A homage to Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur as paid and flashed by me on the f.b. on Nov.17,2010

Bishwa Nath Singh :
It’s but natural that People memories are short and we have almost forgotten the great contribution made by a true Gandhi an who had participated Gandhi-led two hundred eighty eight Kilometers Dandi March in the year 1930 when British Raj authorities had imprisoned her. She was the first Union Minister for Health i...n Nehru’s Cabinet after independence and continued to hold that high office till 1957 who was a driving force in establishing AIIMS at New Delhi. That person is non-else than Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur whose contribution one should never forget. Let us have a glimpse on her life in brief and pay our homage to that great towering personality of our mother India!
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Bishwa Nath Singh ::
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was born on the 02nd of February 1889 in Lucknow. She was the illustrious daughter of Raja Sir Harnam Singh asthe eight children of Raja Harnam Singh, a member of the princely family of Kapurthalā in the Punjab regionan...d his wife Rāni Harnām Singh, who was the daughter of a Bengali Presbyterian mother and an Anglican father. She had her early education in Sherborne School for Girls in Dorset, England, and had her college education at Oxford University. After completing her education in England, she returned to India where she came in touch with Gopal Krishna Gokhale and later with Mahatma Gandhi. This was a turning point in her life, which had initiated her active career in politics. She came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and became one of his close followers and life long pupils.Her active participation in Salt Satyagraha landed her in Bombay jail. In 1937, to advocate the cause of the Congress she went to Bannu in Northwest Frontier Province, and again she was arrested on the charges of sedition.In public life her interest lay as much in social welfare as in politics. She was a strong champion of female education and equally concerned with the upliftment of Harijans.. She was involved in almost all the activities and movements that were launched by Mahatma Gandhi for the well-being of people. She became one of the most dedicated disciples of Mahatma Gandhi. She sincerely followed the teachings and principles of Mahatma Gandhi This explains the reason why she was also addressed as a Gandhi an. During two hundred eight Kms. Dandi March in 1930, she was along with Mahatma Gandhi. It is during this movement that, she was imprisoned by the British Raj authorities. She had co-founded the All India Women’s Conference in 1927, became its Secretary in 1930, and President in 1933. She testified before the Lothian Committee of Parliament (1932) on Indian franchise and constitutional reforms. In 1938, she was elected as the President of All India Women's Conference. She was also the first woman member of Hindustani Talimi Sangh.. She had participated in the UNESCO's Conferences as a member of Indian delegation at London in the year 1945 and at Paris in the year 1946. After India attained freedom in 1947 she joined the Central Cabinet as Minister for Health.She was even more active in social work than in politics. She spent most of her time for the uplift of women and the eradication of social evils. After the Independence of India, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur joined the Jawaharlal Nehru's first Cabinet. She was the first woman to hold a cabinet position. She was made the in charge of Ministry of Health. She was the only Christian in the cabinet of India. In the year 1950, she was elected for the post of President of the World Health Assembly. She played a pivotal role in the task of conceptualizing and laying the foundation for the establishment of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. For this, she secured aid from different countries like New Zealand, West Germany etc. She also provided assistance to a rehabilitation centre. She and her brother even donated their ancestral property that was made the holiday home for the staff of the institute. She served as the Chairperson of the Indian Red Cross society for a long period of fourteen years. She made an immense contribution towards the development of the tribal groups of India. She held the position of health minister till 1957. Thereafter, she took retirement from the ministerial activities, but still remained a part of the Rajya Sabha. Till she was alive, she held the presidency position of AIIMS and the Tuberculosis Association. She also served as the chairperson of St. John's Ambulance Corps. This great soul departed for heaven on the 2nd of October 1964.Let us pay our floral tribute to her and the most respectful homage to her great charming & likeable personality who will always remain very close to our heart!
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Aravind Pandey likes this..

Ashish Kumar Gupta This is true - that our freedom and our nation's development to current situation is the result of many great personalities but unfortunately our generation knows only few names . We are even not aware of many great persons who have contributed to our nation .The role of course curriculam that is studied in schools has to lay an important role in this..

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f.b.
Nov.17,2010