A prominent personality of the Indian Nationalist Movement, she was
born as Bhikaiji Rustom Cama on 24th September, 1861 to a Parsi family
in Bombay (now Mumbai). Well, we are talking about none other than Madam
Cama, who is a well known freedom fighter. She came from a pretty well
off family and her father Sorabji Framji Patel was a powerful member of
the Parsi community. In this article, we will present you with the
biography of Madame Cama.
Bhikaji took education from Alexandra Native Girl's English
Institution. From the very beginning, she was a very sincere child. She
always admired the personalities of the Nationalist Movement. On the 3rd
of August in the year 1885, she tied her wedding knots with Rustom Cama,
an affluent pro-British lawyer. She did not enjoy her married life and
spent most of her time performing altruistic activities. Read on to know
the complete life history of Madam Bhikaji Rustom Cama.
In the year 1896, the Bombay presidency was hit by a natural calamity,
which had adverse effects on the city. Bhikaji was instrumental in the
activities undertaken to provide assistance to the afflicted people.
While rescuing other people and inoculating them, she herself became a
victim of the infection. She became very weak, but somehow managed to
survive. In the year 1902, she went to Europe for subsequent medical
care and convalescence.
During her stay in London, she got a message that her return to India
can take place subject to the promise that she would not participate in
the Nationalist Movement. She refused to make such a promise and
remained in exile in Europe. She died in the Parsi General hospital in
Bombay (now Mumbai) in the year 1936. While Madam Cama was in London,
she served as the private secretary to Dadabhai Naoroji, who was the
first Asian to be elected to the British House of Commons.
When Bhikaji Cama was in Paris, she happened to come across a number of
notable leaders of the Indian Nationalist Movement. In Holland, they
secretly published and circulated the revolutionary literature for the
Nationalist Movement. During her stay in France, the British Raj
authorities requested her extradition, but the French Government did not
show their willingness and refused to cooperate. In return, the
Britishers confiscated Madame Cama's legacy.
Bhikaji Cama has always been actively involved in fighting for gender
equality. On August 22, 1907, she raised the flag for India's
Independence at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart,
Germany. There are many cities in India that have streets and places
being named after Bhikaiji Cama. On 26th January 1962, the Indian Posts
and Telegraphs Department issued a stamp to acknowledge her work and
give her honor. The Indian Coast Guard consists of a ship that has been
named after her.
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