Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy

Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy (born November 8, 1925), popularly known as Mrs. Y. G. P., is an Indian journalist, educationist and social worker. She is the founder and dean of the P. S. B. B. Group of Institutions.

Early and personal life

Rajalakshmi was born in Madras on November 8, 1925 into an affluent and educated Iyengar Brahmin family, the daughter of R. Parthasarathy, an employee of Burmah Shell Ltd., by is wife Alamelu Amma. Her father, R. Parthasarathy, was a son of the Indian independence activist, Dewan Bahadur T. Rangachari and her mother, Alamelu Amma, was a dedicated homemaker. Her brother K. Balaji was a famous actor and director in Tamil film industry.

Rajalakshmi studied at St. John's School and Holy Cross College, Madras and completed her post graduation in journalism from Madras University in 1947, at a time when few women in India undertook higher studies. Later, she completed her M. Ed and acquired a master's degree in history from the University of Madras.

Rajalakshmi married playwright and dramatist Y. G. Parthasarathy. Their son Y. Gee. Mahendra is a popular Tamil film and stage actor.

Career

On completion of her graduation, Rajalakshmi worked as a journalist with The Hindu and Tamil-weekly Kumudam. She, however, quit her job after marriage and started the school Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan in 1958.

Public life

In 1958, Rajalakshmi started a school with 13 students along with members of the Nungambakkam Ladies Recreation Club in a shed in the terrace of her house in Nungambakkam and named it Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan in deference to the wishes of one of its benefactors R. M. Seshadri who expressed his wish for the school to be named after his wife.^[1] The next year, the school acquired its own building. In 1971, the school established its first branch, the T. P. Road Junior School. Since then, the school has grown maifold and in 2009, comprised five branches with over 8,000 students and 500 staff members. Rajalakshmi has been serving as the Dean and Director of the school since its inception in 1958.

As Dean and Director of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, Rajalakshmi is credited with having contributed immensely to the cause of education in India and setting quality standards.^[1] She is also acclaimed for her contributions to the CBSE system.^[1]

Honours

On January 26, 2010, Rajalakshmi was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civil honour for her contribution to literature and education.^[2]

Works

• Mrs. Y. G. Parthasarathy (2004). Excellence beyond the classroom: a memoir of YGP. 

Notes

References

• Paromita Pain (August 28, 2004). "Life is not entertainment". The Hindu. 
• "In the quest for freedom". The Hindu. February 2, 2009. 
• "Interview with Mrs. Y. G. Parthasarathy". chennaionline.com. February 5, 2008. 

Bibliography

• Lakshmi Devnath (2005). Mrs. Y.G.P., a class apart.