|
Sarojini Naidu, the
eldest daughter of scientist-philosopher, Aghornath Chattopadhyaya,
and Barada Sundari Devi, a poetess was born on 13 February 1879 in
Hyderabad. Her father was also a linguist, a crusader, who
established the Nizam's College in Hyderabad in 1878, pioneering
English and women's education.
Sarojini was a bright
child who passed her matriculation at the age of 12 standing first
in the Madras Presidency. She studied at the King's college, London
and Girton College, Cambridge for a while. During this period her
creative urge found expression in poems. She also happened to be a
good singer. Her ability to sing charmingly fetched her the title
'Nightingale of India'. After 1917 she stepped into active politics.
In 1898 she married Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu.
During 1903-17 Sarojini
came into contact with Gokhale, Tagore, Jinnah, Annie Besant,
C.P.Rama Swami Iyer, Gandhi and Nehru. She began her political
career in 1906. From 1915 to 1918 she lectured all over India on
welfare of youth, dignity of labour, women's emancipation and
nationalism. After meeting Jawaharlal Nehru in 1916, she took up the
cause of the indigo workers of Champaran. In 1925 she was elected as
the President of the Congress.
Sarojini actively
campaigned for the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, the Khilafat issue,
the Rowlatt Act, the Sabarmati Pact, the Satyagraha Pledge and the
Civil Disobedience Movement.
In 1919, she went to
England as a member of the all-India home Rule Deputation. After
1920 she toured widely as the President of the Bombay Provincial
Congress Committee opposed Council entry in Calcutta and protested
against the anti-Moplah measures in Calicut.
From 1922-26 she
espoused the cause of Indians in South Africa, she took part in the
Salt Satyagraha and the Round Table Conference in London and
campaigned for participation of women and youth in the public life.
She organised a National Week in 1940 rallied against the Cripps
Mission to India and was jailed in 1942 on the Quit India Resolution
of the AICC in Bombay.
She was the first woman
Governor of UP. Her Presidentship of the Asian Relations Conference
in 1947 was remarkable. At the age of seventy on 02 March 1949 she
died in office at Lucknow.
|
