Lakshmi Sahgal: Difference between revisions

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| name        = Lakshmi Sahgal
| name        = Lakshmi Sahgal
| image      = Lakshmi Sahgal.jpg
| image      = Lakshmi Sahgal.jpg
| caption    = Captain Lakshmi
| caption    = Sahgal at the 18th congress of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] in Delhi, 2005
| birth_name  = Lakshmi Swaminathan
| birth_name  = Lakshmi Swaminathan
| birth_date  = {{birth date|df=yes|1914|10|24}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|10|24}}
| birth_place = [[Anakkara (Palakkad)|Anakkara]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]  
| birth_place = [[Anakkara (Palakkad)|Anakkara]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(present-day [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]], [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|7|23|1914|10|24}}
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2012|07|23|1914|10|24}}
| death_place = [[Kanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_place = [[Kanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| other_names =  
| other_names =  
| spouse      = P. K. N. Rao ( - 1940)<br />[[Prem Sehgal|Prem Kumar Sahgal]] (1947–1992) ({{small|his death}})
| spouse      = {{Unbulleted_list|{{Marriage|P. K. N. Rao||1940}}|{{Marriage|[[Prem Sehgal|Prem Kumar Sahgal]]|1947|1992|end=died}}}}
| nationality = [[India]]n
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| children    = [[Subhashini Ali]], Anisa Puri
| children    = 2 (incl. [[Subhashini Ali]])
| alma_mater  = [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]], [[Madras Medical College]]  
| alma_mater  = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Queen Mary's College, Chennai]]|[[Madras Medical College]]}}
| known_for  = [[Revolutionist]], [[freedom fighter|independence activist]], [[Marxist]]  
| known_for  = {{Bulleted_list|[[Revolutionist]]|[[Freedom fighter|Independence activist]]|[[Marxist]]}}
}}
}}


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==Early life==
==Early life==
Captain Lakshmi was born as Lakshmi Swaminathan in [[Madras]]<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling /> on 24 October 1914 to S. Swaminathan, a lawyer who practiced criminal law at [[Madras High Court]], and A.V. Ammukutty, better known as [[Ammu Swaminathan]], a social worker and independence activist from an aristocratic Nair family known as "Vadakkath" family of [[Anakkara (Palakkad)|Anakkara]], [[Ponnani taluk]], [[Malabar District]], [[British Raj|British India]].<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling>{{cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|title=A fulfilling journey that began in Madras|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3675707.ece|access-date=24 July 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 July 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> She is the elder sister of [[Mrinalini Sarabhai]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mrinalini-sarabhai-ammu-swaminathan-lakshmi-sehgal-5172352/ |title=The legacy of Mrinalini Sarabhai’s family |date=11 May 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=22 October 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Menon |first1=Parvathi |title=Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (1914 - 2012) - A life of struggle |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/captain-lakshmi-sahgal-1914-2012-a-life-of-struggle/article3672666.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=23 October 2019 |date=23 July 2012}}</ref>
Captain Lakshmi was born in a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-07-24|title="She was a true Communist"|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/she-was-a-true-communist/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> as Lakshmi Swaminathan in [[Madras]]<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling /> on 24 October 1914 to S. Swaminathan, a lawyer who practiced criminal law at [[Madras High Court]], and A.V. Ammukutty, better known as [[Ammu Swaminathan]], a social worker and independence activist from an aristocratic Nair family known as "Vadakkath" family of [[Anakkara (Palakkad)|Anakkara]], [[Ponnani taluk]], [[Malabar District]], [[British Raj|British India]].<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling>{{cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|title=A fulfilling journey that began in Madras|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3675707.ece|access-date=24 July 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 July 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> She is the elder sister of [[Mrinalini Sarabhai]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mrinalini-sarabhai-ammu-swaminathan-lakshmi-sehgal-5172352/ |title=The legacy of Mrinalini Sarabhai’s family |date=11 May 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=22 October 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Menon |first1=Parvathi |title=Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (1914 - 2012) - A life of struggle |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/captain-lakshmi-sahgal-1914-2012-a-life-of-struggle/article3672666.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=23 October 2019 |date=23 July 2012}}</ref>


