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| Prominent Buddhists and Scheduled Classes Women in India. |
“I measure the progress of the society by the degree of progress which women have achieved”
( In Tamil ) "பெண்கள் அடைந்திருக்கும் முன்னேற்ற அளவை வைத்துதான் ஒரு சமுதாயத்தின் முன்னேற்றத்தை நான் அளவிடுகிரேன்".
~ Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar contribution was great in the field of women's empowerment. He advocated for the liberation of women and gender equality in India. If there any persons worked for women's liberation in India via confirmed law effort, the person was none other than Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Without Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, at least whatever changes the position of Women today in India would be only question mark. There were many leaders fought for the women's Rights in India. Most of them were failed in their action. But Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was the person who changed the effort via Law.
As a youth I am very proud to share about our gems, intellectuals and glorious women in various field. Let learn it and teach everyone especially to our younger women.
* Maha Pajapati Gotami - The first Buddhist nun ordained by the Buddha.
* Videesha Mahadevi Shakyakumari – The first Empress of the Mauryan Empire and the wife of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. She is remembered for Sanchi Stupa and is credited with being a major factor for her husband's conversion to Buddhism. She was the only Buddhist Empress of India.
* Sanghamitta - Daughter of Emperor Ashoka. With her brother Mahinda, she went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Buddha at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa who was a contemporary of Ashoka.
* Auvaiyar I - World famous Tamil Poet. She was the royal Poet of the Prince of Thagadur i,e Athiaman Neduman Anji, the Buddhist ruler who was fond of Avvaiyar. (Presently named as Dharmapuri once called as Dhammapuri. It is my district of Tamil Nadu). Her poems are found in the Purananuru, Kurunthogai and Natrinai.
* Soyarabai - A saint from Maharashtra who framed large literature in Marathi. She was the wife of Saint Chokhamela.
* Nirmala - A saint from Maharashtra whose writings are largely describe the injustice and inequalities she suffered as a result of the caste system. She was the younger sister of the Saint Chokhamela.
* Kuyili - The brave woman who was the first human bomb in India against the British. She was the army commander of Velu Nachiar, the queen of Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu. Her brave act paves the way for Nachiyar’s victory against the British.
* Jhalkaribai - A soldier in the women's army of Queen Laxmibai of Jhansi who played an important role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 during the battle of Jhansi. She started her career as an ordinary soldier in Laxmibai's army, but rose to a position of advising the queen and participating in vital decisions. During the rebellion, at the height of the battle of fort of Jhansi, she disguised herself as the queen and fought on the front to let the queen escape safely out of the fort.
* Aranganayaki Ammal - Diwan Bahadur Rettaimalai Srinivasan’s wife. She was mainly responsible for his services to the depressed classes. She was a kind and social minded woman which made Thatha Srinivasan to carry on his mission successfully.
* Tiruppugal Ammal - One of the leaders of the Scheduled Classes in the early 20th century. She actively involved in the Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha. In 1917, along with Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah a deputation consisting of Tiruppugal Ammal presented a memorandum to Montagu and Chelmsford, asking for a change in the name of the Depressed Classes.
* Tiruppugal Ammal - One of the leaders of the Scheduled Classes in the early 20th century. She actively involved in the Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha. In 1917, along with Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah a deputation consisting of Tiruppugal Ammal presented a memorandum to Montagu and Chelmsford, asking for a change in the name of the Depressed Classes.
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| Annai Meenambal Sivaraj and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar |
* Annai Meenambal Sivaraj - National level India's first Scheduled Classes woman leader. She was the first woman President of 'All India SCF'. She gave the title “PERIYAR” (Great one) to E.V. RAMASAMY in a women conference in Victoria public hall near to Moore Market, Madras in 20th November 1938. She presided over the SCF women’s conference held at Madras, in 1944, which was attended by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Also she presided over the All India SCF women’s conference held at Bombay, on May 6th, 1945. She advocated the role of education powerfully. Also she exhorted the women audience to actively take part in social uplift of the community, educate their children, advised to struggle to liberate themselves from Untouchability, casteism and oppression. She was the first Scheduled Classes Woman to become a member of Madras Corporation and Deputy Mayor of Madras Corporation. She was the honorary Magistrate for Madras Province, Senate Member of Madras University and the member of Post-war Reconstruction committee. She was the forefront leader of the anti-Hindi agitation in Madras province in 1938.
* Ramabai Ambedkar - Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s wife. The line “There is a woman behind for every man success” is very true in Babasaheb life.
* Jaibai Chaudhari - She was a great educationalist and social worker. She had firmly decided to spread education among the depressed classes girls and awaken the women. With this determination she started a school for the depressed class girls named Chokhamela Kanyashala girls School at New Colony, Nagpur in 1924.
* Poet Annapoorni - She was the daughter of Appadurai a famous Buddhist Scholar. She contributed articles in Tamilan magazine. She dedicated her life for the well-being of the Scheduled Classes. She considered that Brahmanism stood in the way of getting proper recognition for Scheduled Classes as the first citizen of this land with such rich culture. She got involved in all strategic modalities of getting Scheduled Classes their proper education, along with her father. In due course of time she became an indispensable spokes-woman for the country as well as in Scheduled Classes forums and Buddhists organisations. She emerged as the most dutiful and responsible woman leader in spear heading the cause of women emancipation.
