"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 →
Leela Kripalani, B.A, Bombay University, 1943/44
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, Ph.D., University of Pune, 1974
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 →
Vasantha Kumary, M.A, Economics, Fathima Matha College, Kollam, Kerala, 1973
"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 →
Radha Ganesan, B.A. (1975), Holy Cross College, Trichy
"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 →
Malathi Venkatesan, M.A, Government Arts College, Coimbatore, 1957
"I was the first woman graduate in my family. I graduated in 1957. I studied in Government Arts College in Coimbatore."
Sofia Cordeiro Monteiro, B.A. St. Xavier’s College, Bombay, 1941
(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 →
S. Subhalakshmi, M.A. Presidency College, Chennai, 1951
"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 →
Choodamani Raghavan, B.A, Madras University, 1959
"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 →
Susan Vergese, B.A, Ethiraj College, Chennai, 1977
"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 →