5 incredible facts about Subhadra Kumari Chauhan!

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was an individual who made significant contributions to the field of Hindi literature. Her aptitude for writing poetry was clear at an early age, and she carried & practiced her talent in adulthood as well.

Her works continue to be well-known today for their power, simplicity, and expression of emotions. 

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Kiran Bedi, and Arundhati Roy are among the most significant women personalities that continue to inspire the Indian youth today. Familiarizing yourself with their work is an excellent way to adopt their radical thinking and approach to societal expectations of women. 

Keep reading to discover 5 important things you need to know about this incredible poet! 

5 Incredible Facts You Should Know About Subhadra Kumari Chauhan 

She had an early fascination for writing poetry and continued to practice her talent and pen works that are now popular for their quality, simplicity, and sheer elegance. 

Here are 5 things you should know about this prolific personality: 

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was a Freedom Fighter 

• Chauhan was born in the Prayagraj district in Uttar Pradesh on 16 August 1904. 
• Her marriage to Thakur Laxman Singh Chauhan (of Khandwa) took place at the tender age of 16. 
• Soon after her marriage, she moved to Jabalpur. In 1921, the couple joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. 
• Subhadra was the first woman satyagrahi to be arrested in Nagpur. 
• Kumari was jailed twice(1923 and 1942) during her activities for her involvement in protests against British rule. 
• She also became a member of the Legislative Assembly of the state, inspiring the youth to fight for their rights and independence. 
• Her prose and poetry primarily focused on the hardships of Indian women and their efforts to overcome gender & caste discrimination. 

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s talent for poetry was evident at an early age 

• The first poem that she wrote was at the age of 9 on a neem tree. 
• Laxman Singh, her husband who was a playwright himself, continued to support her talents and artistic capabilities well after marriage.
• Five of her popular published works include two remarkable poetry collections named ‘Tridhara’ and ‘Mukul’. 
• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan also wrote several short stories during her career as a poet. Her most popular story collections include ‘Seedhe-Saade Chitra’, ‘Unmadini’, and ‘Moti’. 
• She wrote in the Khariboli dialect of Hindi. Her poems for children and different short stories are also based on the lives of middle-class families. 
• Her total number of published poems is 88, besides 46 incredible short stories. 

Her Most Popular Composition is ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’. 

• ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ is a poem by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan continues to be one of the most sung poems in Hindi literature. 
• Her writing style is around women who work to conquer adversity while also battling for the sovereignty of the nation. 

• ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ composes of strong words that showcase Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s revolutionary ideologies. 

• This poem is well-known for its power during a period in Hindi literature where publishing works were in control by men. 
• ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ is an emotional description of the queen of Jhansi (British India) and her significant participation in the 1857 revolution. 
• On the event of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s 117th birth anniversary, Google commented: 

“Chauhan’s poetry remains a staple in many Indian classrooms as a symbol of historical progress, encouraging future generations to stand up against social injustice and celebrate the words that shaped a nation’s history.” 

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan has an Outstanding Legacy 

• The ICGS Chauhan is an Indian Coast Guard ship, the name for which was after the poet. 
• The government of Madhya Pradesh has also placed a statue of Subhadra Kumari in Jabalpur before the Municipal Corporation office. 
• On 6 August 1976, India Post published a postage stamp that commemorated the poet and author. 
• On 16 August 2021, the popular search engine Google commemorated Chauhan with a Doodle on her 117th birth anniversary. The doodle illustration is by a New Zealand artist Prabha Mallya. 

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan had a Unique Opinion on the Concept of Death 

• Subhadra continues to be a source of inspiration to the Indian youth long after her death. 
• On her way back to Jabalpur, she died at the age of 44 on 15 February 1948 in a sudden car accident near Seoni (Madhya Pradesh). 
• She was quoted saying the following about the concept of her death : 

“I don’t have the idea of leaving this Earth even after I die. I want to have a samadhi (tomb) around which there will be a fair, children playing, women singing, and a lot of commotion.” 

Key Takeaways 

• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was a prolific author and poet who made significant contributions to the field of Hindi literature. 

• One of her most popular works, ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ continues to be appreciated, sung, and studied in Indian classrooms today. 

• Kumari was an active freedom fighter who worked to arouse the Indian youth and women towards fighting against oppression and social injustice. 
• She has been honored by the government of Madhya Pradesh, Google.  India Posts. Additionally, she also has an Indian Coast Guard Ship named after her.
• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was of the belief that her death should be celebrated by women and children alike. 

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FAQs 

Q1. Was Subhadra Kumari Chauhan the first woman participant in Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement? 

Answer – Indeed! Subhadra Kumari Chauhan is the first woman participant in Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. 

Q2. Which poems penned by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan discuss the freedom movement? 

Answer – ‘Jallianwala Bagh mein Vasant’, ‘Vida’, ‘Rakhi Ki Chunauti’, and ‘Veeron Ka Kaisa Ho Basant’ are poems that openly discuss the freedom movement in India. 

Q3. Where did Subhadra Kumari Chauhan study? 

Answer – Subhadra Kumari Chauhan studied at Crosthwaite Girls’ School in Allahabad. She was a senior, friends with Mahadevi Verma, and passed her middle-school examinations in 1919.