KANNUR: Kaumudi Teacher, one of the last of prominent disciples of Gandhiji and freedom-fighter, died on Tuesday at Kadachira.
She was 93.
Kaumudi Teacher, best known for donating all her ornaments to the Harijanodharana Fund of Gandhiji when she was still a school student, was an inspiration for many to join the freedom movement.
It was on January 13, 1934, that the then 18-year-old student removed all her gold ornaments and handed them over to Gandhiji when he was on a visit to Vadakara.
The unusual gesture virtually stunned every one and it drew a lot of public admiration.
“Thumara thyag thumara bhushan,” wrote Gandhiji in her autograph. The Mahatma was later to write full article, ‘Kaumudi ki Thyag’, in the ‘Harijan’ magazine.
Kaumudi started her teaching career at the Kannur Government Girls High School as a Hindi teacher. Later, she worked at the Government High School, Kalliassery.
After retirement, she had been living a quiet life at Kadachira at her brother Prabhakaran’s house.
She was unmarried.