Rukmini Lakshmipathi
Encyclopedia
Rukmini Laxmipathi (6 December 1892 - 6 August 1951) was an India
n 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
.
from the Women's Christian College
, Madras and married Dr. Achanta Laxmipathi. In 1923, she joined the Congress. In 1926, she attended the lnternational Women's Suffrage Alliance Congress at Paris
as the Indian representative. 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. She contested and won a by election to the Madras Legislative Council
in 1934. 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. Marshall's road in Egmore
, Chennai
has been renamed after her. In her memory, a postage stamp was issued in 1997.
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 independence activist and politician belonging to the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. She was the first woman to be elected to the Madras Legislature and the first to serve as a minister in the Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
.
Biography
Rukmini was born in Madras in an agriculturist family. Her grandfather was the landlord Raja T. Ramrao. She obtained her B.ABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the Women's Christian College
Women's Christian College
Women's Christian College, or WCC, is an interdenominational women's college on College Road, Nungambakkam, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.-History:...
, Madras and married Dr. Achanta Laxmipathi. In 1923, she joined the Congress. In 1926, she attended the lnternational Women's Suffrage Alliance Congress at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as the Indian representative. For her participation (in 1930) in the Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
in Vedaranyam she was jailed for a year, becoming the first female prisoner in the Salt Satyagraha movement. She contested and won a by election to the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
in 1934. She was elected to the Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly in the 1937 elections
Madras Presidency legislative assembly election, 1937
The First legislative assembly election for the Madras Presidency was held in February 1937. The Indian National Congress obtained a majority by winning 159 of 215 seats in the Legislative Assembly. This was the first electoral victory for the Congress in the presidency since elections were first...
. 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. Marshall's road in Egmore
Egmore
-Main places:* Chennai Egmore railway station.* Office of the commissioner of Greater Chennai Police department.* Government Museum, Chennai.* Connemara Public Library, one of the biggest libraries in India.* National Art Gallery...
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
has been renamed after her. In her memory, a postage stamp was issued in 1997.