making South Asian women visible
"My name is Malathi Jaikumar nee Sundaram. I graduated in English Literature - BA Hons from Loretto College, Calcutta in the year 1963. I was the first woman graduate on my mother's as well as my father's side of the family. Writing has always been my passion and I have been writing as far back... Continue Reading →
"My mother, Malati Manohar Harshey (1920-2003) The first woman graduate in our family, she was also graceful, wise and widely beloved. A self-made lady who stood out in her time and set an example for all the women in the family. Mummy was a firstborn child raised to an intellectual but submissive youth in the small town... Continue Reading →
"A few words on my mother: My mother completed her Diploma in Commercial Practice at Adyar Polytechnic Chennai and went on to complete her Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University by correspondence in 1973. All through her lifetime till day, she has perfectly managed to balance her relationship and career in the best way possible.... Continue Reading →
Dr. Lalitha on her graduation day (1961) Receiving the Best Teacher Award (being presented by the then CM of Andhra Pradesh N. Janardhan Reddy), 1988. Her social activities: contribution for a water storage tank at a village in 2003 Singing at a concert (her passion), Tirupathi, 2004 "Dr. Gudipati Lalitha is the First Graduate... Continue Reading →
"Believe it or not ; it is 100% true! I am the first woman graduate in three generations of my family, from the enquiries of my grand parents. Is it possible to secure a diploma and a degree in a regular five year stream from a college in Tamilnadu without undergoing +2 course in Higher Secondary... Continue Reading →
"Born in Thiruvidaimaruthur (Tanjore District) on October 3rd 1945, in a family of 8 as the 5th child and the last of the 3 girls, she was the first woman graduate of our family. Her dad Balakrishnan Thayagarajan was a headmaster (History Major) himself but she was the first woman graduate not only in this... Continue Reading →
College name: D J Sind College, Karachi University: Bombay University Major & Degree: BA, Sindhi and English Literature Year of graduation: approximately 1943/44 Contributor: Jyoti Punwani (daughter)
Dr.Vijayalakshmi Nambiar is on the left and on the right is my mother "On seeing the call for articles related to "The First Graduate" marking International Women's Day for 2014, I wanted to do a write up on my... Continue Reading →
"My name is M.Vasantha Kumary. I am the 6th member of my family which consists of 5 brothers and 3 sisters. I am the first women in my family to get a degree. I got my degree in the year 1971 for Economics. I studied in Govt. Women's college, Vazhuthacaud Trivandrum, Kerala during 1968-71. I... Continue Reading →
"My father immigrated to Malaysia (then known as Malaya) before the Second World War after marrying my mother aged 11. My mother joined him in Malaysia after the war and after 10 years of being married my parents had 8 children, four girls and four boys. Some of us were born in India and some... Continue Reading →
"I was the first woman graduate in my family. I graduated in 1957. I studied in Government Arts College in Coimbatore."
(Photo taken in 1940) "The First Woman Graduate in My Family My mother, Sofia Cordeiro Monteiro, was the first woman graduate in her family. Born in 1919, she lived in Goa (then a colony of Portugal), where there were no facilities for University education. She was a brilliant student, finishing her SSC with distinction in... Continue Reading →
"The first woman graduate in the extended family is my maternal aunt, Subhalakshmi, 84 years old, living in Chennai, who holds a Masters degree in Economics. She passed out of Presidency College, Madras in the year 1951 and was ranked second in the University of Madras. She is currently a writer who writes in English... Continue Reading →
"I am Choodamani Raghavan and am the first woman graduate from a well known family of Chennai.I graduated in 1959 from Queen Marys College, Madras University in BA Economics . I am the grand daughter of K.S Krishnaswamy Iyengar a famous lawyer and High Court judge and daughter of K.S Vijayaraghavan Chief general manager SBI... Continue Reading →
"I am Susan Vergese, wife of George Vergese. After schooling in Mumbai and thereafter in Chennai, I passed out from Ethiraj College, Chennai in 1977. I did a course at Cultural Academy, Chennai and then got married. I joined my father's business selling X-ray films. After my father's demise, I continued to run "The X-ray... Continue Reading →
G.K. Revathi (on the right); photo taken in 1976 at Krishna Photo Studio, Pondy Bazaar, Chennai "Guntur Krishnamurthy Revathi was the first female graduate of her family. While she studied Biology in school when it came to college she chose Commerce as she thought it would help her secure a job. Even before she completed... Continue Reading →
Photo taken in 1972 "To the best of our knowledge, my mother, Anjana Vedapuri, is the first female graduate in her family. N.Anjana (as she was called then) finished her graduation in English Literature from Ethiraj College, Chennai in 1970. While her family could be called conservative in some ways, they were also highly supportive... Continue Reading →
name of the graduate- Late T Saraswathy Amma, the college and/or university- Sree Kerala Varma College, Kerala major and degree- BA Malayalam, B.Ed( Calicut University, Kerala) the year of graduation- 1954 approximate year the photo was taken - 2007 "Late Saraswathy Amma, my maternal grandmother, the protagonist of this write up is the first woman... Continue Reading →
