Why Did The Britisher Rape The Women Of Chimur, Nagpur In Maharashtra

By Saquib Salim for New Age Islam

24 March 2023

 

 "The (White English) soldiers haunted young women from place to place and outraged (raped) them even in the bylanes. No woman was safe. Even pregnant women, women who had just delivered and girls of 12 or 13 years (minors) were outraged." A delegation from the Women's Association submitted in its report of atrocities by the British Soldiers in Chimur, Nagpur on 19, 20 and 21 August 1942.

Often we are made to believe that the English rule with all its evils didn't indulge in raping women, burning houses and looting people like mediaeval mercenary armies. In popular discourse English soldiers are presented as justice loving who helped in expansion of the economy. A close look at contemporary records gives us a completely different picture. English soldiers raped Indian women on a large scale.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad led Congress adopted the Quit India Resolution moved by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942. Indians were asked to boycott and non-cooperate with the British. The Congress leadership was arrested but Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose directed the Indians through radio transmissions from Berlin to attack the government infrastructure. It was an open rebellion against the British Raj.

Chimur, a small town of 5,000, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, emerged as a flag bearer of the movement. On 16 August, all the Hindus and Muslims came together and burnt down all the government buildings. In a pitched war with police they killed SDM, Naib Tahsildar, Circle Inspector and a constable.

In order to teach a lesson to the patriots, three companies of Green Howards consisting of around 100 English soldiers were sent to the town along with companies of the Mahar regiment. For almost one month nobody was allowed to visit the town and the English soldiers reigned with terror in such a fashion which would put Genghis Khan to shame.

Hindu Mahasabha leaders B. S. Moonje and M. N. Ghatate visited the town on 26 September after the restrictions were lifted. In a letter to the Governor, the C. P & Berar, they observed that the British soldiers had raped women, looted houses and violently abused men. They met several rape victims in Chimur with the help of an old lady, Mrs. Begde. The letter stated, “she (Mrs. Begde) then sent for and collected several women of the town who, with feelings of shame and outraged dignity, narrated their separate tales of molestations and actual rapes. Seventeen women in all narrated their own stories; out of 17, 13 were actually raped, some by more than one white soldier, and the rest four were only molested. These women in great agony of mind gave expressions to their desire of revenge to be taken by their menfolk, if God the Almighty willed so."

 

URL:    https://newageislam.com/multimedia/britisher-rape-women-nagpur-maharashtra/d/129387

 

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