P. V. Vanaja Bai

Panyam Vuppu Vanaja Bai (27 November 1930 – August 2007) also popularly known as Vanajamma was an Indian activist, thinker, social worker.She was also an active political leader of Indian National Congress party. Her work extended to many fields from education to poor, Rural Development to Women's empowerment. She was the founder of Mahila Samaj.[1]

Early life

Vanaja bai was born on 27 November 1930 in Madras. Her father, Pallai Venkata Subba Rao, served as a Civil Servant in Madras Presidency during the period of British rule.[2]

Career

Vanajabai was the founder and President of the Welfare Co-operative Society of Women and of Sharada Mahila Mandal in Panyam. She was a member of Guntakal railway division committee and a director of a sugar factory, as well as a member of Panyam Gram panchayat. She was also the board member of District Congress Committee of Kurnool district.[3] She played a crucial role in the establishment of the Indian National Congress (INC) in Kurnool district.[4] She also gave speeches in Mysore on Women's empowerment and Rural Development on behalf of the INC.[5] She donated many of her lands for the rural development of Panyam village. While she was serving as a board member of the INC committee in Kurnool, she organised annual conferences on social issues under the aegis of the INC and also herself delivered speeches. She is most known for her efforts to educate women and the lower castes.[6]

Mahila Samaj

On 16 April 1962, Vanajabai formed Mahila Samaj (Society for Women's Empowerment), of which she was the first president and treasurer.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ajīta Kaura,Arpana Cour (1976). Directory of Indian Women Today, 1976. India International Publications. p. 434.
  2. ↑ Ajīta Kaura,Arpana Cour (1976). Directory of Indian Women Today, 1976. India International Publications. p. 434.
  3. ↑ Ajīta Kaura,Arpana Cour (1976). Directory of Indian Women Today, 1976. India International Publications. p. 434.
  4. ↑ Business India, Issues 469-473. A. H. Advani. 1996.
  5. ↑ India. Office of the Registrar General, P. Padmanabha. Census of India, 1971: Mysore, Part 2, Volume 2. Manager of Publications - Karnataka (India).
  6. ↑ India. Central Social Welfare Board. Research, Evaluation, and Statistics Division, Central Social Welfare Board (India). Research, Evaluation, and Statistics Division, Leela Moolgaokar,1979 (1979). Directory of Social Welfare Agencies in India, Andhra Pradesh, Volume 2. Research, Evaluation, and Statistics Division, Central Social Welfare Board - Charities. p. 1167.
  7. ↑ Social Welfare,Volumes 23-24. Central Social Welfare Board. 1978. p. 28.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.