Hausabai Patil fought for this country’s freedom. She and her fellow actors in that drama were part of the Toofan Sena (typhoon or whirlwind army). The Sena was the armed wing of the prati sarkar or provisional, underground government of Satara that declared independence from British rule in 1943. With its headquarters in Kundal, the prati sarkar actually functioned as a government in the nearly 600 (or more) villages under its control. Hausabai ’s father, the legendary Nana Patil, was the head of the prati sarkar .
Between 1943 and 1946, Hausabai (more often called Hausatai; ‘tai’ is a respectful reference in Marathi to an elder sister) was part of teams of revolutionaries that attacked British trains, looted police armouries, and set ablaze dak bungalows. (In those times, these were post offices, rest houses for official travellers and even, sometimes, makeshift courtrooms). In 1944, she also took part in underground action in Goa, then under Portuguese rule, floating across the Mandovi river atop a wooden box at midnight, accompanied by comrades who swam alongside. But, she insists, “I did some little small work in the freedom struggle along with [my cousin] Bapu Lad. I did not do anything big or great.”
— source ruralindiaonline.org | P. Sainath | Aug. 1, 2021