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:Â 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.