came from the heart, and influenced the masses. Kasturba had to sacrifice her family life as her husband was frequently in jail. At the time of the Dandi March, Stree Swarajya Sangh was formed. This was headed by Kasturba and Mithu Ben. They led the boycott of foreign clothes and the picketing of liquor shops. Kasturba was arrested several times. On February 24th, 1944 Kasturba passed away in prison wearing the khadi sari spun by Mahatma Gandhi.

 

At the age of fourteen, Laxmi Bai was married to Gangadhar Rao, the Raja of Jhansi. When Gangadhar Rao died, Lord Dalhousie ordered the Rani to hand over to them the reins of Jhansi. “I will not give my Jhansi”, said Laxmi Bai. Jhansi witnessed an uprising against the British on June 5th, 1857.

The Rani was an inspirational leader, and the people fought for her. She bravely proclaimed that her reign had begun. However, the British forces led by Sir Hugh Rose laid siege to Jhansi. The Rani defended Jhansi with all her might, but the British broke through. Rani Laxmi Bai escaped with a band of soldiers and joined other revolutionary leaders at Kalpi. They took Gwalior as the Rani fought in a man’s dress at the head of fifty horsemen. The Rani died heroically while defending Gwalior against the British.

 

        Noorjahan was a brave beauty. She was born Meherunnisa, to Mirza Giyas Beg who went on to become the Diwan of Kabul. Meherunnisa was well educated and excelled in painting. She married Sher Afgan, a royal. However, he was killed, and Meherunnisa was appointed lady in waiting at Akbar’s court.

         Jahangir, the son of Akbar fell in love with Meherunnisa and married her in 1611. Jahangir led a life of ease and luxury. Meherunnisa’s influence grew by the day. Jahangir bestowed on her the title Noor Mahal, meaning light of the palace. Later he gave her the title Noorjahan, or light of the world. She would sit in the balcony of her palace and the nobles would listen to her orders. Coins were minted in her name. Noorjahan was a highly cultured and kind hearted lady. She was buried beside her husband in a mausoleum erected by her. 

As a young girl, Raziya studied the science of war. Impressed by her ability, her father IItumish, the Sultan of Delhi made her his heir. However, after the death of IItumish, the nobles enthroned his irresponsible son Ruknuddin. Raziya overthrew Ruknuddin with the help of the nobles, and became Sultan of Delhi. The governors of Badaun, Multan, Hansi, and Lahore laid siege to her fort. Raziya cleverly won over two of the generals, and the rest fled. Raziya was an able ruler. Her kingdom extended from Sindh in the west, to Bengal in the east. She appointed non-Turks to high posts. The Turkish noblemen rose in revolt. Kabir Khan, the governor of Lahore was the first to do so. Raziya attacked him suddenly, and put him behind bars. However, she lost a heroic battle at Delhi and was beheaded. Raziya Sultan was the first woman to ascend the throne of Delhi.