"I was in Trivandum, studying intermediate in the Maharaja’s College for Women. Actually Mountbatten was supposed to come to our college. They had asked me to garland him. But he never turned up. We hoisted the flag, and we were all excited and happy it was independence day. I had also participated in the Quit... Continue Reading →
Anjalai Amma of the Freedom Generation
"My grandmother, Anjalai Amma was in jail for more than four and half years.She gave birth to her last son in the jail itself . My grand father Murugappa and my maternal aunt Leelavathy and her husband Jamadhagni were also freedom fighters.Her biography is included in viii std Tamil text book[second semester book]." Courtesy:... Continue Reading →
Leela Diraviam of the Freedom Generation
Leela Diraviam participated as a freedom fighter in underground work; passing messages and attending meetings shrouded in secrecy. She describes herself as a Gandhian. She said, “On that day, there was no TV. We heard the speech in parliament, that India awakes to life and freedom (sic). As soon as he (Nehru) said that India... Continue Reading →
Dr. Vibhuti Patel in protests against gender violence
Dr. Vibhuti Patel, professor at SNDT university, is seen here participating with fellow activists in demonstrations against gender violence in Mumbai at the end of 2012. The occasion was a protest gathering of 18 women's rights organisations on 22nd December 2012, at the same spot where a young woman was slashed with a sickle by... Continue Reading →
Mythily Sivaraman at the United Nations (New York), 1967. The photograph was taken when Mythily worked from July 1966 to mid-1968 as Research Assistant in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. Her research work related to non-self-governing territories and their problems and included the preparation of statements to be made by the Indian... Continue Reading →
Anjum Zamrooda Habib, Srinagar, February 4, 2011 "Anjum Zamrooda Habib is part of a human rights organization in Kashmir and is seen here protesting for the rights of women in Kashmir. These protests took place after two girls from Sopore were killed by unknown gunmen in Kashmir. She also preaches Islam among the Muslim women community. She... Continue Reading →
"This photo was taken during the Joy Of Giving Week in 2010. Along with Ms .Malathi, trustee of Tanker foundation, we visited 5 orphanages and fed 650 orphan children. The above photo shows me with the kids of the Seva Samaj orphanage in Chennai. " Submitted by K. Nandhini Santhala Dinesh, Director Of DSIN Technology... Continue Reading →
Mythily Sivaraman at a street corner meeting, Tamil Nadu (exact location not known) in the late 1990s - early 2000s. It is a photograph of Mythily speaking at a meeting organized by women activists of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Jananayaga Maadhar Sangam. One of the founder members of AIDWA in Tamil Nadu,... Continue Reading →
Seva Dal volunteers
Rashtriya Seva Dal volunteers, Queen Mary's College circa 1947, Madras Presidency. Lady Dhanvantari Rama Rao with K.N. Lalitha, R. Vasantha, K.N. Pramila and others. (Rashtriya Seva Dal was the service wing of the Indian National Congress during the independence movement) (photo courtesy R. Shyamala)
Freedom fighter and social activist
S. Manjubhashini was active in the Indian freedom movement. Family stories abound about her deep commitment to the Swadeshi movement and the neighbourhood bonfires of British goods that she organized. She also founded Bala Mandir in 1948, one of the first orphanages of independent India.
Students in a march, 1940s
Queen Mary's College students in a march, Madras Presidency, 1940s. Contributor: R. Vasantha
Women’s movement for peace
Women's peace rally, 2002 in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots. Contributor: Vibhuti Patel
Women’s Day rally
Vibhuti Patel addressing a rally on March 8, 1980
“Daughter of Maharashtra”
Dr. Vibhuti Patel conferring the Daughter of Maharashtra Award on ms. Manisha Gupte, Director, MASUM, at the Naari Samata Manch, Pune, 5 April, 2009.
Delegate at the United Nations
R. Lalitha, delegate at the United Nations, 1960s
Freedom front
R. Vasantha and Kamaraj, New Delhi, early 1960s?
Guard of Honour at the All-India Women's conference
R. Shyamala, A.V Lakshmi, E.R. Leela, N. Parameshwaran, R. Susheila, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, P. Swaminathan, N. Padma. (photo courtesy R. Vasantha)
Indian National Congress delegates
Delegates at the Indian National Congress, Jaipur session, December 1948. R. Vasantha, K. N. Lalitha, E.R. Leela and others at the Indian National Congress, Jaipur Session, December 1948 (photo courtesy R. Vasantha)
‘Daughter is not for slaughter’
Panel on declining sex ratio at World Social Forum, 2004. Contributor: Vibhuti Patel.
Sakti workshop on women and empowerment
C.P Sujaya releasing a book on discourse on women and empowerment, edited by Vibhuti Patel, at the Sakthi workshop, Bangalore, 2009. Contributor: Vibhuti Patel
Writing on women and law
Dr. Vibhuti Patel releasing a book on women and law, at the silver jubilee function, Naari Samata Manch, Pune, 2009. Contributor, Vibhuti Patel.
Gender policy budgeters and planners
Training women elected representatives for gender budget planning, Ahmedabad 2003.
Women’s empowerment – roundtable, 2003
Organised by Maharashtra State Commission of Women and University of Mumbai, 28-29 November 2003. Contributed by Vibhuti Patel.
Peace activists
Peace rally in solidarity with survivors of communal carnage in Gujarat, 2002. Contributor: Vibhuti Patel