(taken in 1972) "My mother passed away 4 years ago - her life and actions were an inspiration to me as a woman. She stayed away from her parents- with relatives in Bangalore, from age 8 to get an education and went on to become the 1st woman graduate in her immediate family." Contributor’s name:... Continue Reading →
"IT’S MY LIFE! Forty five years ago, wearing the black gown, tightly holding the degree in hand a girl comes out of the Madurai Kamaraj University’s Convocation Hall. Her poor old father seeing with teary eyes brimming with love & immense pride hugs her and kisses her forehead. The moisture of that kiss felt... Continue Reading →
"Among the women who trust her to handle their delivery are those whom she had helped come into this world. It's a unique privilege that comes with being an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist for more than 40 years and my Aunt Dr Mallika Quraishi feels blessed to have it. Dr Mallika was among a handful of... Continue Reading →
"Vasanthi Devi received a B.A in 1945 at American College, Madurai, and M.A in Economics at Pachiyappa's College and Madras University. She received her M.A degree in 1947. The above photograph was taken some time in the 1970s when Mrs. Vasanthi Devi was teaching at Ethiraj College. She is being felicitated here by Mrs. Indira... Continue Reading →
(Photograph was taken in 1953, just after her wedding) "Sundari Kumar received a BA Degree from St. Agnes, Mangalore, then part of Madras University. Mrs. Sundari Kumar later went on to do a Montessori training programme and taught in several schools including Carmel Convent, Calcutta and Loreto Convent, Ranchi." Contributor: Melanie P. Kumar (daughter)
"My mother’s black and white graduation photograph hung on the whitewashed wall in the living room of her Nizamuddin house in 1994. It showed my mother, Inder Kaur, in a sombre pose, wearing a saree, holding her Master’s degree in Punjabi literature. She was standing under some trees, so it looks as if a few... Continue Reading →
We are excited to announce that today we begin publishing the submissions we have received for the exhibit, one photo and story at a time! We are choosing to exhibit in this fashion so that each photo and story gets the attention it deserves. Every exhibit will not only be displayed on our website, but circulated... Continue Reading →
"I was born in an orthodox Brahmin family from a village near Kumbakonam. My father was a teacher in the Nizam’s government. So our family of three brothers and three sisters lived with parents in Hyderabad. I studied in a private school. The two elder brothers were married and my elder brother was in the... Continue Reading →
"I am N.Sarojini Devi, Retd Dietician, Government Medical College, Thiruvanathapuram. I was the seventh and the youngest born to my parents Sri K.Narayana Pillai and Smt L.Narayani Amma.I had three sisters and three brothers. My parents belonged to a remote village Thiruvithamcodu in Kerala. Now that is part of KanyaKumari after the formation of Kerala... Continue Reading →
“I am the FIRST POST GRADUATE in my family I am from a very middle class family with my sister and two elder brothers. Three of them could not clear their XI std, but I am the one who completed my XIth std during 1976-77 in a small village called Thiruthuraipundi, Thanjavur Dist, now Thiruvarur... Continue Reading →
"I wish to state that I am the 1st graduate of our family in the year of 1972. My father studied up to intermediate in Presidency college of Madras. He served and retired as Commercial tax officer. I belong to 1st set of Pre University in DevkunwarNanalal Bhat Vaishnava College Chrompet. I belong to 1st... Continue Reading →
"Mrs S Rangamony, now 92, was the first woman graduate, in fact post graduate, in her family. Her father, S V Sundarraja Iyengar, was a well-known advocate in Tirunelveli and was an AICC member working alongside S Srinivasa Iyengar. She went to school at St Ignatius Convent, Palayamkottai, and later did her intermediate in Sarah... Continue Reading →
"My maternal aunt Ms. Ruby Moitra was born into a family of Bengali migrants in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She was the first woman to graduate in the family with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sagar University in 1956. Two years later she became the first woman in my family to receive a Master's degree... Continue Reading →
"I am Priyadarshni. My college is Jayaraj Annapackim Womens college at Periyakulam. I completed a B.Com degree in 1995. My dad completed 5th std and my mom 10th. My elder brother missed the chance to wear the coat and hat.But I was the only girl child in my family and I wore the graduation coat... Continue Reading →
With friends Kamala Ramaswamy (writer), Champaka Malini (writer) and Hema (theatre artiste); I am second from left in this group. "First Woman Graduate in the Bapu Family "I am Prabhamani Rao who completed B.A and graduated from Mysore University (at that time there was no Bangalore University) in 1953. I was 19 and a half when... Continue Reading →
"I graduated from the Queen Mary's College, Mylapore, Chennai in the year 1970. My father's happiness was that he showed it by sending me a postal card putting the Degree after my name ! I did my Graduation after my marriage after my school finals. Thanks to my wonderful husband for his support. After me, my elder... Continue Reading →
