A.V. Kuttimalu Amma (Aged 80), also known as Anakkara Vadakkathu Kuttimalu Amma, was born on 23 April 1905, and was a woman freedom fighter, social worker, and politician in India. She played a prominent role in the Civil Disobedience movement. It was after her marriage in 1926 when Gandhiji visited the state in connection with his mission on the upliftment of the Harijans that she began her work as a public activist. Kuttimalu Amma was an active member of the Mahila Sangh in Calicut.
In 1930, when prominent leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya were arrested, it was decided to observe 15 August 1930 as All India Political Sufferers’ Day. The Mahila Sangh, under the leadership of Kuttimalu, went around the town to propagate this. This was the first time when the women in Malabar joined the national freedom struggle directly.
Kuttimalu was also an active swadeshi worker and encouraged other women to wear only khadi and motivated them to boycott foreign cloth. In 1931, she led groups of women to picket shops selling foreign cloth in Calicut. Kuttimalu was driven by sheer determination, and this is evident from the fact that despite being incarcerated multiple times in her political career, she continued to take part in the freedom movement with the same vigour.
In 1932, during the Civil Disobedience Movement, Kuttimalu, breaking the ban order, led a procession of women holding her 2-month-old baby in her arms. She was arrested and put to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment. When she reached the jail, she was prevented from taking her baby in with her. The firebrand that she was, she quoted the relevant rules and laws and thereby managed to take her baby to jail with her. This daring act of hers greatly motivated other women to come forth and take part in the freedom movement.
In 1940, when the individual Satyagraha of Gandhi was sending ripples all across the nation, Kuttimalu took on a leading role in organizing people for the same. She was one of the founding members of the All Kerala Women’s League and an active member of the Women’s Indian Association and the All India Women’s Conference. She was a member of the All India Congress Committee, the Congress Working Committee, and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, and later became its President.
At a time when women rarely stood for elections of the legislative assemblies, she contested, won, and served as a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly twice in 1937 and 1946. She was also the Municipal Councilor of Calicut. She passed away on 14 April 1985.
A.V. Kuttimalu Amma
(1905 – 1985) – (Kerala)
A.V. Kuttimalu Amma (Aged 80), also known as Anakkara Vadakkathu Kuttimalu Amma, was born on 23 April 1905, and was a woman freedom fighter, social worker, and politician in India. She played a prominent role in the Civil Disobedience movement. It was after her marriage in 1926 when Gandhiji visited the state in connection with his mission on the upliftment of the Harijans that she began her work as a public activist. Kuttimalu Amma was an active member of the Mahila Sangh in Calicut.
In 1930, when prominent leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya were arrested, it was decided to observe 15 August 1930 as All India Political Sufferers’ Day. The Mahila Sangh, under the leadership of Kuttimalu, went around the town to propagate this. This was the first time when the women in Malabar joined the national freedom struggle directly.
Kuttimalu was also an active swadeshi worker and encouraged other women to wear only khadi and motivated them to boycott foreign cloth. In 1931, she led groups of women to picket shops selling foreign cloth in Calicut. Kuttimalu was driven by sheer determination, and this is evident from the fact that despite being incarcerated multiple times in her political career, she continued to take part in the freedom movement with the same vigour.
In 1932, during the Civil Disobedience Movement, Kuttimalu, breaking the ban order, led a procession of women holding her 2-month-old baby in her arms. She was arrested and put to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment. When she reached the jail, she was prevented from taking her baby in with her. The firebrand that she was, she quoted the relevant rules and laws and thereby managed to take her baby to jail with her. This daring act of hers greatly motivated other women to come forth and take part in the freedom movement.
In 1940, when the individual Satyagraha of Gandhi was sending ripples all across the nation, Kuttimalu took on a leading role in organizing people for the same. She was one of the founding members of the All Kerala Women’s League and an active member of the Women’s Indian Association and the All India Women’s Conference. She was a member of the All India Congress Committee, the Congress Working Committee, and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, and later became its President.
At a time when women rarely stood for elections of the legislative assemblies, she contested, won, and served as a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly twice in 1937 and 1946. She was also the Municipal Councilor of Calicut. She passed away on 14 April 1985.
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