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Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers Over Time.

By jia_patel

  • Sarojini Naidu

    Also known as the "Nightingale of India"
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    Early Life & Education

    • 13 Feb 1879 – Born in Hyderabad, India, into an intellectual Bengali family.
    • 1895 – Moved to England for higher studies at King’s College, London, and Girton College, Cambridge.
    • 1898 – Returned to India and married Govindarajulu Naidu, a doctor, in an inter-caste marriage—an act of social reform at the time.
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    Entry into Politics & Women’s Rights Advocacy

    • 1905 – Joined the Swadeshi Movement, promoting Indian-made goods and boycotting British products.
    • 1917 – Co-founded the Women’s Indian Association (WIA) to advocate for women's education, voting rights, and equality.
    • 1919 – Protested against the Rowlatt Act, which allowed imprisonment without trial, and joined the Satyagraha Movement.
    • 1920 – Became an important figure in the Non-Cooperation Movement, working closely with Mahatma Gandhi.
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    Time Period (Years Active)

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    Political Leadership & Freedom Struggle

    • 1925 – Became the first Indian woman to preside over the Indian National Congress in Kanpur, paving the way for women in politics.
    • 1930 – Participated in Gandhi’s Dandi Salt March as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement, fighting against British salt taxes.
    • 1931 – Represented India at the Second Round Table Conference in London to discuss constitutional reforms.
    • 1942 – Arrested and jailed for 21 months during the Quit India Movement, which called for an end to British rule.
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    Role in Independent India

    • 15 Aug 1947 – After India’s independence, she was appointed as the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state.
    • 2 March 1949 – Passed away in Lucknow while serving as Governor, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and women’s empowerment.

  • Impact on Society & Women’s Leadership

    • First Indian woman in top political roles, breaking gender barriers in governance.
    • Advocated for women’s education, rights, and political participation, inspiring future female leaders.
    • Played a key role in India’s independence, leading various movements and protests.
    • Inspired nationalism through her poetry, earning the title “Nightingale of India.”