“NOTHING COMES WITHOUT SELF SACRIFICE... NEVER GIVE UP, EVEN IF WE FACE OUR OWN END...” ~ Matangini Hazra The year was 1869. For most of India, it is famous as the year when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born to change the face of India's struggle for freedom. But in a corner of Undivided Bengal, the villagers of Hogla in Tamluk, the district capital of Medinipur, witnessed the birth of a girl child to Thakurdas Maity and his wife Bhagabati Devi. One can only imagine the birth of a girl child to a loan-ridden poor peasant in a village back then, perhaps meant no celebration. It meant the burden of having no heir, providing for this child and of course arranging for her dowry. She was named Matangini, literally meaning “The Female Elephant”, but a name attributed to the consort of Lord Shiva, Adi Shakti. The birthplace of Matangini is now renovated into this building. Courtesy: Midnapore. in The official records show her date of birth as the 17th of November 18...