Lakshmi studied in [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]]<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling/><ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2008/stories/20030425006013300.htm | title=The end of a women's college? | author=Asha Krishnakumar | journal=Frontline | year=2003 | volume=20 | issue=08}}</ref> and later chose to study medicine and received an MBBS degree from [[Madras Medical College]] in 1938. A year later, she received her diploma in [[gynaecology]] and [[obstetrics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Capt Lakshmi Sehgal, chief of INA women’s regiment, passes away at 97|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120723/jsp/frontpage/story_15761639.jsp#.UA0yM2HKnMA|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=23 July 2012|location=Calcutta, India}}</ref> She worked as a doctor in the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital located at [[Triplicane]] Chennai.<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling/>
Lakshmi studied in [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai|Queen Mary's College]]<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling/><ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2008/stories/20030425006013300.htm | title=The end of a women's college? | author=Asha Krishnakumar | journal=Frontline | year=2003 | volume=20 | issue=08}}</ref> and later chose to study medicine and received an MBBS degree from [[Madras Medical College]] in 1938. A year later, she received her diploma in [[gynaecology]] and [[obstetrics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Capt Lakshmi Sehgal, chief of INA women’s regiment, passes away at 97|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120723/jsp/frontpage/story_15761639.jsp#.UA0yM2HKnMA|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=23 July 2012|location=Calcutta, India}}</ref> She worked as a doctor in the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital located at [[Triplicane]] Chennai.<ref name=Hindu_fulfilling/>
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In 1942, during the [[Fall of Singapore|surrender of Singapore]] by the British to the Japanese, Lakshmi aided wounded [[prisoners of war]], many of whom were interested in forming an Indian independence army. Singapore at this time had several nationalist Indians working there including [[K. P. Kesava Menon]], S. C. Guha and N. Raghavan, who formed a Council of Action. Their [[Indian National Army]], or ''Azad Hind Fauj'', however, received no firm commitments or approval from the occupying Japanese forces regarding their participation in the war.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|last=Menon|first=Parvathi|title=Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (1914 - 2012) - A life of struggle|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3672666.ece?homepage=true|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=23 July 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
In 1942, during the [[Fall of Singapore|surrender of Singapore]] by the British to the Japanese, Lakshmi aided wounded [[prisoners of war]], many of whom were interested in forming an Indian independence army. Singapore at this time had several nationalist Indians working there including [[K. P. Kesava Menon]], S. C. Guha and N. Raghavan, who formed a Council of Action. Their [[Indian National Army]], or ''Azad Hind Fauj'', however, received no firm commitments or approval from the occupying Japanese forces regarding their participation in the war.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|last=Menon|first=Parvathi|title=Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (1914 - 2012) - A life of struggle|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3672666.ece?homepage=true|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=23 July 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>


It was against this backdrop that Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore on 2 July 1943. Lakshmi had heard that Bose was keen to draft women into the organisation and requested a meeting with him from which she emerged with a mandate to set up a women’s regiment, to be called the [[Rani of Jhansi regiment]]. Women responded enthusiastically to join the all-women brigade and Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan became Captain Lakshmi, a name and identity that would stay with her for life.<ref name="thehindu" />
It was against this backdrop that Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore on 2 July 1943. Lakshmi had heard that Bose was keen to draft women into the organisation and requested a meeting with him from which she emerged with a mandate to set up a women's regiment, to be called the [[Rani of Jhansi regiment]]. Women responded enthusiastically to join the all-women brigade and Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan became Captain Lakshmi, a name and identity that would stay with her for life.<ref name="thehindu" />


The INA marched to Burma with the [[Imperial Japanese Army|Japanese army]] in December 1944, but by March 1945, with the tide of war turning against them, the INA leadership decided to beat a retreat before they could enter [[Imphal]]. Captain Lakshmi was arrested by the British army in May 1945, remaining in [[Burma]] until March 1946, when she was sent to India – at a time when the [[INA trials]] in Delhi heightened popular discontent with and hastened the end of colonial rule.<ref name="thehindu" />
The INA marched to Burma with the [[Imperial Japanese Army|Japanese army]] in December 1944, but by March 1945, with the tide of war turning against them, the INA leadership decided to beat a retreat before they could enter [[Imphal]]. Captain Lakshmi was arrested by the British army in May 1945, remaining in [[Burma]] until March 1946, when she was sent to India – at a time when the [[INA trials]] in Delhi heightened popular discontent with and hastened the end of colonial rule.<ref name="thehindu" />


