We are quite familiar with nondescript unscrupulous charlatans with no means, with no significant intellectual endowment even, save a clever, cunning, crafty calculative Machiavellian selfish guile to swindle and enrich themselves at every opportunity, entering politics penniless and, in no time, as if by magic, transform not only themselves but every member of their family also into multi-millionaires or even billionaires. This repulsive phenomenon has become so regular today that we take it for granted and if, by a rare chance, we come across any immaculate individual with impeccable credentials entering politics, renouncing all their wealth with the sole aim of serving the nation, we look at him/her with amazement and disbelief.
But, there have been many individuals, from fabulously rich families, born with not just silver spoons but diamond ones in their mouths, abdicating all their wealth, choosing an austere and ascetic life and dedicating themselves heart and soul for the welfare of the society. The sad fact is that many of them fade into oblivion without being noticed by posterity. A study of their lives will infuse their sterling qualities in us as well and guide us to live a purposeful life benefitting the society.
Ambujammal: If anyone mentions this name in Tamil Nadu, the person will conclude that it is some old, lower middle class, Brahmin woman living in some narrow lane in Mylapore and engaged in traditional papad making for her livelihood. But, this is the story of an Ambujammal who scripted history through her service to the nation.
How Her Impressionable Years Were Shaped By Her Illustrious Family
Ambujammal was born on January 8, 1899 to S Srinivasa Iyengar and Ranganayaki Ammal. It was a fabulously rich, blue blood family with illustrious personages adorning every walk of life. Her father, S Srinivasa Iyengar was a famous lawyer. He was quite successful in his profession and won copious laurels and recognition. He had an extensive knowledge of Hindu Dharmasastras. His book on “Mayne’s Hindu laws” is a much-acclaimed authority in the academy of law studies even now. In fact, his services and sacrifices deserve a separate article.
Iyengar was the political mentor for the firebrand S Satyamurti and also, hold your breath, for a very popular heavyweight, whom, today every political party craves to claim ownership, the indomitable Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar!
Her maternal grandfather was the famous Sir V Bhashyam Iyengar, founder of Lady Sivaswamy Girls School, and co-founder of Kasturbai Gandhi Hospital, Tiruvallikkeni, Chennai. He was the first Indian Advocate General of Madras.
Such a detailed description of her illustrious family background is warranted when we juxtapose it with the further dramatic developments in her history.
In spite of a luxuriously affluent family backdrop, Ambujammal’s childhood days were not an unalloyed joyous experience, which goes to confirm the eternal verity of life that material wealth alone does not, ipso facto, guarantee happiness and harmony. It was a mixed bag of joy and sorrow, mirth mixed with melancholy; but she took them sportively with a positive and practical attitude, as could be inferred by her own humorous narration of her early days in her autobiography titled, .’நான் கண்ட பாரதம்’ [India in my perception]
When she was 11, her father moved into a palatial mansion in Luz Church Road, a silk-stocking area in Mylapore. Everything about the residence was on gargantuan proportions, the extent of area, the grove of trees and gardens, the ponds, the colonnaded verandah, the size of the rooms etc.
The arrangement for her education was something strange in the present day’s perspective. While her younger brother was sent to school, as per the custom in those days in many households, she was not sent. Instead, her father arranged for it in the house itself. The teacher, thus appointed, instead of teaching some lesson, spent the first half an hour in reading the Bible and narrating the sacrifices undergone by Jesus! Her description was so melodramatic that it generated profuse tears in the innocent child’s eyes! The teacher would even ask a rhetoric question, ‘Look, how much Jesus has suffered for us? Has anyone of your Gods have done similarly?’ Indeed, the poisonous, pernicious pestilence of religious conversion had penetrated even into such exclusive, privileged households!
In addition to such invidious indoctrination, children of elite society were punctiliously trained in western custom and style like pants, shoes, socks, hat, suits, coat, practices like horse riding, training in western music, playing piano etc.
