Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu, born as Sarojini Chattopadhyay

(Bengali: ) also known by the
sobriquet as The Nightingale of India,[1] was a child
prodigy, Indian independence activist and poet. Naidu
served as the rst governor of the United Provinces of
Agra and Oudh from 1947 to 1949;[2] the rst woman to
become the governor of an Indian state.[3] She was the
second woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress in 1925 and the rst Indian woman to do
so.[4][5]

Early life

Sarojini Naidu was born in Hyderabad to Aghore Nath

Chattopadhyay and Barada Sundari Debi on 13 February 1879. Her father, with a doctorate of Science from
Edinburgh University, settled in Hyderabad, where he
found and administered the Hyderabad College, which
later became the Nizams College in Hyderabad. Her
mother was a poetess and used to write poetry in Bengali. She was the eldest among the eight siblings. Her
brother Virendranath Chattopadhyaya was a revolutionary and her other brother, Harindranath was a poet, a
dramatist, and an actor.[6]

Sarojini Naidu (extreme right) with Mahatma Gandhi during Salt

Satyagraha, 1930

powerment and nationalism. She also helped to establish

the Womens Indian Association (WIA) in 1917.[9] She
was sent to London along with Annie Besant, President
of WIA, to present the case for the womens vote to the
Joint Select Committee.

2.1 President of the Congress party

Naidu passed her matriculation examination from the

University of Madras, but she took four years break
from her studies. In 1895, the Nizam scholarship Trust
founded by the 6th Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, gave
her the chance to study in England rst at Kings College
London and later at Girton College, Cambridge.

In 1925, Naidu presided over the annual session of Indian

National Congress at Cawnpore (now Kanpur).

In 1929, she presided over East African Indian Congress

in South Africa. She was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind
Medal by the British government for her work during the
Naidu met Govindarajulu Naidu, a doctor by profession,
plague epidemic in India.[10]
and at the age of 19, after nishing her studies, she got
married to him. At this time, inter-caste marriages were In 1931, she participated in the Round table conference
with Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malaviya.[11]
not allowed, but her father approved the marriage.[6]
She played a leading role during the Civil Disobedience
Movement and was jailed along with Gandhi and other
leaders. In 1942, she was arrested during the "Quit India"
movement.

The couple had ve children. Her daughter Padmaja became the Governor of West Bengal.[7]

Political career

Naidu joined the Indian national movement in the wake 3 Literary career
of partition of Bengal in 1905. She came into contact with Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, Naidu began writing at the age of twelve. Her Persian
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, C. P. Ramaswami play, Maher Muneer, impressed the Nawab of HyderIyer, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.[8]
abad.
During 19151918, she travelled to dierent regions in In 1905, her rst collection of poems, named The
India delivering lectures on social welfare, womens em- Golden Threshold was published.[12] Her poems were
1

5 WORKS

admired by many prominent Indian politicians like Gopal

Krishna Gokhale.

1916: Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of

Unity[21]

Her collection of poems entitled The Feather of The

Dawn was edited and published posthumously in 1961
by her daughter Padmaja.[7]

1943: The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India, Allahabad: Kitabistan, posthumously published[19]

1971:The Indian Weavers[23]

Death and legacy

1961: The Feather of the Dawn, posthumously published, edited by her daughter, Padmaja Naidu[22]

Sarojini Naidu died of a heart attack while working in her

5.1
oce in Lucknow on 2 March (Wednesday), 1949.[7][13]
She is commemorated through the naming of several
institutions including the Sarojini Naidu College for
Women, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Sarojini Devi
Eye Hospital and Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad.
Aldous Huxley wrote It has been our good fortune, while
in Bombay, to meet Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, the newlyelected President of the All-India Congress and a woman
who combines in the most remarkable way great intellectual power with charm, sweetness with courageous energy, a wide culture with originality, and earnestness with
humor. If all Indian politicians are like Mrs. Naidu, then
the country is fortunate indeed.[14]
Her 135th birth anniversary (in 2014) was marked by a
doodle on Google India's homepage.[15]

Famous Poems

Damayante to Nala in the Hour of Exile

Ecstasy
Indian Dancers
The Indian Gypsy
Indian Love-Song
Indian Weavers
In Salutation to the Eternal Peace
In the Forest
In the Bazaars of Hyderabad (Refer to English textbook of 8th and 9th [icse]
Ramamuratham
Nightfall in the City of Hyderabad

4.1

Golden Threshold

Palanquin Bearers

The Golden Threshold is an o-campus annexe of

University of Hyderabad. The building was the residence of Naidus father Aghornath Chattopadhyay, the
rst Principal of Hyderabad College. It was named after Naidus collection of poetry. Golden Threshold now
houses Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication
of University of Hyderabad.[16]

