Sharda Rani Trivedi
Encyclopedia
Sharda Rani Trivedi was a north India
n educator.
A highly educated lady of her time. She made enormous contributions in the field of higher education for women. Due to her contributions for women empowerment through education and religious means she is reverentially remembered in Uttarakhand
and Uttar Pradesh
. Though they were rich landlords yet her grandfather chose to teach and sold off their estate and relocated to Banaras (present day Varanasi
). Her father died young. He was on his way to U.S.A. where he was invited to teach but died enroute at New Delhi
. She was brought up and educated by her strong willed mother alone. She was a meritorious student and received Chancellors medal for coming first in her class. While in her student days she became good friends with Jaipur
royalty.
She was married to Major Dr. Vidya Sagar Trivedi (RAMC) who had just returned after completing his studies at Edinburgh University (Scotland
). He was a scion of Trivedi
Saraswats and held a Zamindari in Moradabad
District of U.P.
She was supported in life by her brothers one of whom Awadh Narayan Lal, a Professor of Chemistry, remained a bachelor and with his guidance saw all her children become Class-I Officers and leading experts in their own chosen fields. Her youngest son presently is a Secretary to Government.
, Psychology
, Sociology
, English
and Hindi
. These were from different Colleges.
She was alumnus of CIEFL - Hyderabad.
She was Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Meerut University. (Presently Chaudhary Charan Singh University
)
She was the first female Post Graduate teacher in DAV College, Dehradun.
Her final feat in higher education studies was when she became the founder Principal of Dayanand Women's Training College Dehradun
. It was the first College to start M.Ed.Course in Uttarakhand
.
Though she was not a Ph.D. yet she guided three scholars get their degrees.
She retired from active college teaching in 1975 yet she remained involved as a visiting Professor in various Universities and Colleges.
In 1976 she decided to settle in Chandausi
, Distt. Moradabad
.
In 1980 she started a school in the memory of her late mother at Chandausi
, called Basant Academy, where it was the first English Medium school. The school closed when she decided to close it due to her failing health and partly due to age and loneliness.
family she was not very conservative in her beliefs. Her education imbibed the theosophical beliefs of her age that there is a grain of truth in every religion so believe in every way for salvation. She continued to read Balgangadhar Tilak's version of Gita or Gitarahasya till the very end, and actually had it in her hands when she died. She was passionately fond of Ramayana
and other religious literature.
She was devoted to the Sikh
faith and considered the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib as an interpretation of Gita itself. After her death local Sikh community organised Antim Ardas for her soul.
She made it a point to send cooked food to local mosque every Ramazan
so that destitutes could break their fast. After her death grateful local Muslims read fatiah in her honour. She was very much interested in the works of Sufi saints and also in the poetry of Ghalib and that of Zafar.
She equally appreciated the Roman Catholic faith and for years before her death continued to visit the Church and one of her favourites was the All Saints Garrison Church of Dehradun
.
Just before her death she authored another book on the educational belief of Mahatma Gandhi
(Under Publication).
. She was treated at Sanjay Gandhi P.G.I. Lucknow where she again made her name as a most strong willed lady and emerged victorious after successfully combating the deadly disease.
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 educator.
A highly educated lady of her time. She made enormous contributions in the field of higher education for women. Due to her contributions for women empowerment through education and religious means she is reverentially remembered in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
and Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
Family and Early life
Daughter of illustrious Pt. Rajaram Chaubey and Basanti Devi Chaubey was born at Moradabad and later moved with her mother and father to Varanasi where her grandfather was invited to teach Persian in the newly formed Banaras Hindu UniversityBanaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
. Though they were rich landlords yet her grandfather chose to teach and sold off their estate and relocated to Banaras (present day Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
). Her father died young. He was on his way to U.S.A. where he was invited to teach but died enroute at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. She was brought up and educated by her strong willed mother alone. She was a meritorious student and received Chancellors medal for coming first in her class. While in her student days she became good friends with Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
royalty.
She was married to Major Dr. Vidya Sagar Trivedi (RAMC) who had just returned after completing his studies at Edinburgh University (Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
). He was a scion of Trivedi
Trivedi
Trivedi is a Northern and Western Aryan family name from India and Asia Minor reflecting the mastery of a brahmin over three of the four vedas...
