Sadhvi Ritambhara
Encyclopedia
Sadhvi Rithambara is a Hindu political activist, member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
. She was the founding chairperson of Durga Vahini
(Army of Durga
), the women's wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. She is particularly known for her incendiary anti-Muslim oratory. She is an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
when her village was visited by Swami Parmanand. She became his disciple and followed him to his ashram in Haridwar
and in tours across India, while gaining lessons in oratory. She also adopted the title of Sadhvi (ascetic). Rithambara entered public life and the Sangh Parivar
as a trainee and member of the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti
, which is the women's arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS), but gained prominence as a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
; their leadership was largely responsible for the involvement of women in the movement and the form it took.
Rithambara was arrested in Indore
, Madhya Pradesh
in April, 1995 on the charge of inciting communal passions, after giving a speech in which she called Mother Teresa
a "magician" and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh
, Mulayam Singh Yadav
, a "man-eater". Her speech was a denouncement of Christian missionaries who she alleged were converting Hindus and was given in a district where a Christian nun had been murdered by three men a couple of months earlier. Rithambara's address sparked off a strike and several arson attacks leading to the arrest of 169 arsonists.
In 1993 Rithambara attempted to establish an ashram
near Vrindavan
and Mathura on land that the Uttar Pradesh BJP government had granted her for a minimal fee. However the proposal fell through as the Kalyan Singh
led government was dismissed, and she was not allowed to take possession of the land by the subsequent Mulayam Singh Yadav led state government. In 2002, the state government led by Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta
granted 17 hectare
s of land in the area, valued at Rupee
20 crore
s, to her Paramshaktipeth trust for 99 years for an annual fee of one rupee. Besides cultivating devotion in women, the Vrindavan Ashram has also imparted training in karate, horse-riding, handling air guns and pistols, with the stated aim of relieving the women from their traditional societal roles and making them confident and self-reliant. Rithambara also runs ashrams for unwanted infants, ladies and widows in Indore, Delhi
and Himachal Pradesh
.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
. She was the founding chairperson of Durga Vahini
Durga Vahini
The Durga Vahini is the women's wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad . It was established in 1991 and its founding chairperson is Sadhvi Rithambara. The Vishva Hindu Parishad states the purpose of the Durga Vahini is to encourage more women to participate in prayer meetings and in cultural activities...
(Army of Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
), the women's wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. She is particularly known for her incendiary anti-Muslim oratory. She is an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
Early life
Not much is known about Rithambara's life-story, as she is mainly known through her speeches. Rithambara hails from a rural, poor and lower-caste Punjabi farming family. At the age of 16 she is said to have attained nirvanaNirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
when her village was visited by Swami Parmanand. She became his disciple and followed him to his ashram in Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
and in tours across India, while gaining lessons in oratory. She also adopted the title of Sadhvi (ascetic). Rithambara entered public life and the Sangh Parivar
Sangh Parivar
The Sangh Parivar refers to the family of organisations of Hindu nationalists which have been started by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or are inspired by its ideas. The Sangh Parivar represents the Hindu nationalist movement. It includes the RSS and several dozen smaller...
as a trainee and member of the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti
Rashtriya Sevika Samiti
The Rashtra Sevika Samiti is the women's wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Although a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, its membership and leadership is restricted for women and its activities directed for the welfare of women.Present Pramukh Sanchalika:- Van...
, which is the women's arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
(RSS), but gained prominence as a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Role in Ramjanmabhoomi movement
Sadhvi Rithambara was one of the leaders who incited right-wing Hindu activists to demolish the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. She was one of the three key women leaders of the movement, the other two being Uma Bharati and Vijayaraje ScindiaVijayaraje Scindia
Vijayaraje Scindia born Lekha Divyeshwari and until 1970 styled the Rajmata of Gwalior, was a prominent Indian political personality. In the days of the British Raj, as consort of the last ruling Maharaja of Gwalior, she ranked among the highest royal figures of the land...
; their leadership was largely responsible for the involvement of women in the movement and the form it took.
Later activities
Rithambara retreated from her prominent public role and kept a relatively low profile following the destruction of the Babri masjid in 1992.Rithambara was arrested in Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
in April, 1995 on the charge of inciting communal passions, after giving a speech in which she called Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
a "magician" and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, Mulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav in Hindi मुलायम सिंह यादव is an Indian politician and has influence mainly in Uttar Pradesh state of India...
, a "man-eater". Her speech was a denouncement of Christian missionaries who she alleged were converting Hindus and was given in a district where a Christian nun had been murdered by three men a couple of months earlier. Rithambara's address sparked off a strike and several arson attacks leading to the arrest of 169 arsonists.
In 1993 Rithambara attempted to establish an ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
near Vrindavan
Vrindavan
Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India...
and Mathura on land that the Uttar Pradesh BJP government had granted her for a minimal fee. However the proposal fell through as the Kalyan Singh
Kalyan Singh
Kalayan Singh is an Indian politician from the state of Uttar Pradesh. He has served 3 times as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.-Role in demolition of Babri Masjid:...
led government was dismissed, and she was not allowed to take possession of the land by the subsequent Mulayam Singh Yadav led state government. In 2002, the state government led by Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta
Ram Prakash Gupta
Ram Prakash Gupta was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and governor of Madhya Pradesh.He was a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party ....
granted 17 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s of land in the area, valued at Rupee
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
20 crore
Crore
A crore is a unit in the Indian number system equal to ten million , or 100 lakhs. It is widely used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan....
s, to her Paramshaktipeth trust for 99 years for an annual fee of one rupee. Besides cultivating devotion in women, the Vrindavan Ashram has also imparted training in karate, horse-riding, handling air guns and pistols, with the stated aim of relieving the women from their traditional societal roles and making them confident and self-reliant. Rithambara also runs ashrams for unwanted infants, ladies and widows in Indore, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
.