It was last year on August 27 that the idea of showcasing an exhibition throwing light on the illustrious life and legacy of the forgotten Anasuya Sarabhai struck Ela R Bhatt, founder of Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA). Soon after the epiphany, she got to work. With very fond memories of Anasuya, who had joined hands with Mahatma Gandhi in leading the historic strike of mill workers in Ahmedabad that eventually led to the founding of trade union of India, the Textile Labour Association (TLA) in 1920, Bhatt felt it was necessary to introduce Motaben (as she was called fondly) to the women at SEWA and the world. Ela thought it was imperative to make women aware of the role this brave woman played a century ago and how she contributed manifold in charting the course of labour history.
With rare photographs from the Sarabhai archives and text in Anasuyaben’s own words, this was made possible this year through the exhibition, ‘‘Motaben: Anasuya Sarabhai (1885-1972)–As Known by Ela Bhatt.” “It has been 40 years since SEWA started and I could not think of a better way to celebrate this moment than to bring Anasuyaben back to the city. As we remember her spirit, we come together as part of an extended family,’’ she says.
The exhibition was first held at Anasuyaben’s own at Shantisadan, the same building from where she organised Ahmedabad textile mill workers. On guaging the interest people showed in the life of Motaben, Ela collaborated with the India International Centre to bring the showcase of photographs and literature to Delhi. ‘‘Through the exhibit, I have neither attempted to show the labour history of Ahmedabad nor is it my intention to portray a comprehensive account of Motaben’s work. All I offer is a glimpse of this one woman and her role in the formation of the labour movement in India. My purpose is to introduce her as I had known her,’’ says Bhatt.
While Motaben is best known for her efforts in struggle with Mahatama Gandhi, it is also important to give the lady credit for strikes that she had led on her own successfully, according to Ela. “It was Gandhi who benefited from Motaben’s groundwork and the trust she enjoyed among the mill workers of Ahmedabad. Because she was a private person, the world knows very little about her,” says Bhatt, adding, that Anasuyaben was orphaned at a young age, as a result of which she was very close to her brother, Ambalal. Her marriage was brief and unhappy so she fled to England to study medicine. It was there, under the influence of the Suffragette movement, that she found her calling. She returned to India and started working with the disempowered community. It was her brother who encouraged her to run a school for the children of mill workers in Ahmedabad, thus introducing her to the realities of the working middle-class in India. And from there on, there was no looking back.
- The Sunday Standard