Rukmini Lakshmipathi

Rukmini Laxmipathi (also spelled as Rukmani Lakshmipathi, Tamil: ருக்மிணி லக்ஷ்மிபதி; 6 December 1892 – 6 August 1951) was an Indian independence activist and politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. She was the first woman to be elected to the Madras Legislature and the first to serve as a minister in the Madras Presidency.[1]

Rukmini Lakshmipathi
Born(1892-12-06)6 December 1892
Died6 August 1951(1951-08-06) (aged 58)
Occupation(s)activist, politician
SpouseAchanta

Biography
c. 1936

Rukmini was born in Madras in an agriculturist family. Her grandfather was the landlord Raja T. Ramrao. She obtained her B.A from the Women's Christian College, Madras and married Dr. Achanta Laxmipathi.[2]

In 1923, she joined the Congress. In 1926, she attended the International Women's Suffrage Alliance Congress at Paris as the Indian representative.[3]

For her participation (in 1930) in the Salt Satyagraha in Vedaranyam she was jailed for a year, becoming the first female prisoner in the Salt Satyagraha movement.[4]

She contested and won a by election to the Madras Legislative Council in 1934.[5] She was elected to the Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly in the 1937 elections. On 15 July 1937 she was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the assembly. During 1 May 1946 – 23 March 1947, she was the Minister for Public Health of the presidency in the T. Prakasam cabinet. She was the first (and only) woman minister of the presidency.[6][7][8][9]

Marshall's road in Egmore, Chennai has been renamed after her.[10] In her memory, a postage stamp was issued in 1997.[11]

References
  1. Ramakrishnan, T (13 March 2010). "Historic moments, historic personalities". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  2. Who's Who in India, Burma & Ceylon. Who's Who Publishers (India) Ltd., 1941. 1941. p. 175.
  3. Seminar on Uplift of Women in South India in 20th Century and Suggestions for 2000 A.D. Conferences, seminars, and workshops series. Vol. 5. Mother Teresa Women's University, Dept. of Historical Studies. 1987. p. 83.
  4. Roy, Kalpana (1999). Encyclopaedia of violence against women and dowry death in India. Vol. 1. Anmol Publications. p. 30. ISBN 978-81-261-0343-0.
  5. Bhatt, B. D.; Sita Ram Sharma (1992). Women's education and social development. Modern education series. Kanishka Pub. House. p. 343. ISBN 978-81-85475-54-7.
  6. Justice Party golden jubilee souvenir, 1968. Justice Party. 1968. p. 62. ISBN.
  7. Kaliyaperumal, M (1992). The office of the speaker in Tamilnadu : A study (PDF). Madras University. p. 47.
  8. "Rukmini Laxmipathi". Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  9. Frederick, Prince (4 December 2002). "Discipline, need of the hour". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 November 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  10. "In Chennai Today". The Hindu. 10 July 2005. Archived from the original on 9 November 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  11. Daryanani, Mohan B (1999). Who's who on Indian stamps. p. 219. ISBN 978-84-931101-0-9.
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