Kolkata, Apr 3: Famous search engine Google on Tuesday paid a tribute to Indian 
freedom fighter and feminist social reformer Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay on her 115th 
birth anniversary. 
The colourful doodle celebrates Kamaladevi's multi-faceted accomplishments and her 
immense contribution in enriching India's cultural and social fabric. 
Today’s Doodle by Finland-based Desi artist Parvati Pillai depicts Chattopadhyay 
surrounded by many of the cultural objects and practices she fought to elevate and 
protect, including the bhangra, the sitar, the sarangi, Karthak dance, Chhau dance, 
embroidery, basket weaving, and Kathaputli. 
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also remembered Kamaladevi on the 
occasion.
“Remembering social reformer and freedom fighter Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay on 
her birth anniversary,” Ms Banerjee tweeted.
Born on April 3, 1903 in Mangalore, Kamaladevi was widowed at 16. She married 
Harindranath Chattopadhyay when she was 20 and then headed to London where 
she graduated with a diploma in Sociology. 
Chattopadhyay joined the freedom movement when she returned to India. She 
then founded the AIWC, which did a lot of work for social reform. 
Kamaladevi was credited for persuading Mahatma Gandhi to encourage more 
women to march with him during the freedom struggle. 
In 1930, Kamaladevi was part of Gandhi's salt satyagraha team and she was later 
arrested for entering the Bombay Stock Exchange to sell packets of contraband salt.
Chattopadhyay’s contributions to India were numerous. She is also credited for 
reinvigorating the culture of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre, and for using 
cooperative grassroots movements to pave the way for a higher socioeconomic standard 
for Indian women around the country. 
She had a career of ‘firsts’ - from being the first woman to run for Legislative office to 
setting up some of the first national institutions to archive, protect, and promote Indian 
dance, drama, art, puppetry, music, and handicrafts. 
Kamaladevi was also one of the few women of her time to propose that women’s rights, religious freedoms, environmental justice, political independence, and civil rights are all interrelated movements. 
Chattopadhyay is regarded as the visionary behind the famous New Delhi-situated 
theatre institute National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Central Cottage 
Industries Emporium, and the Crafts Council of India.
She is also the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour 
conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.
Chattopadhyay has also authored several books dealing with the International 
relations including Japan-its weakness and strength, Uncle Sam's empire and In 
war-torn China. 
Kamaladevi, who bagged the Padma Vibhushan in 1987 (a year before her death), 
was a woman of many firsts. UNI
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