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Ramadevi Choudhury
politician · writer
- December 3, 1899
- July 22, 1985
- 85 years
About Ramadevi Choudhury
Ramadevi Choudhury, 85, Indian social reformist and independence activist.
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Full Biography
|Ramadevi Choudhury (3 December 1899 – 22 July 1985), also known as Rama Devi, was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer. She was called Maa (Mother) by the people of Odisha. The Ramadevi Women's University in Bhubaneswar has been named after her.
Family
She was born in an aristocratic Zamindar Karan family. She was the daughter of Choudhury Gopala Ballabha Das and Basant Kumari Devi and the niece of Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das. At the age of 15, she married Gopabandhu Choudhury, then a Deputy Collector.
Role during independence
Together with her husband, she joined the Indian independence movement in 1921. She was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and took an active part in Non Cooperation Movement. She used to go from village to village to encourage women to join the independence movement. Others who influenced her were Jai Prakash Narayan, Vinoba Bhave and her uncle, Madhusudan Das. In 1921, she had her first meeting with Gandhiji and, together with her husband, joined the Non Cooperation Movement. The same year they joined the Indian National Congress and started wearing khadi. In 1930, she took active part in the Salt Satyagraha movement at Orissa level. She went to Inchudi and Srijang, with other activist like Kiranbala Sen, Maltidevi, Sarala Devi, Pranakrushna Padhiari. She and her colleagues were arrested in November 1930 and placed in different jails by the British. She was arrested several times (in 1921, 1930, 1936, 1942) with other women independence activists like Sarala Devi, Malati Choudhury and others and was sent to jail. She attended the 1931 Karachi session of the Indian National Congress and, at that time, requested leaders to hold the next session in Orissa. In 1932 after her release from Hazaribagh jail, she was actively involved in Harijan welfare. She stated the Asprushyata Nibarana Samiti under instructions from Gandhiji, for the eradication of untouchability. The institution was later renamed the Harijan Sewa Sangha. She was closely involved in Gandhiji's 1932 and 1934 visits to Orissa as well as the visits of, Kasturba, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru and others. She started an Ashram at Bari, Orissa which Gandhiji named Sewaghar. During the Quit India Movement of 1942, members of Rama Devi's entire family, including her husband, Gopabandhu Choudhury, were arrested. After the death of Kasturba Gandhi, Gandhji assigned her work as the representative of the Orissa chapter of the Kasturba Trust.
Role after independence of India
After the Independence of India in 1947, Rama Devi dedicated herself to the cause of Bhoodan and Gramdan movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. In 1952 she along with her husband she travelled on foot about 4000 kilometres across the state to propagate the message of giving land and wealth to the landless and poor. From 1928, Rama Devi stayed in the Alaka Ashram at Jagatsingpur.
She helped set up the Utkal Khadi Mandal and also established a Teachers' Training Centre and Balwadi at Ramchandrapur. In 1950 she set up a Tribal Welfare Centre at Dumburugeda. During the 1951 famine she and Malati worked in famine relief in Koraput. She worked to aid soldiers affected by the Indo-Chinese War of 1962.
During the Emergency she protested by bringing out her own newspaper along with Harekrushna Mahatab and Nilamani Routray. The Gram Sevak Press, was banned by the government and was arrested along with other leaders from Orissa like Nabakrushna Choudhury, Harekrushna Mahatab, Manmohan Chowdhury, Smt. Annapurna Moharana, Jaykrushana Mohanty, and others.
She established a primary school, Shishu Vihar and a cancer hospital at Cuttack.
Honours
In recognition of her services to the nation, Ramadevi was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award on 4 November 1981 and the Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) by Utkal University on 16 April 1984.
Memorials
Rama Devi Women's University at Bhubaneshwar is named in her memory. It is the first women's university in eastern India, established as such since 2015. There is a museum dedicated to her within the university premises. The school – Shishu Vihar – started by her at Cuttack is now named Ramadevi Shishu Vihar.
Death
She died on 22 July 1985 at the age of 85.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadevi_Choudhury
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- View record
- October 23, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Ramadevi Choudhury's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of birth of Ramadevi Choudhury?
- A.22 July 1985
- B.3 December 1899correct
- C.16 April 1984
- D.4 November 1981
Ramadevi Choudhury was born on 3 December 1899.
Source: Biography introduction
2.What title was Ramadevi Choudhury known by among the people of Odisha?
- A.Didi
- B.Maacorrect
- C.Guru
- D.Rani
The people of Odisha affectionately called Ramadevi Choudhury 'Maa' (Mother).
