About Shahid Matangini Hazra
Shahid Matangini Hazra (19th October, 1869 - 29th September, 1942) was one of the outstanding freedom fighters who
sacrificed her life for her country. Born in a poor peasant family in Hogla, a village near Tamluk, she was married off at an early
age to Trilochan Hazra, who was much older than her. She was widowed by the age of eighteen. Thereafter she devoted herself to social
service, working tirelessly for others.
In 1905,when the Nationalist movement was at its peak in Bengal, Matangini Hazra became deeply inspired and influenced by Mahatma
Gandhi, and followed his teachings so religiously that she later came to be known as 'Gandhi Buri'. In 1932, at the age of 62,
Matangini Hazra joined the Salt march and actively participated in the Non-Co-operation Movement. She was arrested for violating the
Salt Act but was released soon after. She continued to protest for the abolition of Chowkidari Tax and was arrested again in 1933 and
kept in Baharampur for 6 months. On her release, she joined the Indian National Congress. At a meeting of the sub-divisional Congress
conference in Serampore, she was injured in a baton charge by the British Police.
In 1942, as part of the Quit India Movement, there was a move to take over different police stations and other government offices in
Medinipur district. Matangini Hazra, aged 73, led a procession of about 6,000 supporters to take over the Tamluk Police Station. When
she crossed the border of the town where Section 144 (curfew) had been enforced, she was asked to disband the procession. But, she
refused and went forward, and was immediately shot dead. She died chanting 'Vande Mataram', with the Indian tri-colour in her hands.
Matangini Hazra is not only remembered for her role in the freedom struggle, but also for upholding the importance of women in the
life of a nation. She is an epitome of infinite courage and leadership. And it is only fitting that there should be an institution to
promote education of women in Medinipur, especially Tamluk where she lived and died a martyr's death.
Shahid Matangini Hazra Government College for Women, Chakshrikrishnapur, Kulberia has been set up to commemorate the memory of the
fearless fighter and continue the legacy of enlightenment and empowerment of women that she has bequeathed to the country, and to
Medinipur, specially.
About the College
Shahid Matangini Hazra Government College for Women has been established by the Government of West Bengal with the aim of providing
quality college education to girl students of Purba Medinipur and surrounding areas. It is ideally located close to the highway
crossing from where different roads lead to Mecheda, Tamluk, Shrirampur, Haldia and Digha.
The overwhelming response of students in enrolling in this college in the very first session (2015-2016) proves the necessity for
setting up a girls' college in this area. Already 198 students have enrolled in the various courses. The college has been aptly named
after Matangini Hazra, one of the most outstanding figures in the history of India's national struggle for independence, who hailed
from the district of Tamluk. She represents the indomitable spirit of Indian womanhood and the story of her life remains a source of
inspiration for all. It is hoped that the college will live up to the ideals of the great personality after whom it has
been named.
From the desk of Principal
A long cherished dream of the residents of Tamluk came into being with the establishment of Sahid Matangini Hazra Govt. College (SMHGC)
for Women in 2015. Given the fact that the legacy of Indian Higher Education can be traced back to the age of Nalanda and Takshashila,
5 to 15 years is not long enough for an institution to carve out a space for itself in the history of higher education of our vast country.
Nevertheless we hope that by the end of the next decade we would be able to claim that our institution would reach that level of
excellence where nobody would hesitate to use ‘SMHGC’ as a brand name, both in the market of employment and in the academic field.
With the dedication, devotion and sustained effort of a group of motivated teachers and students, the college is gradually growing up
as a centre for cultivation of knowledge in its true sense. Our primary dictum is to help create qualified, skilled and knowledgeable
workforce that is a fundamental requirement to the dream of India becoming an economic super power. We are aware that we have so many
challenges ahead especially when the parents of the current generation of students prefer engineering, medicine and other professional
discipline over the conventional subjects for graduation. But with untiring efforts and determination on the part of the students,
teachers and the members of the non-teaching staff we are confident to produce from our students a galaxy of luminaries with all potential
to give leadership to the emergence of India as a developed nation by the turn of 2030.