Mira Behn | Biography, Photograph, & History

Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas have made many people in the world his followers. Mahatma Gandhi’s followers stood with him in every battle and also went to jail with him. One of these followers was ‘Mira Behn’ also known as Meera Behn whose real name was Madeline Slade (22 November 1892 – 20 July 1982). Mirabehn was also known as the “Lady of India“. Mira name was given to her by Mahatma Gandhi ji, which represents the Hindu mystic Mirabai. She played an important role in independence of India. 

Mira Behn

Mirabehn was born in 1892. She was born in the house of a British naval officer. After reading about Gandhi’s life and philosophy she was impressed by his idea and thoughts  She wrote him a letter for taking permission to become his disciple. After that Gandhi ji also sent her à welcoming letter and she come to the Sabarmati Ashram. She supported Gandhi Ji in many conferences and protests. She attended the Round Table Conference with him in London as well. She also was part of many incidents after independence. She died in 1982.

Mira Behn

Life of Mira Behn

Although her life was carefully regulated, she never felt that it was boring. As she grew up, she learned to use many things like -saws, hammers, screwdrivers, and more. She likes to watch the horses being groomed – brushing and rubbing and washing their hooves. She also learned how to ride horses. She likes Beethoven’s music. So she went to Romain Rolland to gain more knowledge about Beethoven. She met Rolland in Villeneuve. In their meeting, he mentioned India while talking about his written book “Mahatma Gandhi”. He asked her if she had ever heard of Mahatma Gandhi. Madeleine replied no. Then he told her about Mahatma Gandhi ji. These words of his went deep into her heart  But she didn’t do anything at that point in time and went to Alexandria.

When she came back from Alexandria, she came to Paris, she bought a Rolland book from a bookstore. She finished that book on the same day. Then she realized that she wanted to meet Gandhi Ji. After reaching London she booked a berth on a P & O Liner. She told her parents about her decision. They did not discourage her. But on the other hand, Madeleine herself felt that it was too rushed. She thought she had learned some things before going there. So she learned all the spinning chores, became a vegetarian learned, and practised sleeping on the floor. She spent a part of her training program in Paris. There she read the Bhagavad Gita and part of the Rigveda in the French language.

After returning to London she gets to know about Mahatma Gandhi’s fast for the unity of Hindus and Muslims. When the fast was finally successfully over she felt she should write and send a thank you letter to him. But she had no money left at that time. The only thing she had was a small brooch of diamonds given by her grandfather on her twenty-first birthday. She sold it and from that money, she sent a letter to Gandhi ji. That was the beginning of her journey to India  Gandhi was moved by this gesture and gratefully acknowledged the acceptance After getting his letter she wrote another letter to get permission to come to Sabarmati ashram. His reply came in August 1925  from Calcutta. On receiving this letter her day of going to India was fixed. At the London station, her mother and sister saw her off. 

Life of Mira Behn in India 

On November 6, the ship on which Mira was coming reached Mumbai. Her friends came there to meet her. They took her to Naoroji’s house on Malabar Hill. She was not thinking of anything else she only want to reach Sabarmati without any delay. On 7 November 1925, she reached Ahmedabad station where Mahadev Desai, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Swami Anand were present to receive her.

On reaching the Ashram she meet with Gandhi Ji and he told her that she should be her daughter from now. She was very happy after listening to this. From morning to night, she was with Gandhi ji. To be in his presence was to be lifted out of oneself. She was very much impressed by the simplicity of Gandhi ji. She had a  regimen of carding and spinning, cooking, cleaning, learning Hindi, travelling with Gandhi ji, or if not this all then living in the Ashram.   

Living with Gandhi, Mirabehn had to be well-versed in both. Living her life in Ashram was tough for her and also in the climate of India. But her devotion to Bapu kept her motivated. After some time she started wearing a white saree without any color on it. Next, she got her haircut. She returned to England in 1959. In 1960 she went to Austria and died in 1982.

Ideas of Mira Behn

Mira was a nature and animal lover. She believed that nature is everything to us. She followed Gandhi’s ideal. She believed in equality for everyone and had also fought for it. She considers education should be given to all. She believed the development of Industries is important but not by harming nature. She was against cutting too many trees. She wanted the use of compost mature over chemical fertilizers Because it would increase India’s dependency on foreign exchange and also it will destroy the soil. She was against the blind use of modern science and technology. 

Related Links

1. Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement
2. Colonial Rule and Pastoral Life
3. Role of Mahatma Gandhi in National Movement

FAQs on Mira Behn

Q 1. Who was Gandhi’s English daughter? or Who was Gandhi’s adopted daughter?

Answer-

When Gandhi first met her, he told her, “You will be my daughter,” and gave her the name Mirabehn, which represents the Hindu mystic Mirabai. 

Q 2. What happened to Mirabehn?

Answer-

In 1959, Mirabehn returned to England and moved to a house near Vienna a year later, where she spent the rest of her life. The Indian government bestowed the Padma Vibhushan medal, the country’s second highest civilian honour, on her a year before her death.

Q 3. Who was Mira Behn wrote about her life and ideas?

Answer-

Mira Behn was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. She was very impressed by Gandhi’s ideals, philosophies and ways of working. She had worked against caste discrimination, inequality  untouchability and in favor of women’s rights. She gave more importance to the development of agriculture, cottage ,industry and education. She had worked for environmental protection. 

Q 4. Name the autobiography and books written by Mira Behn.

Answer-

Mira behn’s autobiography is called Spiritual Pilgrimage. She also published Bapu’s Letters to Mir and New and Old Gleanings. At the time of her death, she also left behind an unpublished biography of Beethoven, named ‘The Ghost of Beethoven’.

Q 5. Mention the social works done by Mira Behn in India.

Answer-

In 1946, Mira behn was appointed Honorary Special Adviser to the Government of Uttar Pradesh to assist in the campaign to expand agricultural production. She is credited with establishing Kisan Ashram in Mooldaspur, Pashulok Ashram near Rishikesh, Gopal Ashram in Bhilangana and a settlement named Bapu Gram. Mira behn was the main inspiration for the establishment of Sevagram Ashram in Wardha, Maharashtra.

Q 6. Which award was given to Mira Behn?

Answer-

Mira Behn was awarded with India’s second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, in 1981.