Source: Biography introduction
3.At what age did Ramadevi Choudhury marry her husband, Gopabandhu Choudhury?
- A.18
- B.12
- C.15correct
- D.21
Ramadevi Choudhury married Gopabandhu Choudhury when she was 15 years old.
Source: Family section
4.In which year did Ramadevi Choudhury first join the Indian independence movement?
- A.1910
- B.1942
- C.1930
- D.1921correct
Ramadevi Choudhury joined the Indian independence movement along with her husband in 1921.
Source: Role during independence section
5.Which movement saw Ramadevi Choudhury take an active part at the Orissa level in 1930?
- A.Non Cooperation Movement
- B.Salt Satyagrahacorrect
- C.Quit India Movement
- D.Bhoodan movement
In 1930, Ramadevi Choudhury participated in the Salt Satyagraha movement at the Orissa level.
Source: Role during independence section
6.What was the name of the Ashram started by Ramadevi Choudhury at Bari, Orissa?
- A.Shishu Vihar
- B.Alaka Ashram
- C.Harijan Sewa Sangha
- D.Sewagharcorrect
Ramadevi Choudhury started an Ashram at Bari, Orissa, which Mahatma Gandhi named Sewaghar.
Source: Role during independence section
7.Which session of the Indian National Congress did Ramadevi Choudhury attend in 1931?
- A.Lahore session
- B.Bombay session
- C.Karachi sessioncorrect
- D.Calcutta session
Ramadevi Choudhury attended the 1931 Karachi session of the Indian National Congress.
Source: Role during independence section
8.What institution was established by Ramadevi Choudhury under instructions from Mahatma Gandhi for the eradication of untouchability?
- A.Tribal Welfare Centre
- B.Kasturba Trust
- C.Utkal Khadi Mandal
- D.Asprushyata Nibarana Samiticorrect
Ramadevi Choudhury started the Asprushyata Nibarana Samiti for the eradication of untouchability.
Source: Role during independence section
9.After India's independence, to which movement did Ramadevi Choudhury dedicate herself?
- A.Bhoodan and Gramdan movementcorrect
- B.Khilafat movement
- C.Non-Aligned movement
- D.Swadeshi movement
After 1947, Ramadevi Choudhury dedicated herself to the Bhoodan and Gramdan movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave.
Source: Role after independence section
10.What distance did Ramadevi Choudhury and her husband travel on foot in 1952 to propagate the Bhoodan message?
- A.2000 kilometres
- B.3000 kilometres
- C.4000 kilometrescorrect
- D.1000 kilometres
Ramadevi Choudhury and her husband travelled about 4000 kilometres on foot in 1952.
Source: Role after independence section
11.In what year did Ramadevi Choudhury set up a Tribal Welfare Centre at Dumburugeda?
- A.1962
- B.1951
- C.1950correct
- D.1947
Ramadevi Choudhury established a Tribal Welfare Centre at Dumburugeda in 1950.
Source: Role after independence section
12.Which war's affected soldiers did Ramadevi Choudhury work to aid?
- A.Indo-Chinese Warcorrect
- B.World War II
- C.Indo-Pak War
- D.Kargil War
Ramadevi Choudhury worked to aid soldiers affected by the Indo-Chinese War of 1962.
Source: Role after independence section
13.What award was presented to Ramadevi Choudhury on 4 November 1981?
- A.Jamnalal Bajaj Awardcorrect
- B.Nobel Peace Prize
- C.Bharat Ratna
- D.Padma Shri
Ramadevi Choudhury was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award on 4 November 1981.
Source: Honours section
14.From which institution did Ramadevi Choudhury receive an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in 1984?
- A.Bhubaneswar College
- B.Delhi University
- C.Ramadevi Women's University
- D.Utkal Universitycorrect
Utkal University awarded Ramadevi Choudhury a Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) on 16 April 1984.
Source: Honours section
15.What is the name of the primary school established by Ramadevi Choudhury at Cuttack?
- A.Balwadi Center
- B.Jagatsingpur School
- C.Bari Academy
- D.Shishu Viharcorrect
Ramadevi Choudhury established a primary school named Shishu Vihar at Cuttack.
Source: Role after independence section
16.On what date did Ramadevi Choudhury die?
- A.22 July 1985correct
- B.3 December 1899
- C.4 November 1981
- D.16 April 1984
Ramadevi Choudhury died on 22 July 1985 at the age of 85.
Source: Death section
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