Manorama Basu (née Monorama Ray, 18 November 1897 – 16 October 1986), nicknamed Masima (maternal aunt),[1] was a Bengali revolutionary and feminist from Bangladesh.
[1][4] Manorama's early life was marked by poverty, and she did not have the opportunity to receive formal education due to her father's untimely death.
Despite the constraints of her landlord husband's family, Manorama Basu actively participated in the Indian independence movement while living in Barisal.
[2][4][5] In 1925, when Mahatma Gandhi visited Barisal for political campaigning and fundraising, Manorama Basu actively participated in the swadeshi (self-reliance) movement and even donated her own jewelry.
During the Bengal famine of 1943–44, she was actively involved in relief work, including setting up soup kitchens, hospitals, and rescue shelters.
[2][3] In 1954, the growing political instability and unrest in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) compelled Manorama Basu to go into temporary hiding.
Recognizing the importance of ensuring the long-term sustenance of the Ashram's activities, Manorama Basu deciced to bequeath all of her personal property to the institution.