Jankidevi Bajaj | Jamnalal Bajaj's Wife | Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation

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Smt Jankidevi Bajaj

Jankidevi was born on 7th January, 1893 in a well-to-do Vaishnav Marwari business family of Jaora (Madhya Pradesh). Her father Girdharilal Jajodia was said to have a retinue of workers at his command - managers, servants, clerks and accountants.

Jankidevi got a few years' primary education but imbibed more of traditional way of life like love of gold, caste distinctions, strict religious rituals as also being helpful and kind.

She also acquired all the accomplishments necessary for the girls of her time - being good at cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidery, etc.

She was married into the affluent family of Bachhraj Bajaj at the tender age of eight. Her marriage to Jamnalal Bajaj in the year 1902 brought her to Wardha (Maharashtra). From the glitter of gold and silver, Jankideviji was transported into the sparkling world of diamonds and pearls.

Soon Gandhiji came into Jamnalal’s life like a whirlwind. Jankidevi followed in Jamnalalji's footsteps and identified herself with the Gandhian movement.

Soon Gandhiji came into Jamnalal's life like a whirlwind. Jankidevi followed in Jamnalalji's footsteps and identified herself with the Gandhian movement.

She embraced her husband's stringent lifestyle and willingly joined him on the path of sacrifice

Jankidevi was barely 14 years old when Jamnalalji, because of the chiding by Bachchrajji, decided to renounce his home, family, wealth and consequent material comforts. He left home to become a sadhu and told Jankidevi nothing about it. It is another matter that he was dissuaded by his grandfather Bachhrajji.

Jankidevi went through this ordeal without uttering a word of complaint. She had an inner strength that knew no bounds. With each new day she seemed to emerge more luminous than before.

In the year 1921, at the age of 28 years, yet another moment of trial appeared. Jamnalalji wrote a letter to her asking her to relinquish her gold ornaments. Jamnalalji's disapproval of gold and ornaments was well-known. To this he had added Gandhiji's appeal too. What remained on Jankidevi's person were anklets, an ornament worn by even the poorest. But she gently unwound this little silver chain as if freeing herself from the last vestige and bondage of the feudal system.

After this it was the turn of the purdah. Purdah in Rajasthan was considered to be a sign of aristocracy and social grace. But Jankidevi, at Jamnlalji's behest, not only gave it up but also persuaded the other women in the family to follow suit. When Jankidevi decided to visit Calcutta in order to exhort women to give up purdah, Gandhiji applauded her, writing to her that she was going to get the women rid of something that 'reeked of sin'.But this was just the beginning. Next was the issue of Swadeshi, using things Indian. Because of Jamnalalji's persuasion, she discarded foreign clothes and, took to Swadeshi first, and, later, to Khadi (hand spun-hand woven cloth). When Gandhiji exhorted the people to boycott foreign clothes, she offered her precious garments in the burning 'holi' to celebrate the cause of Khadi and Swadeshi.

Thereafter she actively propagated the cause of the Khadi. Charkha (the spinning wheel) became such a passion with her that she went around making other women take to it seriously. She ran training classes in charkha at her residence and was ever willing to teach others how to use this humble instrument which in those bleak days of foreign rule had become the symbol of self-reliance.

She assimilated the Gandhian way of life with every Gandhian thought that opened her mind. Her five children soon learnt to live a life of Gandhian simplicity under their mother. Revolution and change became a way of life.

For the first time in India, on 17th July 1928, Dalits were allowed inside a temple when she agreed with her husband to open the doors of their family's Lakshminarayan temple at Wardha to all as a protest against untouchability. At the same time a Dalit was hired as a domestic help. He was even allowed to serve food to Jamnalalji.

She gave a boost to the cause of women's education and even went to jail in her quest for India's freedom. She participated in the freedom movement and suffered imprisonment in the Salt Satyagraha in 1932. Jankidevi lost her mentor and life-partner on 11 Feb, 1942. She was so stunned by this unexpected loss that the first thought that came to her mind was to give herself up in Sati. But Gandhiji stopped her from taking such a step. 'Real sati is not burning a body...,' he told her. 'Consign whatever evil that is in you or all that can perpetuate evil around you to the flames of the burning pyre.

Jankidevi followed Gandhiji's advice both in action and spirit. She was elected President of the Go-Seva Sangh to carry forward the work of Go-Seva which was dear to Jamnalalji. She gave a new momentum to Go-seva and intensified its thrust with the intention of giving it a national platform. Her efforts yielded handsome results as Go-seva made inroads into Bihar, U.P., Punjab, Rajasthan, Bengal and Bombay.

The assassination of Gandhiji on 30 January, 1948 shook the whole nation, but Bajaj household felt completely orphaned.

Jankidevi now was left with only one support - Vinoba Bhave.

Jankidevi now was left with only one support - Vinoba Bhave.

Jankidevi now was left with only one support - Vinoba Bhave

She actively joined Vinobaji's Bhoodan Movement. To make Bhoodan more meaningful, she launched the Koopdan Movement by collecting funds for digging wells on the Bhoodan lands. Her dedication to these movements was unmatched

Jankideviji was known to be resolute yet compassionate, charitable yet frugal. She was prosperous but sacrifice came easy to her. Affectionate but free from want, Jankideviji was a self-made woman. She was a little light burning bright next to the blazing torches of Jamnalalji (husband), Gandhiji (Father of the Nation) and Vinobaji (Spiritual Guru). Women emancipation, Harijan welfare, women's education, propagation of Khadi and the fight against social evils were all the causes Jankidevi worked for with rare zeal.

Jankideviji was known to be resolute yet compassionate, charitable yet frugal. She was prosperous but sacrifice came easy to her. Affectionate but free from want, Jankideviji was a self-made woman. She was a little light burning bright next to the blazing torches of Jamnalalji (husband), Gandhiji (Father of the Nation) and Vinobaji (Spiritual Guru). Women emancipation, Harijan welfare, women's education, propagation of Khadi and the fight against social evils were all the causes Jankidevi worked for with rare zeal.

Jankideviji was known to be resolute yet compassionate, charitable yet frugal. She was prosperous but sacrifice came easy to her. Affectionate but free from want, Jankideviji was a self-made woman. She was a little light burning bright next to the blazing torches of Jamnalalji (husband), Gandhiji (Father of the Nation) and Vinobaji (Spiritual Guru). Women emancipation, Harijan welfare, women's education, propagation of Khadi and the fight against social evils were all the causes Jankidevi worked for with rare zeal.

Her life-long devotion to the cause of the freedom movement and emancipation of women was recognised by the Government of India and she was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 1956, presented to her by Rashtrapati Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Her life-long devotion to the cause of the freedom movement and emancipation of women was recognised by the Government of India and she was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 1956, presented to her by Rashtrapati Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Jankidevi passed away on 21 May, 1979.In 1980, Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation instituted a special annual Award in her memory for women workers for Outstanding Contribution to the Uplift and Welfare of Women and Children.

Also the IMC Ladies' Wing instituted 'IMC-Ladies' Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar for Rural Entrepreneur' to commemorate her Birth Centenary in 1993.

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