* Gunabai Gadekar – Under her Presidentship, the first session of All India Depressed Classes Women’s conference held at Poona on Monday, 11th August 1930.
* Dakshayani - She was a science graduate, and the only Scheduled Classes woman member of the Constituent Assembly of India. In Parliament, she took special interest in the matters of education especially that of the Scheduled Classes. She sided with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on many issues relating to the Scheduled Class during the Constituent Assembly debates. She agreed with Babasaheb giving up the demand for separate electorates arguing instead for 'moral safeguards' and the immediate removal of their social disabilities. She was the president of the Depressed Classes Youths Fine arts Club and the Managing editor of The Common Man in Madras from 1946-49. She formed many Scheduled Class organizations, including Bharatiya Mahila Jagriti Parishad, a Scheduled Classes women's group in Delhi in 1978.
* Radhabai Kamble - In 1946, She emerged as a labourers leader from Badri, Maharashtra. Although educated only until the 4th grade, she was adopt at standing in front of thousands of people and delivering provocative and strong speeches. Her speeches inspired the labour meets in Vidharba.
* Sulochanabai Dongre - She was a fearless leader in the All India Depressed Classes Women Congress. She presided over the 2nd session of All India Depressed classes women’s conference held at Nagpur on July 20, 1942.
* Maragatham Chandrasekar – India’s first Scheduled Classes woman to became Member of Parliament. She was Independent India's first Scheduled Classes Woman to become a Minister in Union Government. She served as the Union Deputy Minister for Health from 1951 to 1957, Home Affairs from 1962 to 1964 and Social Welfare from 1964 to 1967. In 1972, she was elected General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from Tamil Nadu.
* Laxmibai Naik - She established an untouchable Women’s Society in 1921 in Amravati.
* Anjanibai Deshbhratar - She organized untouchable girl students at Nagpur in May 1936. She was also instrumental in founding a hostel for the Scheduled Classes girls. As a Teacher she continued her participation in the liberation movement.
* Dadasaheb Gaikwad’s daughters Seetabai, Ramabai, Geetabai were the forefront of the of the Nasik’s Kalaram temple entry satyagraha of 1930.
* Geetabai – An educated activist and a teacher, along with Madhalabai and Meinabai, she started a Mahila Mandal in 1932 and spread Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s message in the areas of Pune, Bheemapura and Kamathipura.
* Rajamani Devi - She involved in the AISCF in Secunderabad. She was the first woman elected as an MLA on behalf of the AISCF.
* Eshwari bai - She involved in the social work and politics from Secunderabad. Inspired by Babasaheb, she joined the AISCF. In 1957, it was renamed as the Republican Party of India (RPI). In 1958 she was elected as General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh. Later she become the President of RPI. She was the first Woman MLA of the RPI.
* Dr. Sathyavani Muthu - Fearless Scheduled Classes woman leader. She was the first Non-Congress Dravidian parties Tamil Nadu politician to serve in Union Ministry. She was instrumental in creating India's first Government Arts college named after 'Dr. Ambedkar'. Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College, Chennai was established in the year 1973. She was the first woman to form a party of her own in Tamil Nadu under the name of 'Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam'.
* Ramabai Ambedkar - Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s wife. The line “There is a woman behind for every man success” is very true in Babasaheb life.
* Jaibai Chaudhari - She was a great educationalist and social worker. She had firmly decided to spread education among the depressed classes girls and awaken the women. With this determination she started a school for the depressed class girls named Chokhamela Kanyashala girls School at New Colony, Nagpur in 1924.
* Poet Annapoorni - She was the daughter of Appadurai a famous Buddhist Scholar. She contributed articles in Tamilan magazine. She dedicated her life for the well-being of the Scheduled Classes. She considered that Brahmanism stood in the way of getting proper recognition for Scheduled Classes as the first citizen of this land with such rich culture. She got involved in all strategic modalities of getting Scheduled Classes their proper education, along with her father. In due course of time she became an indispensable spokes-woman for the country as well as in Scheduled Classes forums and Buddhists organisations. She emerged as the most dutiful and responsible woman leader in spear heading the cause of women emancipation.
* Gunabai Gadekar – Under her Presidentship, the first session of All India Depressed Classes Women’s conference held at Poona on Monday, 11th August 1930.
* Dakshayani - She was a science graduate, and the only Scheduled Classes woman member of the Constituent Assembly of India. In Parliament, she took special interest in the matters of education especially that of the Scheduled Classes. She sided with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on many issues relating to the Scheduled Class during the Constituent Assembly debates. She agreed with Babasaheb giving up the demand for separate electorates arguing instead for 'moral safeguards' and the immediate removal of their social disabilities. She was the president of the Depressed Classes Youths Fine arts Club and the Managing editor of The Common Man in Madras from 1946-49. She formed many Scheduled Class organizations, including Bharatiya Mahila Jagriti Parishad, a Scheduled Classes women's group in Delhi in 1978.
