Sarojini Naidu (1879 - 1949)

Sarojini Naidu was a poet and a leader of the freedom struggle, known as the 'Nightingale of India'. Sarojini Naidu was born on February 13, 1879, into a Bengali family in Hyderabad. She was the daughter of Aghornath Chattopadhyay, a scientist and philosopher, and Barada Sundari Devi, a poetess. Her parents provided her early education, and English was the language spoken at home. She began writing poetry in English at the age of eleven and passed her matriculation exam at twelve. Due to poor health, she spent more than three years at home, devoting her time to reading. An admirer of Shelley's poetry, she attained proficiency in Urdu, Telugu, English, Persian, and Bengali, while also continuing to write poetry. At the age of fifteen, she met Govindarajulu Naidu, and they later entered into a love marriage.

In 1895, she traveled to England for higher studies on a scholarship granted by the Nizam of Hyderabad. She enrolled at King's College, where she read extensively, connected with literary figures, and participated in various conferences, all while evolving as a poet. Although she later went to Switzerland for medical treatment and further study due to recurring health issues, she returned to India without completing her studies. Subsequently, she began publishing her poems regularly in 'The Indian Ladies' Magazine'. She became involved in the Indian independence movement following the Partition of Bengal in 1905. She maintained constant contact with many prominent Indian national leaders. Issues such as youth welfare, workers' rights, and the intersection of nationalism and women's roles deeply influenced her thinking. This courageous woman vehemently opposed the British government's Rowlatt Act of 1919. She was also the woman sent to England as an ambassador for the Home Rule League. She presided over the Indian National Congress (INC) session held in Kanpur in 1925. Having been imprisoned alongside Gandhiji in 1942, she was appointed Governor of Uttar Pradesh upon India's independence on August 15, 1947, becoming the first woman governor in Indian history. In December 1947, she was awarded an honorary degree by the Hindu University. This brave woman, who valued both patriotism and artistic talent, passed away on March 2, 1949. Her literary works include 'The Golden Threshold', 'The Broken Wing', and 'The Feather of the Dawn'. She is also known by the titles 'Bharat Kokilam' and the "Nightingale of India".