In the initial days of the Sangham’s operations, the main agenda was to campaign for social reforms. The plight of women was miserable both at home and in society, making it a priority for the Sangham. This focus led to many women joining the movement. As the movement intensified into an armed struggle against the feudal lords, women’s participation grew organically, with many joining the dalams.

In feudal households like ours, women had limited freedom, primarily confined to retaining their property. The purdah system was, fortunately, on the decline, but women in ordinary households still faced all sorts of hardships.

As we walked the streets, doing our work for the Sangham, we could hear the cries of women from almost every house. Except for shedding tears, women had no other way to cope with the physical and verbal abuse inflicted by their menfolk.

We believed the only way to free women from this situation was to involve them in the Sangham’s work, as it did its best to uphold its belief that men and women were equal. The party focused on helping women break the shackles imposed by family traditions and societal norms. Women felt compelled to participate in the movement to achieve...

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