Anjana Devi Chaudhary

Anjana Devi Chaudhary (1897 – 27 April 1981) was an Indian freedom fighter, writer, and social activist from Sikar, Rajasthan. She is recognised as the first woman from Rajasthan to be arrested during the Indian independence movement. Her contributions to the independence movement and women’s empowerment remain significant in Indian history.^[1][2]

Anjana Devi Chaudhary
Born	1897 (1897) Sri Madhopur, Sikar, Rajasthan
Died	27 April 1981(1981-04-27) (aged 83–84) Sikar, Rajasthan
Occupations	Indian independence activist social reformer writer
Known for	First female activist to be arrested by Britishers in Rajasthan State
Political party	Indian National Congress
Movement	Civil Disobedience Movement Bijolia movement
Spouse	Ram Narayan Chaudhary

Career

Devi was born in 1897 in Sikar, Rajasthan. She married Ram Narayan Chaudhary, a prominent social reformer and anti-colonial nationalist, who introduced her to politics and volunteer work. Her partnership with Ram Narayan played a crucial role in shaping her activism. She actively participated in the Bijolia movement, where she led a procession of 500 women. This act of defiance resulted in her arrest and exile from Bundi state.^[3]

She was deeply involved with the Indian National Congress and became a key figure in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Between 1921 and 1924, she worked to raise political awareness among women. In 1930, she was jailed twice for her participation in the movement. She died on 27 April 1981 in Sikar, Rajasthan.^[4]