Persons in News: Bhikaiji Cama
Context:
During the 77th Republic Day celebrations (2026), the state of Gujarat showcased a tableau honouring Bhikaiji Cama, highlighting her pivotal role in the Indian freedom movement.
Madame Bhikaji Cama was a revolutionary icon hailing from Navsari district of present-day state of Gujarat who sacrificed her life of luxury to live abroad in service for the freedom of our country.
About Bhikaiji Cama (1861–1936):
She was born in Bombay into an affluent Parsi family.
Influenced by an environment in which the Indian nationalist movement was taking root, she was drawn toward political issues at an early age.
In 1896, she volunteered during the bubonic plague outbreak in Bombay, contracting the disease herself.
Key Contributions:
In 1902, Bhikaji left India for London which was to become her home for the rest of life
In London, she met Dadabhai Naoroji and was inspired by his ideals.
She also worked closely with nationalists like Shyamji Krishna Varma and Lala Hardayal.
“March forward! We are for India. India is for Indians!” she defiantly declared.
In the same year, Cama relocated to Paris, where—together with Singh Rewabhai Rana and Munchershah Burjorji Godrej—she co-founded the Paris Indian Society.
She is renowned as the first person to hoist the Indian flag on foreign soil.
This occurred on August 22, 1907, at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart, Germany, where she appealed for India's autonomy.
Contribution to Bande Mataram newspaper:
Bande Mataram was a monthly radical Hindu newspaper started on 10th September 1909.
Madame Cama's "Bande Mataram" was the rebirth of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh's Bande Mataram which was banned in Calcutta due to the endorsement of the political actions and its persuading tactics against the British government.
She started the Paris edition of Bande Mataram in order to circulate information about the freedom movement and garnered support nationally and internationally.
Bande Matram was considered one of the most revolutionary and challenging newspapers of the Indian Independence Movement which openly advocated violence against colonial rule.
She also paid an homage to the martyr Madanlal Dhingra in her article, "Dhingra: The Immortal" and talked at length about his sacrifice for the nation at such a young age.
Madame Cama was one of the fiercest women during the freedom movement who not only revived the Bande Mataram but also kept the revolution alive wherever she lived.