Sarojini Naidu
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| Sarojini
Naidu was one of the most prominent leaders of India's freedom struggle.
Born on February 13, 1879 in Hyderabad, Sarojini was the eldest daughter
of Varasundari and Dr. Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, who was a scientist and
founder-principal of Nizam College of Hyderabad. Her mother Varasundari
was a Bengali poetess. |
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Sarojini's father aspired for her to become a mathematician or
scientist, but young Sarojini was drawn towards poetry from a very early
age. Seeing her flair for poetry, her father decided to encourage her.
With her father's support, she wrote the play "Maher Muneer" in the
Persian language. Dr. Chattopadhyaya sent a copy to the Nawab of
Hyderabad who was very impressed by the beautiful play written by her.
Sarojini got a scholarship to study abroad and got admitted to King's
College, London and then later at Girton College, Cambridge. |
| Sarojini
met Dr. Govind Naidu, during her stay in England and later married him
at a time when inter-caste marriages were not allowed. |
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poetess in Sarojini had now blossomed fully. Her poems were
beautiful and lyrical and could be sung. Her collection of poems
"Golden Threshold" was published in 1905 and she was soon given the
nickname - "Bul Bule Hind" or the "Nightingale of India". After
that, she published two other collections of poems--"The Bird of
Time" and "The Broken Wings". "Feast of Youth" followed in 1918. Her
poetry was admired by the likes of Rabindranath Tagore and
Jawaharlal Nehru. |
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after, she met Shree Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Gandhi and was influenced
by them. Sarojini was now whole-heartedly working for India's freedom
movement. Her poems poured enthusiasm and hope in the hearts of the
masses as they became united in the struggle for freedom. Naidu also
travelled across India and campaigned for the rights of women. She was
responsible for establishing self-esteem in Indian women. |
| In 1925,
Sarojini became the first Indian woman president of the National
Congress--having been preceded eight years earlier by the English
feminist Annie Besant. She travelled far and wide, to places like South
Africa and North America, lecturing on the Congress movement. She
accompanied Gandhi to London for the inconclusive second session of the
Round Table Conference for Indian-British cooperation (1931). Back in
India her anti-British activities brought her a number of prison
sentences (1930, 1932, and 1942-43). |
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When
India finally became free in 1947, she was appointed Governor of the
United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), to become the first Indian
woman governor, a post she retained till her death. |
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| Naidu's
was also elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in
recognition of her literary contributions. |
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Nightingale passed away on March 2, 1949. However the legacy that she
has left behind will continue to inspire future generations of India.
Her birthday is proudly celebrated as Women's day. |
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