Who Was Durgawati Devi? The Brave Freedom Fighter Who Posed As Bhagat Singh’s Wife To Save Him

We remember Bhagat Singh's sacrifice for the country, but not many are aware of the people who helped him in the freedom struggle. Meet Durgawati Devi, also known as Durga Bhabhi, who was one of the few known women to join the fight against colonisers. Know her inspiring story and how she helped Bhagat Singh to escape after the Saunders murder case. 

Who was Durgawati Devi?

Durgawati Devi was a revolutionary and freedom fighter and actively participated in armed revolution against the British Raj. She was lovingly called Durga Bhabhi, as she was the wife of another Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) member, Bhagwati Charan Vohra.

Born in Allahabad, she was married at the age of 11. She came to prominence after the Naujawan Bharat Sabha observed the 11th anniversary of Kartar Singh Sarabha’s martyrdom.

She played a pivotal role in helping  Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru escape after the killing of John P. Saunders, a British police officer in Lahore. She posed as Singh's wife to help him escape and put her infant son in his lap.

It has also been reported that she attempted to assassinate Lord Hailey after  Bhagat Singh surrendered himself for the 1929 Assembly bomb throwing incident. For this, she was even caught and imprisoned for three years.

ALSO READ- Who Was Aruna Asaf Ali? The Trailblazer Who Served As Delhi's First Mayor

What happened to Durgawati Devi after independence?

Durgawati decided to stay as a normal citizen after India gained independence. She even opened a school for poor children in Lucknow. She passed away in 1999 at the age of 92.

In pop culture, Durgawati has been referenced in Rang De Basanti, where  Soha Ali Khan played her part. She was also mentioned in the TV show 'Adrishya'. An episode of Swaraj was also based on Durgawati Devi and her husband.

Durgawati Devi’s contribution to the Indian freedom struggle is widely remembered by people, even though she decided to stay anonymous later in her life. 

(Image Credit: X)
To Read more such stories, stay connected to Her Zindagi.