49.206.115.254: /* Life and career */Added newspaper article about her life

2021-10-22T16:45:58Z

Life and career: Added newspaper article about her life

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}}{{EngvarB|date=October 2021}}

{{ Infobox officeholder
|name = Pappa Umanath
|image = Pappa Umanath.jpg
|birth_name = Dhanalakshmi
|birth_date ={{Birth date|1931|08|05|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Kovilpathu]], [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Tanjore District]], [[Madras Presidency]], British India
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|12|17|1931|08|05|df=yes}}
|death_place = [[Tiruchirappalli]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
|spouse = [[R. Umanath]]
| children = [[U. Vasuki]] [[U.Nethravathy & U.Niramala Rani]]
|party = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
}}

'''Pappa Umanath''' (5 August 1931 – 17 December 2010) was an Indian politician from the southern state of [[Tamil Nadu]] and a women's rights activist who co-founded the [[All India Democratic Women's Association]] in 1973. She was a member of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and was elected from the [[Thiruverumbur (State Assembly Constituency)|Thiruverumbur Constituency]] to the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] in 1989.

== Life and career ==
Pappa Umanath was born as Dhanalakshmi on 5 August 1931 in Kovilpathu, near [[Karaikal]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in Puducherry, a Union Territory in India). Her mother, Lakshmi, alias Alamelu, moved to [[Golden Rock, Tiruchirappalli]] after her husband's death. Lakshmi started a canteen near the [[Golden Rock Railway Workshop]] for railway workers. The railway workers who came to the canteen used to call Dhanalakshmi "Pappa" (small girl), which became the origin of her name. At a young age, Pappa participated in several agitations along with her mother and railway workers.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/18/stories/2010121852810400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221125920/http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/18/stories/2010121852810400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 December 2010 | title=CPI (M) leader Pappa Umanath passes away | date=18 December 2010 | work=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=28 July 2013}}</ref>

Dhanalakshmi joined the [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI) in 1945 and moved to Madras (now [[Chennai]]). In 1948, the CPI was banned by the Government of India and members of the party were arrested, including Dhanalakshmi, her mother, and a number of the party's leaders. In the jail, when members of the party went on a fast against authorities, her mother died after 23 days of fasting.<ref name="thehindu" /> Pappa was not allowed by the jail authorities to attend her mother's funeral, as she refused to quit the party.<ref name = "thehindu" /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/CPM-leader-Pappa-Umanath-dead/articleshow/7120055.cms | title=CPM leader Pappa Umanath dead | work=Times of India | date=18 December 2010 | accessdate=12 April 2014}}</ref>

In 1952, Dhanalakshmi married fellow party member [[R. Umanath]] in a [[Self-Respect Movement#Self-Respect marriages|self-respect marriage]].<ref name="papa">{{cite news | url=http://www.dinakaran.com/Ladies_Detail.asp?Nid=2294&Cat=501 | title=தோழர் : பாப்பா உமாநாத் | work=[[Dinakaran]] | date=4 March 2014 | accessdate=12 April 2014 | language=Tamil}}</ref> She was arrested again during the [[Sino-Indian war]]. In 1964, her [[1964 split in the Communist Party of India|party split in two]], and she joined the newly formed Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). She co-founded the All India Democratic Women's Association in 1973 and became its general secretary.<ref name="thehindu" />

She contested the [[1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]] from Thiruverumbur Constituency, but lost.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/statisticalreports/SE_1984/StatisticalReportTamilNadu84.pdf | title=Statistical report on General election, 1984 to the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu | publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] | accessdate=12 April 2014 | format=pdf}}</ref> She won the election in [[1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1989]] but lost again in [[1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1991]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/03/stories/2006050308750300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921072718/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/03/stories/2006050308750300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 September 2008 | title=DMK MLA sitting pretty in Tiruverambur | date=3 May 2006 | work=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=12 April 2014}}</ref>

She had three daughters, one of whom was [[U. Vasuki]], a CPI(M) politician.<ref name="papa" /> She died on 17 December 2010 in [[Trichy]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/12/17/veteran-freedom-fighter-and-communist-leader-pappa-umanath-passes-away-she-was-80 | title=Veteran freedom fighter and Communist Leader Pappa Umanath passes away: She was 80 | publisher=Asian Tribune | date=18 December 2010 | accessdate=28 July 2013}}</ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vikatan.com/social-affairs/women/trichy-history-the-life-story-of-thozhar-pappa-umanath

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Umanath, Pappa}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Women in Tamil Nadu politics]]
[[Category:Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Activists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:People from Nagapattinam district]]
[[Category:Politicians from Tiruchirappalli]]

Pappa Umanath - Revision history

49.206.115.254: /* Life and career */Added newspaper article about her life