Bharat Stree Mahamandal

Bharat Stree Mahamandal was one of the earliest women’s organisations in India, established in 1910 by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, a prominent nationalist, social reformer, and advocate of women’s empowerment. The organisation played a pioneering role in the early twentieth-century movement for women’s education, social reform, and national awakening. It is widely recognised as a precursor to later women’s associations that shaped India’s feminist and social reform landscape.

Historical Background

The emergence of women’s organisations in India during the early twentieth century was closely linked to the broader context of Indian social reform and the nationalist movement. Reformers in the nineteenth century, such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Jyotiba Phule, had initiated campaigns against social evils like child marriage, sati, and the denial of education to women.
By the early 1900s, a new generation of educated Indian women began taking leadership roles in advancing women’s rights. Inspired by both Indian cultural revivalism and global women’s movements, they sought to organise women around issues of education, self-reliance, and national service.
Within this social milieu, Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, niece of Rabindranath Tagore and a key figure in the Indian nationalist and cultural awakening movements, founded the Bharat Stree Mahamandal to unite women from diverse regions and communities in pursuit of education and empowerment.

Foundation and Objectives

The Bharat Stree Mahamandal was formally established in Allahabad in 1910 with the aim of promoting women’s education and welfare throughout India. Sarala Devi envisioned it as a national-level women’s organisation—the first of its kind in India—at a time when most existing associations were local or provincial in character.
The principal objectives of the organisation included:

• Promoting education for women across all social classes and communities.
• Encouraging female literacy and vocational training to enhance self-reliance.
• Working for social reform, particularly in areas such as child marriage, widow remarriage, and women’s health.
• Fostering a sense of national identity and unity among Indian women.
• Establishing branches throughout India to reach women in both urban and rural areas.

The organisation adopted a non-sectarian and non-political approach, aiming to bring together Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and other women on a common platform focused on education and social advancement.

Organisation and Activities

Bharat Stree Mahamandal established branches in several major cities, including Delhi, Lahore, Calcutta, Karachi, Amritsar, and Hyderabad. Each branch worked under the guidance of local women volunteers, often with the support of leading intellectuals and reformers.
The main activities of the organisation included:

• Setting up schools, literacy centres, and vocational training institutes for women and girls.
• Conducting lectures, conferences, and exhibitions to spread awareness about women’s issues and national progress.
• Promoting traditional crafts and cottage industries as a means of economic independence for women.
• Organising public discussions on the need for female education, hygiene, and participation in national life.
• Encouraging the study of Indian culture, language, and music as part of holistic education for women.

The organisation also maintained correspondence and cooperation with women’s groups in other parts of India and abroad, signifying one of the earliest attempts at creating a pan-Indian network of women activists.

Sarala Devi Chaudhurani and Her Vision

Sarala Devi Chaudhurani (1872–1945), the founder of Bharat Stree Mahamandal, was a scholar, writer, and patriot deeply involved in India’s social and nationalist movements. Educated at Bethune College in Calcutta, she was influenced by both the Brahmo Samaj reform movement and the Swadeshi Movement.
Her vision for Bharat Stree Mahamandal combined nationalist ideals with women’s empowerment. She believed that the regeneration of India depended on the education and participation of its women. Sarala Devi advocated the creation of a self-reliant female citizenry that could contribute to the country’s intellectual and moral development.
She also emphasised the role of women in nation-building, arguing that true independence would be incomplete without the uplift of Indian women. Through her speeches and writings, she inspired many educated women to engage in social reform and public service.

Importance and Achievements

Although Bharat Stree Mahamandal operated primarily in the first two decades of the twentieth century, its influence was far-reaching. Some of its key achievements include:

• It was the first national-level women’s organisation in India, preceding later bodies like the Women’s Indian Association (1917) and the National Council of Women in India (1925).
• It established the idea that women’s education and empowerment were integral to national progress.
• It brought together women of different religions and regions under a shared social vision, promoting inter-community cooperation.
• It laid the groundwork for the women’s movement in colonial India, helping to shape the agenda of later organisations focused on suffrage, legal reform, and political participation.

By advocating practical education and self-help, the organisation helped many women gain access to basic learning and vocational skills. Its emphasis on unity and non-sectarianism also set a precedent for inclusive social reform.

Decline and Legacy

The activities of Bharat Stree Mahamandal gradually declined after the First World War (1914–1918), largely due to financial constraints, lack of institutional support, and the emergence of new organisations with stronger political backing. Nevertheless, its ideological influence persisted.
Later organisations such as the All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) and the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) drew inspiration from the Mahamandal’s emphasis on education, national identity, and cross-community collaboration.
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani’s efforts through Bharat Stree Mahamandal helped transform the role of women in Indian society—from being passive subjects of reform to active participants in shaping national life. Her initiative demonstrated that women could organise themselves to address their own educational and social challenges, setting the stage for the women’s movement in modern India.