THE IRON LADY - LATE SMT. BHIKHIBEN NAIK

On women’s day we remember those women who are a source of inspiration in our life and in doing so I remember Bhikhiben Mohanji Naik. In my previous article I talked about a man of strong will and a heart of gold Late Shri Mohanji Rudarji Naik. He struggled with the non cooperation of his village community for years not months. Talk about his struggle remains curtailed without the mention of the support he got from his wife late Smt.Bhikhiben Mohanji Naik.

Daughter of the same village (Umarsadi) stood firmly against her family to support the decision of her husband. While moving around in different towns and cities Mohanji came to know about new reforms coming in the society, but Bhikhiben was a simple village woman who was committed to her husband in every possible way. When Mohanji decided to remarry their seven year old widowed daughter Bhikhiben agreed to stand by him. Although she had not seen the outside world as much as Mohanji but she was fully aware of the condition of a widowed girl in those days. From her heart she felt the decision was right and she stood for it. When both of them took the decision they were under the impression that although the village community will oppose it but they will accept it as the time passes.

The situations not always go as per our anticipation and the same happened with them too. Their boycott period kept on increasing and so was their struggle. No helper in the farm was allowed, their cattle were released during anytime day or night and no help for household work too. With all this villagers threw stones at their house during night. Bhikhiben was there to support in all these matters. Never once in her struggle period Bhikhiben thought of leaving these troubles and going to her parents who were in the same village. If Bhikhiben had grumbled about all the discomforts Mohanji would have given up his struggle sooner. But in every worse situation she stood by him and became his strength. She shaved her husband when he was denied the services by the barber ( In those days a barber used to go to people’s houses to shave or for haircut). She did his shave in open to show the villagers that there is nothing a woman can’t do. She fought and frightened the stone pelters.

Whenever the villagers came with a new way to increase their troubles she stood up like warrior and took care of her family. Over a period of time there were many situations where Village ladies had taken help from Bhikhiben secretly without the knowledge of their male family members. With her actions and fighting spirit she made the villagers feel guilty about what they were doing to Mohanji. Their struggle ended but it lasted for a period of twelve years which is not a small time.

So when a husband and a wife work as a team for their family the scenario is always good. As a team you should first respect each other, trust each other and love automatically comes in life. A woman must always be strong physically, mentally and emotionally only then we can have better families which will lead to a better society and make this world a better place to live.

(source of study “Dharti nu Loon” by Shri Swami Anand)

On women’s day we remember those women who are a source of inspiration in our life and in doing so I remember Bhikhiben Mohanji Naik. In my previous article I talked about a man of strong will and a heart of gold Late Shri Mohanji Rudarji Naik. He struggled with the non cooperation of his village community for years not months. Talk about his struggle remains curtailed without the mention of the support he got from his wife late Smt.Bhikhiben Mohanji Naik.

Daughter of the same village (Umarsadi) stood firmly against her family to support the decision of her husband. While moving around in different towns and cities Mohanji came to know about new reforms coming in the society, but Bhikhiben was a simple village woman who was committed to her husband in every possible way. When Mohanji decided to remarry their seven year old widowed daughter Bhikhiben agreed to stand by him. Although she had not seen the outside world as much as Mohanji but she was fully aware of the condition of a widowed girl in those days. From her heart she felt the decision was right and she stood for it. When both of them took the decision they were under the impression that although the village community will oppose it but they will accept it as the time passes.

The situations not always go as per our anticipation and the same happened with them too. Their boycott period kept on increasing and so was their struggle. No helper in the farm was allowed, their cattle were released during anytime day or night and no help for household work too. With all this villagers threw stones at their house during night. Bhikhiben was there to support in all these matters. Never once in her struggle period Bhikhiben thought of leaving these troubles and going to her parents who were in the same village. If Bhikhiben had grumbled about all the discomforts Mohanji would have given up his struggle sooner. But in every worse situation she stood by him and became his strength. She shaved her husband when he was denied the services by the barber ( In those days a barber used to go to people’s houses to shave or for haircut). She did his shave in open to show the villagers that there is nothing a woman can’t do. She fought and frightened the stone pelters.

Whenever the villagers came with a new way to increase their troubles she stood up like warrior and took care of her family. Over a period of time there were many situations where Village ladies had taken help from Bhikhiben secretly without the knowledge of their male family members. With her actions and fighting spirit she made the villagers feel guilty about what they were doing to Mohanji. Their struggle ended but it lasted for a period of twelve years which is not a small time.
I feel myself to be very lucky to be a part of her family,

So when a husband and a wife work as a team for their family the scenario is always good. As a tem you should first respect each other, trust each other and love automatically comes in life. A woman must always be strong physically, mentally and emotionally only then we can have better families which will lead to a better society and make this world a better place to live.

(source of study “Dharti nu Loon” by Shri Swami Anand)