Ramadevi Choudhury Biography 
Ramadevi Choudhury was an Indian freedom fighter and a social reformer from the state of Odisha. She lived during the period, 3 December 1899 – 22 July 1985, and was fondly called Maa by people. Ramadevi was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 1981 and Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) by Utkal University on 16 April 1984, one year before her demise in July 1985. In 1930, she took active part in the Salt Satyagraha movement at Orissa level. She also inspired many women from Orissa to take social work as a part of their life, and Padma Shri Tulasi Munda is one such leading name.
Ramadevi Choudhury was born on 3 December 1899 in Satyabhamapur village, Cuttack district of British India. She is the niece of Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das, the first graduate and advocate of Odisha. She got married to Gopabandhu Choudhury, then a Deputy Collector. She was only 14 years old then. She along with her husband joined Indian freedom struggle movement in 1921, after they met and got inspired with the activities of Mahatma Gandhi. She used to go from village to village, and joined more women to the freedom struggle movement. She was also influenced by Jai Prakash Narayan, Vinoba Bhave and her uncle, Madhusudan Das.
Since 1921 the couple accepted Khadi dress and also joined the Indian National Congress. She also closely worked with many female activists like Sarala Devi, Malati Choudhury as a part of freedom struggle movement in pre-independent India. She has been arrested and jailed multiple times. After independence, Rama Devi dedicated herself to the cause of Bhoodan and Gramdan movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. As a part of the movement, she and her husband travelled 4000 kilometres by foot and requested people to give away a part of their lands to landless people.
Published: January 05, 2020
Updated: January 05, 2020