The Pardah Nashin

During the Chattopadhyay familys residence, it was the

center of many reformist ideas in Hyderabad, in areas
ranging from marriage, education, womens empowerment, literature and nationalism.[17]

Song of a Dream

Past and Future

The Queens Rival
The Royal Tombs of Golconda
The Snake-Charmer
Song of Radha,the milkmaid
The Souls Prayer
Suttee

Works

Each year links to its corresponding year in poetry article:

1905: The Golden Threshold, published in the
United Kingdom[18] (text available online)
1912: The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death & the
Spring, published in London[19]
1917: The Broken Wing: Songs of Love, Death and
the Spring, including The Gift of India (rst read
in public in 1915)[19][20]

To a Buddha Seated on a Lotus

To the God of Pain
Wandering Singers
Street Cries
Alabaster
Autumn Song
Bangle Sellers
The Coromandal Fishers
To youth

References

[1] Colors of India. First Woman Governor of a State in

India. Retrieved 25 March 2012.

[19] Vinayak Krishna Gokak, The Golden Treasury Of IndoAnglian Poetry (18281965), p 313, New Delhi: Sahitya
Akademi (1970, rst edition; 2006 reprint), ISBN 81260-1196-3, retrieved August 6, 2010

[2] Jesudasen, Yasmine (2006). Sarojini Naidu. Voices of

Freedom Movement. Sura Books. pp. 5354. ISBN 97881-7478-555-8. Retrieved 13 February 2014.

[20] Sisir Kumar Das, A History of Indian Literature 1911

1956: Struggle for Freedom: Triumph and Tragedy, p
523, New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi (1995), ISBN 817201-798-7; retrieved 10 August 2010

[3] Agrawal, Lion M. G. (2008). Indian National Congress

and Indian Women. Freedom ghters of India 4. Gyan
Publishing House. p. 143. ISBN 978-81-8205-472-1.
Retrieved 13 February 2014.

[21] Jinnah in Indias history. The Hindu. 12 August 2001.

Retrieved 25 March 2012.

[4] Paranjape, Makarand R. (2010). Chronology. Sarojini

Naidu. Rupa & Company. ISBN 978-81-291-1580-5.
Retrieved 13 February 2014.
[5] President of the Indian National Congress accessdate=13
February 2014.
[6] Biography of Naidu.
[7] Family of Naidu.
[8] compiled; Agrawal, edited by Lion M.G. (2008).
Freedom ghters of India (in four volumes). Delhi: Isha
Books. p. 142. ISBN 978-81-8205-468-4.
[9] Pasricha, Ashu (2009). The political thought of Annie Besant. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. p. 24. ISBN 97881-8069-585-8.
[10] Jain, Reena. Sarojini Naidu. Stree Shakti. Retrieved 25
March 2012.

[22] Lal, P., Modern Indian Poetry in English: An Anthology

& a Credo, p 362, Calcutta: Writers Workshop, second
edition, 1971 (however, on page 597 an editors note
states contents on the following pages are a supplement
to the rst edition and is dated 1972)
[23] Indian Weavers. Poem Hunter. Retrieved 25 March
2012.

7 External links
The poetry of Sarojini Naidu: A fusion of English
language and Indian culture
Works by Sarojini Naidu at Project Gutenberg
Biography and Poems of Sarojini Naidu
Letter written by Sarojini Naidu

[11] The Biography of Sarojini Naidu. Poem Hunter. Retrieved 25 March 2012.

Sarojini Naidu: An introduction to her life, work

and poetry By Vishwanath S. Naravane

[12] Sarkar, [editors], Amar Nath Prasad, Bithika (2008).

Critical response to Indian poetry in English. New Delhi:
Sarup & Sons. p. 11. ISBN 978-81-7625-825-8.

Sarojini Naidu materials at the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)

[13] Google doodles Sarojini Naidus 135th birth anniversary'". Indiavision. February 13, 2014.
[14] Huxley, Aldous (1926). Jesting Pilate: Travels Through
India, Burma, Malaya, Japan, China, and America.
Paragon House, New York. p. 22.
[15] Google Doodle celebrates Sarojini Naidus 135th Birthday. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 12 February
2014.
[16] Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
[17] Sharma, Kaushal Kishore (1 January 2003). Sarojini
Naidu: A Preface to Her Poetry. Feminism, Censorship
and Other Essays. Sarup & Sons. pp. 5657. ISBN 97881-7625-373-4. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
[18] Knippling, Alpana Sharma, Chapter 3: TwentiethCentury Indian Literature in English, in Natarajan,
Nalini, and Emanuel Sampath Nelson, editors, Handbook
of Twentieth-century Literatures of India (Google books
link), Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing
Group, 1996, ISBN 978-0-313-28778-7, retrieved 10 December 2008

8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

Text

Sarojini Naidu Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarojini_Naidu?oldid=632271041 Contributors: Magnus Manske, Danny, Sannse,

