Short Biography of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Birth Date & Birth place: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was born in Allahabad, on August 18, 1900.
Parents: Vijaya Lakshmi’s father was Motilal Nehru who belonged to the Kashmiri Pandit community. Her mother, Swaruprani Thussu was the second wife of her father.
Early Life: Even at a very young age, he took interest in politics. She attended her first political meeting when she was just 16. She also volunteered in Annie Besant`s Home Rule League.
Education: She received private home education in India and abroad by governesses and tutors.
Marriage: In 1921 she was married to Ranjit Sitaram pandit a Maharashtrian barrister. They had three daughters.
Career:
Her political career began in 1934 with the election of the Allahabad Municipal Board.
1936: elected to the Assembly of the United Provinces.
Contributions/ Major Achievements:
- In 1939 when the British government declared that India was to participate in World War II, she resigned from the congress office as a protest.
- She got imprisoned as a participant in “Quit India movement”.
- She was the member of the constituent assembly that drafted the Indian constitution.
- She was jailed for presiding over a public meeting where the pledge of Independence was taken.
- From 1962 to 1964, she was the Governor of Maharashtra.
Awards and Recognitions:
- She was first to become an ambassador of India to the Soviet Union.
- She was the first female President of the UN general assembly.
- She received more than 8 honorary degrees from universities all over the world as well as Indian ones.
Conclusion: She was a politician and a diplomat. She was very active in the Indian freedom movement and always held high national as well as international portfolios throughout.
Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijaya_Lakshmi_Pandit
