Wishesh magazine february 2018 Wishesh magazine february 2018 | Seite 104

FREEDOM FIGHTER
entire capacity to the welfare of
women and children.
In 1936, Durgabai established
Andhra Mahila Sabha
predominantly, to train young
Telugu girls of Madras city
to apply for the Matriculation
examination of the Banaras
Hindu University. From such
a modest beginning Andhra
Mahila Sabha developed
within a decade an excellent
institution of education and
social welfare in the city of
Madras. She had the distinctive
capacity to get capitals for the
institution from both the rich
and the poor equally. Andhra
Mahila Sabha trained women in
104 numerous activities like nursing,
journalism, teaching, etc. A
monthly journal was founded
and edited by Durgabai in
Telugu called Andhra Mahila.
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Pandit Nehru who wanted to
utilize at the national level
the services of Durgabai was
attracted by the activities of
Andhra Mahila Sabha.
Durgabai’s services were
utilized fully at the national
level. Durgabai Deshmukh
brought a number of
social laws to provide
justice to the poor. She
was a number of central
organization’s Chairwoman
like Central Social Welfare
Board, National Council for
Women’s Education and
National Committee on girls’
and women’s education.
Durgabai being the Member
of Parliament and Planning
Commission, and was
associated with the Andhra
Educational Society at New
Delhi.
Thereafter, the formation
of Andhra Pradesh, the
Durgabai formed Andhra
Mahila Sabha extended its
activities to the Hyderabad
city. Andhra Mahila Sabha,
at Hyderabad, besides
running a number of
educational institutions
including a college, started
many welfare institutions
for women and children.
She was awarded the fourth
Nehru Literary Award in
1971 for her outstanding
contribution in promoting
literacy in India. Durgabai, in
1975 was awarded ‘Padma
Vibhushan’ award.
Durgabai Deshmukh
died on 9th May 1981.
Country lost one of the
most dynamic women of
the country in her death.
The Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh