https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Savita_BehenSavita Behen - Revision history2026-10-30T00:10:32ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Savita_Behen&diff=292787&oldid=prev->Johnpacklambert: added birth and death year to start2021-10-28T15:40:50Z<p>added birth and death year to start</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Savita Behen<br />
| image = <br />
| imagesize = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = 23 January 1919<br />
| birth_place = Rohtas, [[Jhelum district]], [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = 10 March 2009<br />
| death_place = India<br />
| restingplace = <br />
| restingplacecoordinates = <br />
| othername = <br />
| occupation = Social worker, politician, educationist<br />
| yearsactive = <br />
| known for = Women empowerment<br />
| spouse = <br />
| domesticpartner = <br />
| children = <br />
| parents = <br />
| website = <br />
| awards = [[Padma Shri]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Savita Behen''' (1919-2009) was an Indian politician, social worker, educationist and a former member of [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of the bicameral [[Indian Parliament]].<ref name="Synopsis of Debate">{{cite web | url=http://164.100.47.5/newsynopsis1/Englishsessionno/216/Synopsis%20_English_%20dt.%204.6.09.pdf | title=Synopsis of Debate | publisher=Rajya Sabha - Government of India | date=4 June 2009 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/gujarat-elections-tired-of-congress-and-bjp-dalits-seek-to-shift-narrative-to-development-rise-above-caste-politics-4248409.html|title=Gujarat Elections: Tired of Congress and BJP, Dalits seek to shift narrative to development, rise above caste politics - Firstpost|website=www.firstpost.com|access-date=2018-06-01}}</ref> She was known to be an advocate of women empowerment and [[gender equality]]<ref name="Rajya Sabha (Council of States of Indian Parliament) and Women’s Empowerment">{{cite web | url=http://www.cpahq.org/cpahq/Main/Publications/The_Parliamentarian/Parliamentarian_2_2011/Rajya_Sabha_and_Women_s_Empowerment-by_SN_Sahu.aspx | title=Rajya Sabha (Council of States of Indian Parliament) and Women’s Empowerment | publisher=Commonwealth Parliament Association | date=2015 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> and was listed among the ''3300 distinguished living women'' of the world by the Council for Parity Democracy in 1990.<ref name="Council for Parity Democracy">{{cite web | url=http://www.shequality.org/3300%20Birthdays%20of%20Distinguished%20Living%20Women.doc | title=Council for Parity Democracy | publisher=Council for Parity Democracy | date=26 July 1990 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> She was honoured by the [[Government of India]] in 1971 with [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest Indian civilian award.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Shri | publisher=Padma Shri | date=2015 | access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref><br />
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==Biography==<br />
Savita Behen was born on 23 January 1919<ref name="Council for Parity Democracy" /> at Rohtas in [[Jhelum district]] in the erstwhile [[British India]], presently in Pakistan.<ref name="Minutes of the meeting">{{cite web | url=http://164.100.47.5/newdebate/216/04062009/12.00NoonTo13.00pm.pdf | title=Minutes of the meeting | publisher=Rajya Sabha | date=4 April 2009 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> She did her college studies at the [[Government College, Lahore]] and P. L. College, Shimla.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /> Joining the [[Indian freedom struggle]] at a young age, she became active in social work. She founded ''Women Sevika Dal'' in 1944 and later, established Harijan Adult Education Centre and Tailoring and Industrial Centres for women in Delhi.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /> She also founded three schools for [[harijan]] and [[dalit]] children.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /><ref name="Minutes of the meeting" /><br />
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Savita Behen was the chairman of the Refugee Widow Protection Committee and was instrumental in the establishment of two industrial and education centres for the refugee women.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /><ref name="Minutes of the meeting" /> She held the presidency of the All India Women's Council, the Women's Welfare Association of Delhi and the Super Bazar Cooperative Stores Limited, New Delhi and was the first woman vice president of the Delhi Municipal Committee, a post she held from 1956 to 1957.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /><ref name="Minutes of the meeting" /> She served the Punjab Legislative Council, the predecessor of the [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]] from 1962 to 1966.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /><ref name="Minutes of the meeting" /> She was elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of the [[Indian Parliament]] in 1972, representing Delhi and served the house till 1978.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /><ref name="Minutes of the meeting" /> She was one of the 15 nominated members of the ''Joint Committee of Indian Parliament'' set up by Indian parliament for the establishment of the [[Central Council of Homoeopathy]].<ref name="Central Council of Homoeopathy">{{cite web | url=http://www.drvithal.com/history-in-india.php | title=Central Council of Homoeopathy | publisher=Joint Committee of Indian Parliament | date=3 April 1972 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref><br />
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Savita Behen was the zonal coordinator for ''Business and Industry Wing'' of the Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation of the [[Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University]] for the region of [[Warangal]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="Business & Industry wing">{{cite web | url=http://www.bkbiwing.com/index.php/2-home/3-business-industry-wing-national-co-ordinators | title=Business & Industry wing | publisher=Business & Industry wing | date=2015 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation of the Brahma Kumaris">{{cite web | url=http://www.bkbiwing.org/coordinators.html | title=Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation of the Brahma Kumaris | publisher=Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation | date=2015 | access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> She was awarded the civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] in 1971 by the [[Government of India]]. The ''Council for Parity Democracy'' listed her among 3300 distinguished living women in 1990.<ref name="Council for Parity Democracy" /> She died on 10 March 2009 at the age of 90.<ref name="Synopsis of Debate" /><ref name="Minutes of the meeting" /><br />
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==See also==<br />
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}<br />
* [[Gender equality]]<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
{{portal|India}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Behen, Savita}}<br />
[[Category:Brahma Kumaris]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]<br />
[[Category:1919 births]]<br />
[[Category:2009 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:People from Jhelum District]]<br />
[[Category:Social workers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women educational theorists]]<br />
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Delhi]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]<br />
[[Category:Women in Delhi politics]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]<br />
[[Category:Social workers from Delhi]]<br />
[[Category:Women educators from Delhi]]<br />
[[Category:Educators from Delhi]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century women educators]]</div>->Johnpacklambert