Rameshwari Nehru

Born in illustrious family on 10th December 1886, Rameshwari Nehru married Brij Lal Nehru of the eminent Nehru family in 1902 and came to live at Anand Bhawan, Allahabad. She contributed to various causes like the upliftment of women, Harijans, and backward sections of society, national unity and integrity, communal harmony, liberation from colonialism and world peace. From Allahabad she edited the first Hindi monthly 'Stree Darpan' on women's problems from 1909 to 1924. She was elected President of All India Women's Conference in 1940, leading delegations to World Women's Congress in Copenhagen and the first Afro-Asian Women's Conference in Cairo (1961). The 'Quit India' movement found her leading the popular movement in Punjab for which she was arrested and ailed. During the Bengal famine she mobilised people and material relief through women's organisations. During and after the partition of India (1947) she did commendable work saving, tracing and resetling displaced persons. In 1949 she was appointed Advisor to the Ministry of Rehabilation of the Governemnt of India. Her work was recognized and she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1955. She was closely associated with Gandhiji's and Thakkar Bapa's campaign against untouchability. Elected Presdent of All India Harijan Sewak Sangh, she devoted more than three decades to Harijan wefare. Associated with various national and international organizations, she was also President of the first popular level conference of Asian countries in New Delhi (1955) on the eve of the Bandung Conference, and also of the Indian Association for the Afro-Asian Solidarity. She led Indian delegations to Tokyo (1957), Stockhlm (1958) and Moscow (1962) World Peace Conferences travelling widely, supporting the causes of national liberation, disarmament and peace association with the World Peace Council. In 1960 she recieved the International Lenin Peace Prize for her outstanding contribution to peace and friendship among nations. She passed away on 8th November 1966, having devoted her rich life to the service of India and humanity.s.