Vijayalakshmi pandit autobiography

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

Indian freedom fighter, diplomatist and politician (–)

Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (néeSwarupNehru;[2] 18 August – 1 December ) was an Asiatic freedom fighter, diplomat and minister. She served as the Ordinal President of the United Goodwill General Assembly from to , the first woman and influence only Indian to have bent appointed to this post. She was also the 3rd Administrator of Maharashtra from to Illustrious for her participation in blue blood the gentry Indian independence movement, she was jailed several times during distinction movement.

In , she visited the United States to impart awareness about the Indian liaison among the American people detect order to counter the anti-Indian propaganda there. Following the sovereignty of India, she was zigzag to London as India's apogee important diplomat after serving primate India's envoy to the Council Union, the United States highest the United Nations.[3] Hailing alien the prominent Nehru-Gandhi political her brother Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister pleasant independent India, her niece Indira Gandhi was the first warm Prime Minister of India near her grand-nephew Rajiv Gandhi was the sixth and youngest Choice Minister of India.

Early life

Vijaya Lakshmi's (born Swarup)[2] father, A name Nehru (–), a wealthy advocate who belonged to the Indian Pandit community, served twice introduce President of the Indian Stable Congress during the Independence Strain. Her mother, Swaruprani Thussu (–), who came from a outstanding Kashmiri Pandit family settled break off Lahore,[5] was Motilal's second helpmeet, the first having died rip apart child birth. She was position second of three children; Jawaharlal was eleven years her superior (b. ), while her one-time sister Krishna Hutheesing (–) became a noted writer and authored several books on their fellow-man.

Career

She attended the Congress classify that took place in Siege. She was impressed by Sarojini Naidu and Annie Besant.[6]

In , she spent time in Authority Gandhi's ashram close to Ahmedabad. She participated in daily chores including dairy work and moving. She also worked in significance office that used to assign Young India.[6]

Pandit was the supreme Indian woman to hold expert cabinet post in pre-independent Bharat. In , she stood eliminate general elections and became fastidious member of parliament by funding the constituency of Cawnpore Bilhaur.[7] In , she was elective to the provincial legislature classic the United Provinces and was designated minister of local independence and public health.[8][9] She reserved the latter post until scold again from to [10][11]

She bushed significant time in jail energy her participation in the Soldier independence movement. She was captive for 18 months from – She was jailed again bring back 6 months in before deriving jailed in for 7 months over her participation in say publicly Quit India Movement.[12][7] After any more release, she helped the chumps of the Bengal famine some and served as president method the Save the Children Reservoir Committee which rescued poor dynasty from the streets.[7]

Following the passing of her husband in , she experienced Indian inheritance volume for Hindu widows and campaigned with All India Women's Talk to bring changes to these laws.[7]

In , she visited decency United States to raise intelligence about the Indian affairs in the midst the American people in uproar to counter the anti-Indian disinformation there.[13]

In , she was chosen to the Constituent Assembly unearth the United Provinces.[14]

Following India's home rule from British rule in she entered the diplomatic service existing became India's ambassador to ethics Soviet Union from to ,[15][16] the United States and Mexico from to ,[17][18] Ireland let alone to (during which time she was also the Indian Big Commissioner to the United Kingdom),[19] and Spain from to [20] Between and , she determined the Indian delegation to nobleness United Nations. In , she became the first woman Commandant of the United Nations Universal Assembly[21] (she was inducted since an honorary member of birth Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority focal for this accomplishment[22]). That exact year she was a contestant for Secretary General of illustriousness United Nations.[23]

Hon. Members Shrimati Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit has resigned their way seat in the House right effect from 17 December [24]

In India, she served as Boss of Maharashtra from to She returned as a member curst parliament for to with bunch up election victory in Phulpur.[7][25] Pandit was a harsh critic imbursement Indira Gandhi's years as legalize minister especially after Indira difficult declared the emergency in [7]

Pandit retired from active politics care for relations between them soured. Newness retiring, she moved to Dehradun in the Doon Valley crucial the Himalayan foothills.[26] She came out of retirement in give in campaign against Indira Gandhi obtain helped the Janata Party standin the election.[27] She was around to have considered running safe the presidency, but Neelam Sanjiva Reddy eventually ran and won the election unopposed.[28]

In , she was appointed the Indian characteristic to the UN Human Uninterrupted Commission, after which she hidden from public life. Her pamphlets include The Evolution of India () and The Scope discover Happiness: A Personal Memoir ().

Personal life

In , she united in marriage Ranjit Sitaram Pandit (–), dinky successful barrister from Kathiawar, State and classical scholar who translated Kalhana's epic history Rajatarangini record English from Sanskrit. Her bridegroom was a Maharashtrian Saraswat Mastermind, whose family hailed from specific of Bambuli, on the Ratnagiri coast, in Maharashtra. He was arrested for his support a range of Indian independence and died atmosphere Lucknow prison in , renunciation behind his wife and their three daughters Chandralekha Mehta, Nayantara Sehgal and Rita Dar.

She died in She was survived by her daughters, Chandralekha see Nayantara Sahgal.

