Independence Day Exclusive: Dr. Nandini Kulkarni On Being The Daughter Of Freedom Fighters, Their Sacrifices
We’re celebrating 75 years of Independence today on 15 August. But India’s freedom came at a high price. A large number of people fought and struggled to achieve a free India. A lot of lives were lost in India’s freedom struggle. This is why it’s important to remember our freedom fighters and their sacrifice on this day. Very recently I met Dr Nandini Kulkarni, the daughter of two freedom fighters, Dattatraya Parashuram Karmarkar aka D. P. Karmarkar and his wife Shantabai Karmarkar. So I decided to speak to her about the freedom struggle and women’s contribution to it.
Dr Nandini Kulkarni is a retired Anesthesiologist and an animal activist. She is also a member of the High Court-appointed Animal Welfare Committee and actively looks into cases of animal cruelty. Dr Kulkarni has worked closely under the guidance of Late Shri Gurudas Kamat for animal rescue in Mumbai. And coincidently, cats are how I met Dr Kulkarni. After running into her at a vet hospital where both of us were having our cats treated, I found out about her parents and their participation in the freedom struggle. So, this Independence Day, I decided to interview her about it. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Q. What was it like as a child, to hear the heroic stories of the freedom struggle?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: It was awesome to hear the stories of the freedom struggle. My parents never told us any fairytales to us. It was always the real-life incidents of the struggle for freedom.
Q. Your mother also actively participated in the freedom struggle, what did she tell you about women’s contribution to free India from the clutches of the British?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: My mother Smt Shantabai D Karmakar was an active participant in the Freedom Struggle, particularly the Quit India movement. She was arrested in August 1942. The incident is like a scene from Bollywood films. My parents had a loyal tangawala babu. My mother was trying to get away in the Tanga with her infant baby clutched. However, the tanga was soon overtaken and My Mother arrested. She took the baby with her to prison. Later the baby expired after my mother’s release in 1943, yet their struggle continued. Such is the saga of personal sacrifice. The women were very active. They would accompany my mother for ‘picketing’. Lie down in front of shops selling foreign goods. They also burnt piles of foreign goods. Smt Krishnabai Panjikar and Smt Shakuntala Dabde also courted arrest.
Q. Not much is known about your mother’s contribution to the freedom struggle, can you tell us about it?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: My mother was my father’s true support. Most of the time my father was either in jail or underground. She looked after the home and my Dadaji and Dadiji. There were several raids called ‘Japti’ and sudden house searches. During raids at times, even the utensils were taken away. But never did she complain. She gave her jewellery as a donation keeping only Mangalsutra. As said before, she too was an active participant particularly Quit India movement. The clarion call by Mahatma Gandhi was Karo Ya Maro. She was very proud of our surname Karmarkar. (Do Die Do). However, she always kept a low profile.
Q. To be a woman and be a part of the Quit India movement is no easy feat, who inspired your mother?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: The 2 most important people who inspired my Mother were her father Shri Maddhvarao Kabbur, an eminent criminal lawyer and veteran freedom fighter, and, of course, my father. In fact, our whole family joined the freedom struggle.
Q. Can you share some unknown stories of your parents’ participation in the freedom struggle?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: There are innumerable incidents. Not many people know of the emotional turmoil my mother underwent due to the ‘Japti’. There were times when my father would be underground frequently and for days my mother would worry about his safety. In fact, one of my elder sisters was named ‘Amba’ as my father was underground and had taken refuge in an Amba Devi temple when she was born. My mother was arrested during the ‘Quit India’ movement. She had to take this little six-month-old baby with her to jail. The life in jail may have affected the child as she subsequently died on her first birthday. My parents deeply grieved for her, yet went on with the freedom movement.
