When we think of India’s independence movement, we often remember Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Subhas Chandra Bose. Yet, there were many unsung heroes who played crucial roles long before the world took notice. Among them was Bhikaji Rustom Cama, a bold and visionary woman who carried the message of India’s freedom to foreign shores.
In 1907, at a conference in Stuttgart, Germany, she did something truly historic — she unfurled the first version of India’s national flag on international soil. That act made her not just a freedom fighter, but a global symbol of courage, patriotism, and women’s empowerment.
This is the inspiring story of Bhikaji Cama — the woman who gave the Indian freedom struggle its first international identity.
Early Life: Born to Privilege, Driven by Purpose
Bhikaji Rustom Cama was born on 24th September 1861 into a wealthy and well-respected Parsi family in Bombay (now Mumbai). Her father, Sorabji Framji Patel, was a merchant and an influential member of the Parsi community. Despite her privileged upbringing, young Bhikaji was deeply sensitive to the social inequalities and injustices faced by Indians under British rule.
She received her early education at Alexandra Girls’ English Institution in Mumbai. Known for her intelligence and strong sense of justice, Bhikaji grew up with a keen interest in world affairs and an unshakable spirit of independence.
In 1885, she married Rustom Cama, a lawyer with strong pro-British views. Unfortunately, the marriage was troubled from the start because of their opposing political ideologies. While her husband admired the British, Bhikaji’s heart was with India’s suffering masses. The clash of beliefs made her realize that her destiny lay beyond the comforts of her social class — in the struggle for India’s freedom.
Turning Point: The Plague and Her Departure from India
In 1896, Mumbai was struck by a devastating outbreak of the bubonic plague. Bhikaji, without hesitation, joined relief efforts. She volunteered tirelessly to help victims, often risking her own life. Her selfless service during the crisis was both courageous and compassionate.
However, while caring for others, she contracted the plague herself. Her condition worsened, and doctors advised her to move abroad for treatment. In 1902, she left India for London, marking the beginning of a new chapter — one that would transform her from a volunteer nurse into a global revolutionary.
Life in London: Meeting the Revolutionaries
While recovering in London, Bhikaji Cama became increasingly involved in the political circles of Indian nationalists living abroad. She came into contact with influential freedom fighters such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Shyamji Krishna Varma, and Lala Har Dayal — all of whom were fighting for Indian self-rule through speeches, writings, and political organization.
Bhikaji quickly earned a reputation for her intelligence, fiery patriotism, and leadership. She began writing articles and delivering lectures exposing the atrocities of British colonial rule. She argued that India’s poverty and exploitation were direct results of British control.
Her London years laid the foundation for her future activism. When British authorities started monitoring her activities, she decided to move to Paris, where she would find greater freedom to campaign for India’s cause.
The Paris Years: Voice of India in Exile
In Paris, Bhikaji Cama joined a circle of passionate revolutionaries that included Madame Sophia Duleep Singh, Madame B.T. Ranadive, and others. Together, they worked to bring India’s struggle to global attention.
It was during this period that she co-founded the Paris Indian Society, a group that became the center of revolutionary activity among Indian expatriates. The society aimed to:
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Spread awareness about the Indian freedom movement
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Publish nationalist literature banned in India
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Support young revolutionaries
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Build international sympathy for India’s cause
She also worked closely with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar), who was then studying in London and later joined her efforts from Paris. Together, they published and distributed revolutionary pamphlets and journals, such as Vande Mataram, which were secretly sent to India to inspire young nationalists.
The Historic Moment: Stuttgart, Germany – 1907
The year 1907 became a milestone in India’s freedom history. The Second Socialist International Conference was being held in Stuttgart, Germany, bringing together socialists, workers, and reformers from across the world. Bhikaji Cama attended the event as a delegate representing India — a rare honor for an Indian woman at that time.
Standing before the world’s intellectuals and political leaders, she unfurled a tricolour flag, which she called the “Flag of Indian Independence.”
The flag had green, saffron, and red stripes, symbolizing unity, courage, and sacrifice. Across it were written the words “Vande Mataram” — meaning “Mother, I bow to thee.”