* Radhabai Kamble - In 1946, She emerged as a labourers leader from Badri, Maharashtra. Although educated only until the 4th grade, she was adopt at standing in front of thousands of people and delivering provocative and strong speeches. Her speeches inspired the labour meets in Vidharba.
* Sulochanabai Dongre - She was a fearless leader in the All India Depressed Classes Women Congress. She presided over the 2nd session of All India Depressed classes women’s conference held at Nagpur on July 20, 1942.
* Maragatham Chandrasekar – India’s first Scheduled Classes woman to became Member of Parliament. She was Independent India's first Scheduled Classes Woman to become a Minister in Union Government. She served as the Union Deputy Minister for Health from 1951 to 1957, Home Affairs from 1962 to 1964 and Social Welfare from 1964 to 1967. In 1972, she was elected General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from Tamil Nadu.
* Laxmibai Naik - She established an untouchable Women’s Society in 1921 in Amravati.
* Anjanibai Deshbhratar - She organized untouchable girl students at Nagpur in May 1936. She was also instrumental in founding a hostel for the Scheduled Classes girls. As a Teacher she continued her participation in the liberation movement.
* Dadasaheb Gaikwad’s daughters Seetabai, Ramabai, Geetabai were the forefront of the of the Nasik’s Kalaram temple entry satyagraha of 1930.
* Geetabai – An educated activist and a teacher, along with Madhalabai and Meinabai, she started a Mahila Mandal in 1932 and spread Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s message in the areas of Pune, Bheemapura and Kamathipura.
* Rajamani Devi - She involved in the AISCF in Secunderabad. She was the first woman elected as an MLA on behalf of the AISCF.
* Eshwari bai - She involved in the social work and politics from Secunderabad. Inspired by Babasaheb, she joined the AISCF. In 1957, it was renamed as the Republican Party of India (RPI). In 1958 she was elected as General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh. Later she become the President of RPI. She was the first Woman MLA of the RPI.
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| Dr. Sathyavani Muthu |
* Jothi Venkatachalam - India's first Scheduled Classes woman Minister of a State Government. She served as a minister for Prohibition and Women's Welfare in Rajaji’s cabinet between 1953 and 1954. She was also the minister for public health in K. Kamaraj's cabinet between 1954 and 1963.
* Indirabai Patil – She was the General Secretory of the All India Depressed Classes women’s conference held at Nagpur on July 20, 1942.
* Shantabai Dani – A teacher who left her job for the social work due to the inspiring speech of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. She joined the SCF in 1942 itself and elected as President of SCF Nasik district unit in 1943. She was one of the founding members of RPI at Nagpur. She thought that the spread of the education was a must one for the development of the untouchables. Therefore in 1959, she started Takshashila Vidhyalaya and Goutam Chatralaya at Nasik in 1965.
* Sumitra Devi - She was the first woman cabinet minister of Bihar in 1963.
* Shantabai Kamble - She wrote first Scheduled Classes woman autobiography named “Majya Jalmachi Chittarkatha” published in 1986 from Maharashtra.
* Mayawati - She was the first female Scheduled Classes Chief Minister in India from Uttar Pradesh.
* Chinna Pillai - She started a very successful banking system in the villages near Madurai, Tamil Nadu and is a champion trying to reduce poverty and debt grievances by empowering women. She was the founder of a number of savings and credit groups for poor women. Her selfless and untiring service for the poor women has earned her Stree Shakti Puraskar award for the year 1999. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee bowed down in respect and touched her feet while presenting her with the award.
* Krishnammal Jagannathan – She had established 7 non-governmental associations for the poor. Her work includes upliftment of Dalits, the landless, and the poor. She was a member of a number of local and state social welfare committees and a member of the National Committee on Education, the Land Reform Committee and the Planning Committee.
* Meira Kumar – India’s first woman speaker of Lok Sabha.
* Sharadamma - The first Scheduled Classes woman Mayor of Bangalore.
* Santosh Devi – India’s first Scheduled Classes Solar Engineer from Rajasthan.
* Sivakami – An IAS officer, writer and the first Scheduled Classes woman to become a novelist in India.
* Revathy - India’s first Scheduled Classes woman who won the world women Carrom Champion in 1995.
* Ilavazhagi – She won the 5th world Women Carrom Champion in 2008.
* Archana - Actress in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam; Twice National Award Winner.
* Madhavi - Actress in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam; National Award Winner.
* Pratibha Bharati - Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Assembly's first woman Speaker (1999–2004),
* Bhavatharani - Tamil singer, music director and the daughter of film composer Ilaiyaraaja. She was awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2001.
* Poorna Swaero - 13 years old becomes 1st Youngest Female in the world history to climb Mount Everest. Poorna and Anand Kumar hoisted the Indian flag and left a photo of "Founding Father of Modern India" Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at the summit.
* Jyoti – She won the silver medal in the 2004 Junior Asian Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan. She placed fourth in the women's freestyle 75 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and won bronze medal in 2013 Asian Wrestling Championship in women’s 72 kg category.
Compiled:
Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.
Jai bheem..!
Long Live Ambedkarism....!!
