Photo and text submitted by Uma Shree Janani "Uma Shree Janani started her journey of helping women around her by spreading positive words about mental health in social media. Her major focus is on importance of self- care and empowering both men and women with better awareness on mental health. As a mother herself, she... Continue Reading →
Dr. Indumathi Venkatesh of the Freedom Generation
"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 →
Dr. Leela Dube (1923-2012)
Dr. Leela Dube, pioneering scholar of women's studies and feminist anthropology Photographer Mukul Dube. Photograph shared with Prajnya by Dr. Vibhuti Patel.
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 →
Looking forward?
Contributor Lokendra Singh Kot (Bhopal)
Shanta bai, "woman of substance," (based in Mumbai) is nothing short of an entrepreneur, who has spent her life combining domestic service with micro-enterprises that include a taxi service. She has raised her children and helped raise her grandchildren well, and ensured they have access to better opportunities than she did. Her work and life... 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 →
Potter in Beldaur panchayat, Khagaria, 28.1.2011. "Many female artisans, indulge in pottery work to establish an alternative and local source of livelihood for existence." Photo contributed by Eklavya Prasad.
Deepa Malik, wheelchair bound athelete and ATV car rallyist, 13.09.09, Ahmednagar. Photo submitted by Ashish Verma.
"A woman salvages burnt utensils from the remains of what used to be her house until last evening. On the evening of the 2nd of March, a fire that broke out in the slums on the eastern side of Bandra Station (Mumbai) spread to 500 households and by next daybreak all house were leveled to... Continue Reading →
Read about our upcoming 'Rainmakers' exhibit, August 5 - 7, 2011
“Through the lens”
Congress Party Member of Parliament, Lalitha Rajagopalan, with President Zakir Hussain, New Delhi (date unknown) (Photo contributed by her daughter Priya Rajagopalan)
Taking a break from construction work in Hyderabad, India, in December 2006 (Photo contributed by Abeer Hoque)
Working in the capital
R. Leela, at work in the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi, 1950s (photo courtesy R. Shyamala)
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)
All-India Youth Festival, 1954
R. Vijaya, representative of Rajputana University, Udaipur, at the very first All-India Youth Festival, New Delhi, 1954 (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
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)
Teaching children in Madras
R. Vasantha, first from left, seen here with Prime Minister Nehru at Ashok Vihar Social Service Centre, Madras, 1949. In this photo: R. Vasantha, Jawaharlal Nehru, Madras Mayor Krishna Rao, Indira Gandhi, Dr. Sambandham, Dr. Jayalakshmi (photo courtesy R. Vasantha). She is also a writer and poet.
‘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.