"Parvathy Mahadevan( nee KK Parvathy), was born on May 6th , 1927, In Thrissur Kerala. She is the 6th daughter among 7 of 9 siblings. She graduated in BA, Natural Science from the Queen Marys College for women in Chennai in the year 1947. She graduated in Karnatic Music from the College of Music, Chennai,... Continue Reading →
"I come from a very much educated family. Yes! my grandmother was a teacher herself in a school. My mother, my aunties and elder women cousins were all teachers because my grandmother was of the opinion that every woman should stand on her own legs (but only upto teacher training), and then work as teachers... Continue Reading →
"Manjulika Mukherjee was the first college graduate from my entire extended family combining my maternal and paternal side. She has been my inspiration since I was a child. "Mamoni" as I called her, was the first born child of my maternal grandfather, Late Sri Krishnadhan Mukherjee, who was an idealistic non-violent Gandhian freedom fighter and was... Continue Reading →
"The name of my mother before marriage when she passed her graduation in 1935, was Leela Pingle, Residence: Sangamner, Maharashtra. Her degree was called GA, i.e. Graduate in Arts, from Karve Vidyapeeth for Women in Pune. The photo was taken around the same time. After the degree she worked for two years as a teacher in a... Continue Reading →
"My name is Kishwar Sultana. I am 43 now and heading an NGO - Insan Foundation Trust. Among many boys and girls of my extended family I was the only one who went to college– even completed the 10th grade. I graduated from Lahore Collage for Women – Lahore in 1994. My three sisters were... Continue Reading →
"Mary Kanakammal Ramaiya was born in 1894 as the tenth child of Mr.Samuel Sargunar and Mrs.Gnanapoo Ammal in Conjeevaram. True to the genius of her father who was not only the first graduate from Tirunelveli district, also proficient in seven languages including Latin, Greek, French, Sanskrit and Hindusthani, Kanakammal completed her B.A., degree in Philosophy... Continue Reading →
"Dr.K.Jayashree, Former Professor of Geography, Queen Marys College, Chennai. She was the first graduate for the whole of our family." Contributor: daughter Chandra Gupta
"She graduated in 1944 and was the first graduate in our family. She did her Masters and earned the Doctorate degree from the Calcutta University. She was a professor and became the principal of Bethune College which produced India's and the whole British Empire's first women graduates in 1883. She was a renowned classical dancer too. She... Continue Reading →
"I am Belli Lakshmi Ramakrishnan. This is a photograph of me taken in 1980. I am the first women graduate, post-graduate and Tamil Nadu State level gazette officer from my family. I can also proudly claim to be the first woman Post Graduate and first woman Gazette officer from The Nilgiris District, and from the... Continue Reading →
"Arati Banerjee ( 82 years;) Graduated in 1954. Agra University. BA in English/History/Sanskrit Sangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad. BT ( Allahabad University) Arati Banerjee nee Mukherjee completed her graduation in 1954 from Agra University in English, Sanskrit and History. One among 14 children in a middle-class family, Ms Banerjee’s thirst for knowledge was probably... Continue Reading →
"I am one of the First Graduates in the family. I completed my B.A in Psychology from the Presidency College Madras in 1971. I was a good student in school and my father was very keen that I complete my graduation. We were a lower middle class family and spending on education was not a... Continue Reading →
"My grandmother on my mother’s side, Manashi Guha (nee Dasgupta), who we call Didu, was the first graduate in our family from Dacca University in 1946 with Philosophy and Mathematics. In the wake of the Partition, she came to Calcutta with her family and began working in an office of the Labour Department of West... Continue Reading →
Photo taken in 1901 C.Amba Bai, the First Woman Graduate in My Family "This is the story of my great-grand mother Chennagiri Amba Bai (1889-1970), married at 12 and widowed at the age of 24, with three young children to support. Amba Bai, affectionately called Ambi, was born into an orthodox Brahmin family in Tumkur..... Continue Reading →
"Kaveri J graduated from A.P.C Mahalakshmi College for Women, Tuticorin (Madurai Kamaraj University), with a B.Sc in Mathematics in 1979-80. When she was in School, Kaveri's parents had no plans of getting her educated further. Around this time, the A.P.C Mahalakshmi College for Women was started, and to get more enrollment in the area, the... Continue Reading →
"Our great grandmother, Kamala Ramanujam was the first graduate from our family. She did her B.A Graduation from all men Government college at Kumbakonam (It was considered as Cambridge of South India). A special permission was obtained to study in a college for men. There was one more woman who studied with her. She graduated... Continue Reading →
A certificate from the school that GK Meenambal spent many years at and retired from as Assistant Headmistress With her sister and brother-in-law With her brother A group photo "Prajnya Trust's call for articles from readers of "The Hindu" regarding the first woman graduate in the family has evoked nostalgic thoughts of our Great Grand Aunt, G.K.... Continue Reading →
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