Mcarling, Minesweeper, Ahoerstemeier, Ijon, Jeandr du Toit, Kaysov, Charles Matthews, Cncs wikipedia, Dimadick, Bearcat, Tomchiukc,
RedWolf, Nilmerg, Timrollpickering, Jondel, Tom Radulovich, Cantus, Stern, Utcursch, Bodnotbod, N2271, Sam Hocevar, Mike Rosoft,
D6, CALR, Rich Farmbrough, Alren, IndianCow, Kwamikagami, Thaths, Arthena, Snowolf, RJFJR, Rohitde, Mel Etitis, Woohookitty,
Toussaint, Amitsanyal, Rjwilmsi, Gawain, Moorlock, The wub, Bhadani, Machanta, JdforresterBot, Harmil, Kerowyn, NekoDaemon,
Gurubrahma, Moocha, Bgwhite, Deeptrivia, RussBot, DanMS, Jenblower, Rsrikanth05, Priyanath, Asarelah, Sahodaran, Deville, Syam
Kumar, Allens, Premkudva, Zquack, Sardanaphalus, SmackBot, Blue520, Bwithh, Raghu.kuttan, Commander Keane bot, Fazalmajid,
Gilliam, Ohnoitsjamie, Hmains, Bluebot, Ramas Arrow, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Shivap, Pax85, SundarBot, Anoopkn, Dreadstar,
DMacks, Wizardman, Bdiscoe, Salamurai, Ohconfucius, Rishabhgoel9791, Euchiasmus, Beetstra, Kanatonian, Iridescent, Jztinnity, Supertigerman, Xcentaur, Randhirreddy, JohnCD, AshLin, Cydebot, Garik, Gonzo fan2007, Thijs!bot, Epbr123, Sagaciousuk, Mojo Hand,
Mereda, Joy1963, Escarbot, RobotG, Scintillatingstus, P.K.Niyogi, IndianGeneralist, Husond, Vnaynb, Rueben lys, East718, PhilKnight,
Magioladitis, VoABot II, QuizzicalBee, Waacstats, Rimibchatterjee, Dharmadhyaksha, Flaming Ferrari, Smartinfoteck2, Vigyani, Keith
D, R'n'B, CommonsDelinker, Peter Chastain, Bmurthy, Lordofallhearts, Shshshsh, Wikieditor06, Bacus15, Anna Lincoln, Steven J. Anderson, Swami1980, GhanaDa, AlleborgoBot, Roland zh, Deconstructhis, StAnselm, Moonriddengirl, Caltas, Bentogoa, Breawycker, Flyer22,
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guru, Nizil Shah, Tassedethe, Lightbot, Teles, David0811, Quantumobserver, LuK3, Annika64, Ben Ben, Yobot, Fraggle81, THEN
WHO WAS PHONE?, AnomieBOT, Jim1138, 90 Auto, Dewan357, Xqbot, RNaidu, Capricorn42, Raafael, JohnWBarber, GrouchoBot,
Nayvik, Nantucketnoon, FrescoBot, Anna Roy, D'ohBot, Finalius, Cannolis, I dream of horses, Jonesey95, MJ94, Full-date unlinking
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Karthikndr, Aniwilk, MonoAV, Donner60, ChuispastonBot, 28bot, Ramarao.peddi, ClueBot NG, Satellizer, Cntras, Muon, O.Koslowski,
Widr, Helpful Pixie Bot, Omer123hussain, Som999, Titodutta, Lowercase sigmabot, BG19bot, Krenair, Mohamed CJ, Cosmic brahman,
MusikAnimal, Nitika.t, Debastein, Solomon7968, Altar, Beetelaces, Rjs.swarnkar, Gugugugugu, Guckoo, The Theosophist, Ovenkat,
RscprinterBot, Tamirisadp, Fylbecatulous, Nicke.me, BattyBot, Simeondahl, RichardMills65, ChrisGualtieri, VenkateshPadmanabhan,
RandomPerson100, Peterruhe, 25 Cents FC, Abitoby, Clockery, VIAFbot, Beckmanse, Graphium, Visdaviva, Wikirishiaacharya, Ketaki
Pole, Nayan kumar gunele, Anish Srikanth, Earlgrey T, Pranayraj1985, Wikiuser13, Ugog Nizdast, Khushboo29, Rashmita Chakraborty,
Ginsuloft, Ekalavya 1857, UI1990, Ronakchuroria, Quartzd, JaconaFrere, Skr15081997, Mangeshjangam, Gnrapelli, Kanga Roo in the
Zoo, Quadirsaab, Thakurravitomar, Manisha2014, 98gagandep98, Adilrockstaz999, NQ and Anonymous: 494

8.2

Images

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domain Contributors: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/in-hist.html Original artist: Nicholas (Nichalp)
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8.3

Content license

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