THE BEGINNING OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
A- AMBITIOUS
M - MAGNIFICENT
I – IMPARTIAL
N - NOBEL
A – ACCEPTABLE
Srnt Aminaben Mamjibhai Mukhi, was born in the year 1906 in the Kanodar village. Her father, Mr. Dosanbhai Mamjibhai Patel a landlord was the owner of a large agricultural land near the banks of Umardashi River near the Jagana village. Almost 100 castles were taken care of by him. He was one of the chief advisors of the Palanpur’s Navab ‘Shri Talemuhomad Khan’. Aminaben was born in this reputed family. Her nature was very simple she was an intelligent and active person. Since she was daughter of farmer, she was skillful in agricultural activities. She was married at the age of 21 years.
She was married to Shri Mamjibhai Alimad Mukhi who was the son of Shri Aliniad Rajemad Mukhi. He was a simple, truthful and a skillful business-man of handloom businesses. Even though being the daughter of a farmer, Aminaben learned the work of handloom very skillfully from her husband. In social services, she was very active. Her activity began early in the morning and went on till end of day and sometimes even till nighttime. Despite doing work the whole day she nurtured and cared for her children nicely. She has six daughters and one son. One of the daughters named Malukben is the Rashtrapati award winner in the education field and one the former principal in Kanodar. Another daughter named Ladiben is the first lady Surpanch in Kanodar. She is also an ideal mother.
Before India gained its freedom the workers in and around the Kanodar village worked in handloom industry. The fabric made by them came to markets of Kanodar. From here Rajasthani vendors were to purchase fabrics and other materials, even after that time fabrics were sent to Pakistan too. During this period the husband and wife took this business and developed it skillfully.
In this era most of the population was uneducated. In the village 75% of the population was ‘momin’ by cast and there were other casts like ‘vankar’, ‘chamar’, ‘bhil’, ‘patni’. ‘prajapati’ and ‘nayi’. Since people were illiterate, they had wrong beliefs in the dark magical arts. During this period female education was almost nil. A very minute fraction of the population of female children studied till the 2nd standard. Even as for a male child the education facility was only up to the 7th standard, and a very low number of boys went to school. At that time the 8th standard was started at our house . Due to very low number of students it was shut down. After that in 1956, a conference was called in the village to develop a high-school, but the major problem was where to start the high school? Both sides were worried and they announced that they will provide their own house for high school without any kind of rent. They thought that if there is no high school in the village, there would be a much lesser chance for the further study fo the students. According to them, if there is a high school in the village then there will be an increase in the number of children who will study and hopefully an increase is number of female students. With this the literacy society’s foundation would be strong and woman would be economically strong. Thus they announced for a high school, the Sarvodaya Kelavani Mandal was created and a high school began in the village with an increasing enrollment of students. Shri Noorbhai Mamjibhai Mukhi (Nagarsheth) provided 2 rooms for the school purpose.
The street became glorious even time there was a national or religious festival day. Still during this time only 5 girls went to study. The government was active to develop and provide a good life style with different agendas. At that time the district local board system was there too, Aminaben was one of the 40 members and Shri Noorbhai Mamjibhai Mukhi was the vice president. Aminaben was very active in the health department of the district local board as well.
Freedom was achieved but most people were still not educated, society was dragged deep into ignorance and miss-beliefs. It was almost impossible to change or improve the society. It became very difficult to convince the social leaders for change. At this time Aminaben sent her own daughters to high school for awareness. Community opposed this but she continued her way. After that a mutual understanding was developed in other families. To make their children go to school and study she tried to convinced many parents and, if needed the husband and wife would both provide financial support.
The M.L.A. of Banaskantha . Shri Harisinh Chavda , the founder of Lokniketan, started a social service in the year 1952 at our village, Kanodar. In the beginning her house was the centre of the activity. After different activities such as sports national antiquates and mannerism were started past the school time. With the help of a few people, the village was completely cleaned. Social development, elderly education activities were provided for by her at her house, which thus became the centre of activities. Dr. Rajabhai Patel and other young activists also contributed in different activities. Social workers came to the village, provided new improved education, different competitions were held, dramas enacted for awareness and children actively took part in most of these activities. It seemed like the people were enjoying the name of awareness in free India. Most of these events happened in the presence of strong opposition forces but Aminaben wasn’t afraid of them. With many hurdles women education continued. Thus with social working youth activities and her leadership with much awareness in people her goal was being achieved.
Graduates from Gujarat Vidhyapith came at our village with the purpose in providing quality education. For each and every one of them facilities were organized and provided by her at her home.
At that time. NES Board provided milk powder packs. In beginning making milk from milk powder was done at her home. Later on people started to produce it at their own homes. This act provided awareness for nutrition to children.
The social worker Vimlaben used to come at her house and discuss the various activities in the agenda with her and they both made the villages’ women understand the concepts with further involvement. With this the women’s association was created and registered in1975.
Aminaben was the president for the women’s association in Kanodar. With which she started the activities of the women’s association. Tailoring classes were started at our home. Each lady was honored with a certificate. Even today most of the women at the village know tailoring and most of them are working professionally in this field. With this activity other activities were also taking place. Someof them were:
1) Hand fabric designing,
2) Tailoring competition
3) House decoration with a hygienic perspective.
All these activities were focused to develop the society.
With the efforts of women’s association, Kindergarten started in Kanodar. Many hurdles were there in the beginning one of the major hurdles was low financial status and no place, but the tradition continues even today and kindergarten is open. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of the founder of these activities who is Aminaben.
I. At that time, she helped young women to get admissions into the P.T.C. College. She motivated and encouraged them for interviews and if possible, she also accompanied them.
II. Despite being uneducated herself, she solved people’s problems skillfully and efficiently. And at an older age she learned how to read and write from her granddaughter, Zoharin.
[A] Educational activities.
During that time the examination centre for the 7th standard was in the Kanodar village. All the accommodation and food facilities were organized and provided by her.
[B] Eye programs.
The Women’s association and elders of the village organized walk- in eye check tip camps. In the ward of Dr. Bavishi who ran one of the campsites there were almost 100 patients who were operated, accommodation and other facilities were provided by her. For the doctors facilities were provided by her as well as the women’s association.
[C] Shrama Yagna
A road was built from the Kanodar village to the Umardashi Railway Station. With the help of the associated work of the service unit, youth association and women’s association the road was completed. At that time there was no other road.
[D] Social Activities.
1) After a death in the family, social feast was to be organized compulsorily, this was stopped.
2) Girls were not allowed to wear a sari before marriage. She permitted her daughters to do so and slowly this belief was overcome.
3) With every social visit it was mandatory for the host to provide tea to the guests. With the change mouth fresheners were used instead of tea.
4) After marriage a woman was to stay at her home for at least 2 years. Now this is stopped.
5) Child marriage was stopped. Marriage of all young children all together was stopped. ‘Sati’ system was totally removed.
6) She used to solve all kind of women problems, i.e. personal, social ,economical etc.
7) Group marriages were started at the village and which has had a positive influence on other Muslim societies.
Prosperous education has prevailed, even in the female population, health field and in other fields. Women were able to establish themselves in Australia, U.S.A. Canada and in many other foreign countries and these are people from the Kanodar village. Smt Aminaben Mukhi had started a sparkling light of hope and prosperity and an awareness which has now become a tradition of the Kanodar village.
Hats off to her. We appreciation this person for the great efforts put into making this village free in every manner.
Aminaben closed her eyes forever on the 20th June, 1994. But all her effort put in the Kanodar village, her every beat in all the purposes is still there and it continues and grows by providing happiness, joy and satisfaction to each and every one of us today!