Matangini Hazra: The Fearless Grandmother of India’s Freedom Struggle is a powerful long-form historical biography that brings to life one of the most courageous yet overlooked women of India’s independence movement.
Born in rural Bengal in 1870, Matangini Hazra endured poverty, child marriage, widowhood, and social isolation before becoming an unlikely revolutionary in her sixties. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and the growing nationalist movement, she joined protests, marched against British rule, endured imprisonment, and emerged as a respected grassroots leader in Midnapore district.
This deeply researched and emotionally rich narrative explores the political unrest of Bengal, the rise of Gandhian resistance, the role of women in the freedom struggle, and the explosive events of the Quit India Movement. At its heart stands the unforgettable image of an elderly woman carrying the Indian flag towards armed police on 29 September 1942, refusing to retreat even as bullets struck her down.
Blending historical accuracy with compelling storytelling, this book is both a tribute to Matangini Hazra and a reminder of the countless ordinary Indians whose sacrifices shaped the nation’s path to independence.