As she raised the flag, Bhikaji Cama declared with a powerful voice:
“This flag is of Indian Independence! Behold it is born! It has been sanctified by the blood of countless Indian patriots. I call upon you, gentlemen, to rise and salute the flag of Indian freedom.”
Her speech captivated the audience and sent shockwaves across Europe. For the first time, the world heard a woman from India demand freedom for her motherland in such direct and emotional terms.
Design of the Flag: A Symbol of Unity
The flag Bhikaji Cama hoisted in 1907 is regarded as the precursor to India’s current national flag.
Here’s what it represented:
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Saffron (top stripe): Symbolized courage and sacrifice.
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Green (middle stripe): Represented hope and prosperity.
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Red (bottom stripe): Stood for the blood of martyrs.
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Eight lotuses: Represented the eight provinces of British India.
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Sun and Moon: Depicted the eternal progress and unity of Hindus and Muslims.
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Vande Mataram: The national song of India, expressing devotion to the motherland.
This design later inspired the evolution of the tricolour flag adopted officially in 1947, when India finally became free.
Life of Exile and Sacrifice
Bhikaji Cama’s open criticism of British rule made her a target. The British government declared her writings and activities seditious and barred her from returning to India. She spent nearly 33 years in exile in Europe.
In Paris, she continued to write and speak passionately about India’s independence. She funded revolutionary publications, supported young activists financially, and maintained contact with freedom fighters across the globe. Despite constant surveillance, she never gave up her mission.
During World War I (1914–1918), the British pressured France to arrest Indian nationalists. Bhikaji was placed under house arrest for several years but remained steadfast in her beliefs. Even as her health deteriorated, her spirit never weakened.
Return to India: The Final Years
By the 1930s, Bhikaji Cama was elderly and ill. Her health had been damaged by years of struggle, imprisonment, and loneliness in exile. Finally, after long negotiations and on humanitarian grounds, the British government allowed her to return to India in 1935, on the condition that she would no longer engage in political activity.
She returned to Bombay, frail but unbroken, carrying the same deep love for her country that had fueled her entire life. On 13th August 1936, she passed away quietly at the age of 74, nearly 11 years before India achieved independence.
Though she did not live to see the tricolour fly over a free India, her dream had already taken root in the hearts of millions.
Legacy: The Forgotten Flame of Freedom
Bhikaji Cama’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle is immense, though often overshadowed in popular history. She:
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Gave India’s independence movement an international voice when it was still taking shape.
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Designed and unfurled the first version of India’s national flag.
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Supported revolutionaries through funds, writing, and moral guidance.
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Advocated for women’s rights, long before feminism became a movement.
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Showed that patriotism knows no gender, class, or borders.
Her courage inspired countless others — men and women — to take up the cause of freedom.
Bhikaji Cama in Today’s India
Today, Bhikaji Cama’s name lives on in various ways:
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Madame Cama Road in Mumbai is named in her honor.
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Her portrait hangs in India’s Parliament House, recognizing her as one of the founders of Indian nationalism.
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The Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Bhikaji Cama is named after her.
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Her story is taught in schools, reminding young Indians that the struggle for freedom was not limited to men or political leaders alone.
Quotes and Words That Inspire
Bhikaji Cama was known not only for her courage but also for her words that carried wisdom and fire. One of her most famous lines remains:
“No nation attains freedom without bloodshed. The tree of liberty grows strong only when watered by the blood of martyrs.”
Her writings and speeches urged Indians to rise above fear, caste, and division, and to see themselves as one nation deserving of dignity and self-rule.
Conclusion: A Legacy Beyond Borders
Bhikaji Cama’s life is a shining reminder that freedom is not given — it is earned through sacrifice, courage, and vision. She proved that one determined individual, even far from home, can ignite a revolution in the hearts of millions.
In an era when women were expected to remain silent, she raised her voice on the world stage. In a time when the Indian flag was banned, she unfurled it proudly before the world. And when many chose comfort, she chose exile — all for the dream of a free India.
Bhikaji Cama may have left this world before 1947, but her spirit continues to live in every flutter of the Indian tricolour. Every time the flag rises against the wind, it carries her dream — that India, once enslaved, would always stand tall, free, and united.
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