Academics

She was distinction member of Aligarh Muslim Further education college Executive Council.[29]

She was an Title only Fellow of Somerville College, Town, where her niece studied Contemporary History.[30] A portrait of sit on by Edward Halliday hangs amuse the Somerville College Library.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^"Presidents of the General Assembly | United Nations". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 11 October Retrieved 22 March
  2. ^ abNehru, Krishna (). With Thumb Regrets: An Autobiography. New York: The John Day Company.
  3. ^Rakesh Ankit, "Between Vanity and Sensitiveness: Indo–British Relations During Vijayalakshmi Pandit’s High-Commissioner (–61)." Contemporary British History (): 20–
  4. ^Zakaria, Rafiq A Study living example Nehru, Times of India Squeeze, , p. 22
  5. ^ abSmith, B.G. (). The Oxford Encyclopedia govern Women in World History. Town University Press. p.&#;2-PA ISBN&#;.
  6. ^ abcdefRappaport, Helen (). Encyclopedia of Platoon Social Reformers. ABC-CLIO. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  7. ^Pandit, Vijaya Lakshmi (). "First For myself, Singular". So I became fine Minister. Allahabad: Kitabistan. pp.&#;– Retrieved 11 September
  8. ^Welcome address hit upon Chairman of Municipal Board, Metropolis, to Smt. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit honouring her as Minister have a high regard for Local Self Government and Not fixed, and highlighting the poor subject conditions of Agra (in Hindi). Allahabad: Sainik Press. Retrieved 12 September &#; via Allahabad Museum.
  9. ^Khan, Abdul Majid (). "Lakshmi Resigns". The Great Daughter of India. Lahore: Indian Printing Works. p.&#; Retrieved 12 September
  10. ^Pandit, Vijaya Lakshmi (). "Interim Government". The Scope of Happiness: A One-off Memoir. New York: Crown Publishers Inc. pp.&#;–, , – ISBN&#;. Retrieved 12 September
  11. ^Bhagavan, Grouping. (). India and the Pursuit for One World: The Peacemakers. Palgrave Macmillan Transnational History Collection. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  12. ^Grover, V.; Arora, R. (). Great Women of Modern India: Vija ya Lakshmi Pandit (in Indonesian). Deep & Deep Publications. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 18 October
  13. ^Pandit, Vijaya Lakshmi (). "Interim Government". The Scope of Happiness: Clean Personal Memoir. New York: Wreathe Publishers Inc. p. ISBN&#; Retrieved 12 September
  14. ^"India's Ambassador make ill Moscow: Mrs. V. L. Pandit's choice certain". The Indian Express. Vol.&#;15, no.&#; Madras. 7 June p.&#;1. Retrieved 11 September
  15. ^Appointment of Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit as Ambassador for India discern USSR and fixation of jilt pay and allowance. New Delhi: Department of External Affairs gain Commonwealth Relations: External Affairs Convince. p.&#; Retrieved 11 September &#; via National Archives of India.
  16. ^"Woman Ambassador". The Pittsburgh Press. Vol.&#;65, no.&#; 8 May p.&#; Retrieved 11 September
  17. ^Appointment of Shrimati Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit as Courier in U.S.A. succession to Shri Rau I.C.S. and fixation holiday her pay and allowances. Unobstructed of Joining time to H.E., Shrimati Vijaya Lakshmi Ambassador closing stages India in USA. Grant misplace free air passage to Shrimati Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and veto daughter. New Delhi: Press Acquaintance Bureau. p.&#; Retrieved 11 Sept &#; via National Archives spend India.
  18. ^O'Malley, Kate (). "Ireland increase in intensity India: Post-independence Diplomacy". Irish Studies in International Affairs. 22. Converse Irish Academy: – doi/isia JSTOR&#; Retrieved 12 September
  19. ^Brittain, Vera (). "The Conquest of Britain". Envoy Extraordinary: A Study deserve Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and reject contribution to Modern India. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. p.&#; Retrieved 12 September
  20. ^Oxford Dictionaries, online. "Vijay Lakshmi Pandit". Archived from the original sharpen 26 October Retrieved 2 July
  21. ^"Alpha Kappa Alpha ". Archived from the original on 26 December Retrieved 14 December
  22. ^Goodwin, Ralph R., ed. (). United Nations Affairs. Foreign Relations observe the United States, – Vol.&#;3. Washington D.C.: United States Control Printing Office. p.&#;Document
  23. ^Lok Sabha Debates Vol VII, (PDF). Lok Sabha Secretariat New Delhi. p.&#;
  24. ^Malaviya, Padma Kant. P.K. Malaviya analyses election defeat and congratulates Wife. Vijay Lakshmi on her make sorry in Phulpur Lok Sabha election. New Delhi. p.&#;1. Retrieved 12 September &#; via National Annals of India.
  25. ^Indira Gandhi's Aunt Says She Is 'Profoundly Troubled' parallel Direction India Is Taking, NY Times, 31 October
  26. ^Sister Burnishes Nehru's Image, Lest India Ignore, NY Times, 22 May
  27. ^Nehru's Sister Campaigning for Presidency unconscious India, NY Times,
  28. ^Batori (10 Dec ). "Nayantara Sahgal delivers Ordinal K P Singh Memorial Lecture". Batori. Archived from the nifty on 11 December Retrieved 10 December
  29. ^Visit of Shrimati Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit former Governor come within earshot of Maharashtra to London to accept the Honorary Degree of wait D.C.L. from the Oxford Tradition – Payment of air diet from Bombay to London & back. New Delhi: Ministry make known External Affairs. pp.&#;1– Retrieved 11 September &#; via National Annals of India.
  30. ^"Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit". Equality and Diversity Unit, University signify Oxford. 11 September

Further reading

  • Ankit, Rakesh. "Between Vanity and Sensitiveness: Indo–British Relations During Vijayalakshmi Pandit's High-Commissionership (–61)". Contemporary British History (): 20– doi/
  • Gupta, Indra (). India's 50 Most Illustrious Women. New Delhi: Icon Publications. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
  • Menon, Parvathi (). "Vijayalakshmi Pandit: Gendering and Racing against decency Postcolonial Predicament" in Immi Tallgren (ed.) Portraits of Women close in International Law (Oxford University Thrust, ).

External links