13th February-Birth Anniversary of Sarojini Naidu

Who is Sarojini Naidu?

Sarojini Naidu, often referred to as the ‘Nightingale of India’, was born on
February 13, 1879. She was a freedom fighter, a child prodigy and poet and had
many firsts under her hat. She was the first Indian woman to become the President
of the Indian National Congress and also the first woman governor of an Indian
state.

Early Life of Sarojini Naidu:

Sarojini Naidu was born in Hyderabad to the educationist and social reformer
Aghornath Chattopadhyaya and his wife Barada Sundari Devi.

She was a bright student and topped the matriculation examination at Madras
University.

At 16, she travelled to England to pursue her education in King's
College, London and Girton College, Cambridge.

At 19, Sarojini Naidu married Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu, a general physician,
during the time when inter-caste marriages were not allowed.

She was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1925 because
of her political and educational abilities.

In 1929, she presided over East African Indian Congress in South Africa and was
awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal by the British government for her work during
the plague epidemic in India.

Role of Sarojini Naidu in India’s Struggle for Freedom

Sarojini was one of the major figures to have led the Civil Disobedience
Movement and the Quit India Movement led by Mohandas Karmachanda Gandhi
(Mahatma Gandhi).

She faced repeated arresting by the British authorities during
the time and even spent over 21 months (1 year and 9 months) in jail.

Post-Independence, she served as the first Governor of the United Provinces from
1947 to 1949 and also contributed to the drafting of the Indian Constitution.
Sarojini Naidu suffered a heart attack and died on March 2, 1949 at Lucknow in
Uttar Pradesh.

What are some of the Literary Works of Sarojini Naidu?

• Golden Threshold
• The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death, and the Spring
• Feast of Youth
• The Magic Tree
• The Wizard Mask
• Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity
• The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India, Allahabad: Kitabistan
• The Indian Weavers