Still, as per the orthodox custom in vogue those days, she got married quite early at the age of 11. Her married life was not exactly a pleasant one, to say the least. There was a deep chasm in the value systems between the two families, apart from the difference in status resulting in ego problem between her father and father-in-law, as a result of which persons in her in-laws’ house were not cordial towards her.
The Moment That Changed Her Life
Her father being an eminent legal luminary, lot of VIPs, both Englishmen as well as Indians used to throng her house. There were frequent gala functions in her house and during such festivities, she used to meet lot of dignitaries in colourful costumes. Later, Srinivasa Iyengar, attracted by Mahatma Gandhi’s fight for freedom, joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the non-cooperation movement. In that connection, when she was around 15 years of age, Gandhiji visited her house with his wife Kasturi Bai. This was the first occasion she saw Gandhiji. His striking spartan simplicity coupled with the self-effacing modesty of Kasturi Bai, as revealed in their attire and attitude immensely impressed the young girl. She looked at the jewel-less, austere get up of Kasturi Bai and the opulent jewels adorning herself. At that moment the seed was sown instantly that grew further and blossomed into an exemplary social worker later.
The Making Of A Legend
When Gandhiji visited Madras again, he stayed in her house for three days. During that time, she had enough guidance from him as to the various ways in which women can take part in serving the masses. She, along with like-minded women in her circle, started arranging for and supplying medicines and clothes for the army. She got the friendship of Rukmani Lakshmipathy, Durgabai Deshmukh during her activities. She boycotted foreign clothes and started selling Khadi clothes in the streets.
She donated all her jewels and all other rich assets for the welfare of the harijans at Gandhiji’s Wardha Ashram. Her involvement in freedom struggle and Salt Satyagraha got her imprisonment several times. She converted the prison into a knowledge centre and taught the inmates Tamil, Hindi and English. She also trained them in handicrafts. She was a beacon light for other women to involve themselves in public service. Along with Sarojini Varadappan, daughter of M Bhakthavatchalam, she conducted free Hindi classes for the people of Madras. She took active role in the functions of Hindi Prachar Sabha. Since she was qualified in teaching, she taught in Sarada Vidyalaya as a part time teacher.
She toured Tamil Nadu with Vinoba Bhave and supported him in Bhumi Dhan movement. She worked incessantly for women’s’ development, their education, opposed child marriage, polygamy and for abolishing Devadasi system. She was a staunch supporter of prohibition. She was an eloquent speaker both in Tamil and Hindi. Through her inspiring speeches, she motivated other womenfolk in public life.
She founded Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam in Alwarpet, where she arranged for free coaching, dispensary, training and employment in its printing press for poor women. Being an erudite scholar, and gifted with writing skills, she authored several books and articles, apart from her autobiography. Tulsi Ramayana, Gandhi Ninaivu Maalai, M K Gandhi, Reminiscences of my father, etc. are some of her books. She has translated K M Munshi’s book on Veda Vyasa and Premchand’s popular Hindi novel, ‘Seva Sadan’. She passed away when she was 82.
Both Gandhiji and Kasthuri Bai treated her fondly as their foster daughter. Here is one of the letters Gandhiji had written to her:
Sri Ambujam,
“I was delighted to read your letter. After a length of time, the sight of your letter gave me the joy experienced by a father on seeing his daughter….why is your mind troubled. Write to me.”
Where Is Ambujammal Today?
There is one Ambujammal Street in Alwarpet, Chennai in which Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam functions. Gandhiji’s ashes are kept at that place. Just at a stones’ throw away are Poes Garden and Gopalapuram. Now, if you ask about the celebrities at the latter two places, even a child in the womb anywhere in Tamil Nadu will answer nonchalantly. But, if you ask about the first one, it is quite doubtful whether even a person residing in the very street will know anything about her!
A Swadeshi, a reformer, a freedom fighter and an exemplary social worker today has been lost to the pages of history which none of us care to turn back to.
If we fail to recognise and honour altruistic contributors to our society, are we not to be blamed for our ingratitude?
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