Ammu Swaminathan
Encyclopedia
Ammu Swaminathan was an India
n social worker and a prominent political activist during the Indian independence movement
. After independence, she served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India
and later, as a member of the Rajya Sabha
from Madras State
. She was the matriarch of a family that includes people of such diverse fame as Captain Lakshmi, Mrinalini Sarabhai
, Mallika Sarabhai
and Subhashini Ali
.
Ammu Swaminathan was born to Govinda Menon in Palghat district of Kerala
. She was the youngest child of her parents. At 13, she married Dr. Subbarama Swaminathan, a distinguished barrister of Madras and a remarkable man in many ways. Subbarama studied at Edinburgh and London Universities before obtaining a doctorate in law from the prestigious Harvard University. Ammu's life transformed after her marriage to Dr. Swaminathan who was more than 20 years her senior. She had four children, two daughters Lakshmi and Mrinalini, and two sons, Govinda and Subbarama.
She took active part in India's struggle for independence and became a close disciple (though not uncritical) of Mahatma Gandhi
. She was elected a Member of Parliament in 1952 and was associated with many cultural and social organizations. She went to Ethiopia
, China
, USA and USSR as a goodwill ambassador.
She served as President of the Bharat Scouts and Guides
from November 1960 to March 1965.
She was also selected as 'Mother of The Year' in 1975 on the inauguration of International Women's Year.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n social worker and a prominent political activist during the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. After independence, she served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India
Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and following independence served as the nation's first Parliament.-Nature of the Assembly:...
and later, as a member of the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
from Madras State
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
. She was the matriarch of a family that includes people of such diverse fame as Captain Lakshmi, Mrinalini Sarabhai
Mrinalini Sarabhai
Mrinalini Sarabhai is a celebrated Indian classical dancer, choreographer and instructor. She is the founder director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, an institute for imparting training in dance, drama, music and puppetry, in the city of Ahmedabad...
, Mallika Sarabhai
Mallika Sarabhai
Mallika Sarabhai is an activist and Indian Classical Dancer from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Daughter of Classical Dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and renowned Space Scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is an accomplished Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer.-Early life:Mallika Sarabhai was born in...
and Subhashini Ali
Subhashini Ali
Subhasini Ali is an Indian politician and a member of the Communist Party of India . She is the President of the All India Democratic Women's Association.-Family:...
.
Ammu Swaminathan was born to Govinda Menon in Palghat district of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. She was the youngest child of her parents. At 13, she married Dr. Subbarama Swaminathan, a distinguished barrister of Madras and a remarkable man in many ways. Subbarama studied at Edinburgh and London Universities before obtaining a doctorate in law from the prestigious Harvard University. Ammu's life transformed after her marriage to Dr. Swaminathan who was more than 20 years her senior. She had four children, two daughters Lakshmi and Mrinalini, and two sons, Govinda and Subbarama.
She took active part in India's struggle for independence and became a close disciple (though not uncritical) of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. She was elected a Member of Parliament in 1952 and was associated with many cultural and social organizations. She went to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, USA and USSR as a goodwill ambassador.
She served as President of the Bharat Scouts and Guides
The Bharat Scouts and Guides
The Bharat Scouts and Guides is the national Scouting and Guiding association of India.Scouting was founded in India in 1909 as an overseas branch of the Scout Association and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1938...
from November 1960 to March 1965.
She was also selected as 'Mother of The Year' in 1975 on the inauguration of International Women's Year.
External links
- http://www.bsgindia.org/