NAI Receives Collection of Private Papers of Late Bimla Devi “Rama”

The National Archives of India has recently received a Collection of Private Papers of late Smt. Bimla Devi “Rama”, niece of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Smt. Bimla Devi was born in 1903 and although she was married into a wealthy family of Muntazim estate in Buxar, she developed keen interest in the Fredom Movement and came into contact with several leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan and Sarojini Naidu. Fond of poetry she wrote several poems on the Salt Stayagraha launched by Gandhiji in 1930. A champion of women welfare , she acted as Chief Superintendent of Women’s Jail in Motihari as well as Member of the Shahabad District Sainik Board.In 1937 she became the first Woman Member of the Hindi Board of Studies of Patna University.

The Collection donated by her grandson comprises several poems written by her during the Freedom Movement, like Gharib, Bharat Ki Naaari, Harijan,Hai Bapu,.There are also letters written by Rajendra Prasad, Jayaprakash Narayan,Jagjivan Ram,A.N.Sinha amongothers.There is also a booklet entitled Vimal Pushpanjali edited by Bimla Devi.

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