Career
At the time of her death on 26 October 2010, she was India"s oldest living freedom fighter. She did her schooling from Kanya Maha Vidyalay, Jalandhar. Her marriage was a dowry-less one and she wore no veil, which was the condition set by Achint Ram for marriage.
She was popularly known as Bijji or Mataji.
She was the mother of India"s former Vice President, Krishan Kant. She also had two daughters Nirmala and Subhadra.
Along with other women prisoners she hoisted the Indian tricolour in Lahore Jail where she was imprisoned by the Britishers. In prison she protested against the condition of barracks of political prisoners and went on a satyagraha.
They both urged the landowners to give their land to landless laborers.
The revolutionary leader Chandrashekhar Azad stayed at her home for three days before his escape to Lahore. She had often federal the patriot Bhagat Singh with her own hands. Her daughter Subhadra, when arrested was only 13 years old and was the youngest freedom fighter to be arrested.
In 1965, she donated all her jewels to the Prime Minister"s National Relief Fund.
She was always respected by everyone who came to her home. Her son Krishna Kant became the Governor of Andhra Pradesh in 1989 and continued there until 1997, when he was elevated to the post of Vice President.
Krishna Kant took his mother to his home during both occasions. She outlived him for eight years, finally dying on 26 October 2010 aged 105, outliving many of her younger co-workers.
She was cremated with all state honours at her native village on the next day.
A year before death on 9 August 2009, she was honoured by then President Pratibha Patil as a part of the 67th anniversary of Quit India Day.