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The sister of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was an Indian freedom fighter. She goes with many more names regarding her profession. For instance, a diplomat and politician. Post-independence, in 1947, she represented the nation on the international stage. Vijaya Lakshmi went on to become the first female President and the 8th President of the UN General Assembly. Here is everything that you should know about Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.
Overview of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Here is an overview of Vijaya Lakshmi’s life.
| Field | Value |
| Name | Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit |
| Born | Aug. 18, 1900, Allahabad, India |
| Died | Dec. 1, 1990, Dehra Dun |
| Title | Indian political leader and diplomat |
| Father | Motilal Nehru (wealthy nationalist leader) |
| Brother | Jawaharlal Nehru (first prime minister of independent India) |
| Husband | Ranjit Sitaram Pandit (d. 1944, fellow Congress worker) |
| Education | Private education in India and abroad |
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Career of Vijaya Laksmi Pandit
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was one of those individuals who were actively involved in the independence struggle of India.
- Attended the 1916 Congress session and was inspired by Sarojini Naidu and Annie Besant.
- Spent time at Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram and participated in daily chores.
- Her participation in protests and movements has made her get into jail multiple times.
She played a major role in Indian politics that very less women could pull off at that time.
| Political Career | |
| Work and Contributions | Active worker in the Indian nationalist movement |
| Imprisoned three times by the British authorities | |
| First Indian woman to hold a cabinet portfolio | |
| Minister for local self-government and public health (1937-1939) | |
| Municipal government in Allahabad | |
| Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces (later Uttar Pradesh) | |
- Represented India at the United Nations for many years and was the first woman president of the UN General Assembly.
Following India’s independence, she served as a diplomat for India in various countries.
Moreover, let’s see how was her time in India. She served as the Governor of Maharashtra and a member of parliament.
Post Independence, Indira Gandhi became the first Prime Minister of India. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit later became a critic of her rule and campaigned against her.
Also Read- Lakshmi Sahgal: Life, Contributions & More
Personal Life of Vijaya Lakshmi
There is not much known about the personal life of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit’s personal life. Some common things are that she is the sister of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The rest of the information is mentioned below.
- Married Ranjit Sitaram Pandit (1921-1944), a barrister, scholar, and supporter of Indian independence.
- Had three daughters: Chandralekha Mehta, Nayantara Sahgal, and Rita Dar.
- Widowed in 1944.
- Only survived daughters Chandralekha and Nayantara Sahgal upon her death in 1990.
FAQ
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was elected as the first woman President of the United Nations General Assembly.
She did not go to any institution or school, it was all done at home with her English governess Jane Hooper.
The first-ever female President was Vigdís Finnbogadóttir of Iceland. It happened in the year 1980 in the Presidential elections.
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Hope you got to know about Vijaya Laksmi Pandit. For more related articles you can visit our page of famous personalities.