During the freedom movement, the British flag hoisted on the Government building used to hurt Shri Karamakar’s national sentiments. One night he climbed to the top and took down the flag. The next day D.S.P. came to question him, thinking he might have destroyed the same. Shri Karmarkar replied that the moment the flag came down, it became a sign of respect for another country and he could not show disrespect to it just as he could not tolerate any disrespect to his motherland. Such was the greatness of the man.
Another incident of the pre-independence days Shri Karmarkar often recalled with pride was his meeting Mahatma Gandhi. Impressed by selfless service and unflagging devotion to the cause of the freedom struggle, Gandhiji once sent a message to Shri Karmarkar to come and meet him. He went to meet him with a Khadi garland, which he had spun himself. Mahatma’s words to him were “Work hard, may you always prosper and God bless you always.” The words in my father’s voice with the underlying resonance of pride still ring in my ears.
Q. What was your childhood like in a post Independence era with your parents being freedom fighters?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: I had the privilege of being born in free India and the only one to be born in a Hospital! My father was in Havana at the time to attend an International conference as Minister for Commerce and Industry. The news of my birth was conveyed to him through official sources. It was a beautiful childhood we were in 7, Race Course Road which is not the official residence of the Prime Minister. It had beautiful lawns and gardens with greenery, tall trees, flowers in full bloom and surrounded by lively animals. We had a pet dog, Tommy and cats, rabbits, monkeys and peacocks in the garden along with white pigeons and innumerable other birds. It was a paradise with a very loving family. I am the last one with 2 elder sisters and 2 brothers. There were VIP leaders visiting all the time and we mingled with them freely. They were ‘Kaka’ for us.
Q. You’ve met the iconic political figures of post-Independence India like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Can you tell us about these meetings and what you learn from them?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: Yes, we were privileged to meet the great leader of the time, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. We called him Chacha Nehru. His home Teen Murti Bhavan was close by. We would many a time go and see the Tiger cubs, that were being fostered. Whenever we went there we would take a self-made bouquet of homegrown flowers or fruits. In fact, after my parents, Chacha Nehru is the one who taught me about the environment and taught me how to love nature and animals.
We could meet Smt Indira Gandhi then and she indeed is a woman of grit and determination. There were always leaders visiting or we would go to their homes. They were all ‘Kaka’ to us. Shri NS Hardikar, Shri RR Diwakar, Shri Keskar, Shri Mavlankar, Shri Krishnamoorthy, Shri Nijlingappa, the list is endless. From all leaders, the one great lesson I learned was sacrifice and patriotism and love for my motherland.
Also Read: In His Independence Day Speech, PM Modi Talks About Gender Equality And Respecting Nari Shakti. Take Notes, People!
Q. Your parents also had a major contribution in fighting for women’s rights but not much is known about it. Can you tell us more about it?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: Yes, we got our due respect and equal opportunity as girl children. My father was an active participant when the Hindu Succession Act 1956 was being tabled in Parliament. It is due to their thoughts that today I too have done my bit for women’s rights as the Karta of her HUF (Hindu Undivided Family).
Q. Having seen your parents fight for freedom, how do you feel about what India has done with its freedom in 75 years?
Dr Nandini Kulkarni: The nascent years of freedom must have been very difficult and while much has been achieved but still more needs to be done. I have done my bit in carrying forward their rich legacy. My main areas are 1. Cancer Awareness, 2 Sustainable Environment and 3. Animal Welfare.
I am the Animal Welfare Officer of the Committee to monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra (Committee under Honourable Bombay High Court and Government of Maharashtra). This has helped me fight animal cruelty cases. I am lucky to have got full support from my husband Late Dr Vijay B Kulkarni who was Head of Surgical Oncology at Nanavati Hospital. In fact, my daughter, Dr Mugdha has also been a part of my animal welfare journey. She did her post-graduation in wild animal health from the UK and has also worked for Olive Ridley Preservation on Devi Coast, Orissa.
Now is the time for a Freedom Struggle of a different kind. To ensure that all our Citizens are happy. If each one does their best we will surely succeed.