Saraswats and held a Zamindari in Moradabad
Moradabad
Moradabad is a city and a municipal corporation in Moradabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1600 by prince Murad, the son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan; as a result the city came to be known as Moradabad. It is the administrative headquarters of...
District of U.P.
She was supported in life by her brothers one of whom Awadh Narayan Lal, a Professor of Chemistry, remained a bachelor and with his guidance saw all her children become Class-I Officers and leading experts in their own chosen fields. Her youngest son presently is a Secretary to Government.
Educational Achievements and Activities
She received Masters Degree in five subjects viz. EducationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
. These were from different Colleges.
She was alumnus of CIEFL - Hyderabad.
She was Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Meerut University. (Presently Chaudhary Charan Singh University
Chaudhary Charan Singh University
Chaudhary Charan Singh University , formerly Meerut University is a public university located in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. The university was established in 1965. It was later renamed to its current name after Chaudhary Charan Singh, former Prime minister of India...
)
She was the first female Post Graduate teacher in DAV College, Dehradun.
Her final feat in higher education studies was when she became the founder Principal of Dayanand Women's Training College Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
. It was the first College to start M.Ed.Course in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
.
Though she was not a Ph.D. yet she guided three scholars get their degrees.
She retired from active college teaching in 1975 yet she remained involved as a visiting Professor in various Universities and Colleges.
In 1976 she decided to settle in Chandausi
Chandausi
Chandausi is a city and a municipal board in Bhimnagar district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.The original name of the city was "Chaand Si", meaning "Moon Like" . It is said that the city was founded by Valmiki and he gave the name "Chaand Si"...
, Distt. Moradabad
Moradabad
Moradabad is a city and a municipal corporation in Moradabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1600 by prince Murad, the son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan; as a result the city came to be known as Moradabad. It is the administrative headquarters of...
.
In 1980 she started a school in the memory of her late mother at Chandausi
Chandausi
Chandausi is a city and a municipal board in Bhimnagar district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.The original name of the city was "Chaand Si", meaning "Moon Like" . It is said that the city was founded by Valmiki and he gave the name "Chaand Si"...
, called Basant Academy, where it was the first English Medium school. The school closed when she decided to close it due to her failing health and partly due to age and loneliness.
Religious Beliefs
Though born in an ultra orthodox BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family she was not very conservative in her beliefs. Her education imbibed the theosophical beliefs of her age that there is a grain of truth in every religion so believe in every way for salvation. She continued to read Balgangadhar Tilak's version of Gita or Gitarahasya till the very end, and actually had it in her hands when she died. She was passionately fond of Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and other religious literature.
She was devoted to the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
faith and considered the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib as an interpretation of Gita itself. After her death local Sikh community organised Antim Ardas for her soul.
She made it a point to send cooked food to local mosque every Ramazan
Ramazan
The word Ramazan is used to refer to several different things:*People:** Ramazan Tavşancıoğlu, Australian football player** Ramazan Kurşunlu, Turkish football player** Ramazan Ramazanov, Russian kickboxer...
so that destitutes could break their fast. After her death grateful local Muslims read fatiah in her honour. She was very much interested in the works of Sufi saints and also in the poetry of Ghalib and that of Zafar.
She equally appreciated the Roman Catholic faith and for years before her death continued to visit the Church and one of her favourites was the All Saints Garrison Church of Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
.
Academic Works
She authored three books one of which A treatise on Educational Psychology is still a standard textbook for M.Ed. classes.Just before her death she authored another book on the educational belief 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...
(Under Publication).
Struggle with Cancer
In 1989 she was diagnosed with uterine cancerUterine cancer
The term uterine cancer may refer to any of several different types of cancer which occur in the uterus, namely:*Uterine sarcomas: sarcomas of the myometrium, or muscular layer of the uterus, are most commonly leiomyosarcomas.*Endometrial cancer:...
. She was treated at Sanjay Gandhi P.G.I. Lucknow where she again made her name as a most strong willed lady and emerged victorious after successfully combating the deadly disease.
Quotable / Quoted Sayings
- "Education is the only weapon in the hands of a woman."
- "It's alright if no dowry is given provided your girl is educated."