From Phoenix Settlement to Aga Khan Palace: The Political Journey of Kasturba Gandhi

By Dr. Siby K. Joseph

On the 81st martyrdom anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, it is time to revisit an overlooked truth: Ba was not merely the Mahatma’s companion—she was an independent political force in India’s freedom movement.

While history often merges her identity with that of Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi repeatedly stepped forward as a decisive leader whenever he was imprisoned or absent. From South Africa’s resistance struggles to the Quit India Movement, her courage shaped the moral and political character of India’s freedom struggle.

Phoenix Settlement: The Foundation of Political Awakening (1904)

The transformation began in South Africa. After Gandhi founded Indian Opinion in 1903 and established the Phoenix Settlement in 1904, Kasturba became the administrative and moral anchor of the community.

While Gandhi engaged in legal and political battles, Kasturba managed the daily affairs of the settlement—ensuring stability for what would become the laboratory of Satyagraha. This was not passive support; it was foundational political work.

Her political awakening crystallized in 1913 when a South African court invalidated all non-Christian marriages. Viewing this as an assault on womanhood itself, Kasturba led a protest march across the Transvaal border on September 15, 1913. She was arrested and sentenced to three months’ rigorous imprisonment.

This act transformed her from companion to front-line satyagrahi.

Kochrab to Champaran: Breaking Orthodoxy and Entering Public Life

After returning to India in 1915, Gandhi founded the Satyagraha Ashram at Kochrab. When an “untouchable” family was admitted, Kasturba initially struggled with orthodox conditioning. Yet Kochrab became the site of her moral transformation.

By the time of the 1917 Champaran mission, she had evolved into a grassroots mobiliser—educating village women about hygiene, sanitation, and dignity. Despite lacking formal education, she built bridges where elite leaders often failed.

Champaran marked her transition from ashram administrator to socio-political reformer.

Leadership During Non-Cooperation and Borsad (1922–23)

When Gandhi was sentenced to six years in 1922, Kasturba refused despair. Writing in Young India, she urged Indians to intensify the Constructive Programme—especially spinning khadi and boycotting foreign cloth.

She presided over political conferences in Rajasthan and inspired women’s mobilisation. During the Borsad Satyagraha, despite severe anaemia, she rushed to support women who had faced police brutality.

Her message was clear: leadership does not wait for permission.

Temple Entry and Anti-Untouchability Campaigns

Kasturba Gandhi shattered the myth that she upheld caste orthodoxy. In Kerala, she supported temple-entry movements and mobilised women for the Guruvayur Satyagraha. During the Guruvayur Referendum campaign (1932), her week-long mobilisation in Ponnani contributed to a historic 77% vote in favour of temple entry.

She reframed anti-untouchability not merely as reform—but as sacred duty.

Salt Satyagraha and National Mobilisation (1930)

After Gandhi’s arrest during the Salt Satyagraha, Kasturba undertook nationwide tours. She addressed mass gatherings, supervised satyagraha camps, and mobilised women in unprecedented numbers.

Her leadership expanded the freedom movement’s social base. By encouraging boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, women’s activism significantly hurt colonial revenue streams.

Rajkot Satyagraha and Political Autonomy (1939)

During the Rajkot crisis, when the princely ruler reneged on reform promises, Kasturba insisted on intervening despite failing health. Arrested upon arrival, she remained spiritually composed even as Gandhi launched a fast.

This episode underscores a vital fact: she acted from conscience—not merely as Gandhi’s extension.

Final Ordeal at Aga Khan Palace (1942–1944)

After the Quit India Movement launch in 1942, Kasturba was arrested and interned at the Aga Khan Palace. Even in confinement, she called upon Indian women to prove their mettle through truth and non-violence.

Her health deteriorated. Appeals for release were rejected. On February 22, 1944, she died in British custody.

Her martyrdom was not symbolic—it was the culmination of three decades of political struggle.

Kasturba Gandhi: An Independent Political Legacy

Kasturba Gandhi’s journey—from South Africa’s resistance to her final sacrifice in Pune—confirms that she was never merely “the Mahatma’s wife.” She was:

• A prison satyagrahi (1913)
• A grassroots organiser (Champaran)
• A political mobiliser (Non-Cooperation, Salt Satyagraha)
• A social reformer (Temple Entry movements)
• A moral leader (Quit India)

Her life compels us to re-evaluate women’s leadership in India’s freedom struggle—not as auxiliary, but as foundational.