==Later years==
==Later years==
In 1971, Lakshmi joined the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and represented the party in the [[Rajya Sabha]]. During the [[Bangladesh liberation war|Bangladesh crisis]], she organised relief camps and medical aid in Calcutta for refugees who streamed into India from Bangladesh. She was one of the founding members of [[All India Democratic Women's Association]] in 1981 and led many of its activities and campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilnadu.com/personalities/lakshmi-sehgal.html|title=Lakshmi Sehgal|publisher=Tamilnadu.com|date=24 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130411215433/http://tamilnadu.com/personalities/lakshmi-sehgal.html|archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> She led a medical team to Bhopal after the gas tragedy in December 1984, worked towards restoring peace in Kanpur following the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 and was arrested for her participation in a campaign against the Miss World competition in Bangalore in 1996.<ref name="thehindu" />  She was still seeing patients regularly at her clinic in Kanpur in 2006, at the age of 92.<ref name="thehindu" />
In 1971, Lakshmi joined the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and represented the party in the [[Rajya Sabha]]. During the [[Bangladesh liberation war|Bangladesh crisis]], she organised relief camps and medical aid in Calcutta for refugees who streamed into India from Bangladesh. She was one of the founding members of [[All India Democratic Women's Association]] in 1981 and led many of its activities and campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilnadu.com/personalities/lakshmi-sehgal.html|title=Lakshmi Sehgal|publisher=Tamilnadu.com|date=24 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411215433/http://tamilnadu.com/personalities/lakshmi-sehgal.html|archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> She led a medical team to Bhopal after the gas tragedy in December 1984, worked towards restoring peace in Kanpur following the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 and was arrested for her participation in a campaign against the Miss World competition in Bangalore in 1996.<ref name="thehindu" />  She was still seeing patients regularly at her clinic in Kanpur in 2006, at the age of 92.<ref name="thehindu" />


In 2002, four leftist parties{{spaced ndash}}the [[Communist Party of India]], the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], and the [[All India Forward Bloc]]{{spaced ndash}}nominated Sahgal as a candidate in the presidential elections. She was the sole opponent of [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]], who emerged victorious.<ref>{{cite news|title=Freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sehgal dead|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/142996|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|date=23 July 2012}}</ref>
In 2002, four leftist parties{{spaced ndash}}the [[Communist Party of India]], the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], and the [[All India Forward Bloc]]{{spaced ndash}}nominated Sahgal as a candidate in the presidential elections. She was the sole opponent of [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]], who emerged victorious.<ref>{{cite news|title=Freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sehgal dead|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/142996|access-date=23 July 2012|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|date=23 July 2012}}</ref>
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==Awards==
==Awards==
In 1998, Sahgal was awarded the [[Padma Vibhushan]] by Indian president [[K. R. Narayanan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lakshmi-sahgal-19142012/article3657355.ece#im-image-0 |title=Lakshmi Sahgal (1914-2012) |date=23 July 2012 |work=The Hindu }}</ref> In 2010, she was bestowed with [[honorary doctorate]] by [[University of Calicut]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-12-02 |title=Mammootty Conferred D.Litt by Calicut University |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/mammootty-conferred-dlitt-by-calicut-university/703504 |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]]}}</ref>
In 1998, Sahgal was awarded the [Padma Vibhushan] by Indian president [[K. R. Narayanan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lakshmi-sahgal-19142012/article3657355.ece#im-image-0 |title=Lakshmi Sahgal (1914-2012) |date=23 July 2012 |work=The Hindu }}</ref> In 2010, she was bestowed with [[honorary doctorate]] by [[University of Calicut]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-12-02 |title=Mammootty Conferred D.Litt by Calicut University |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/mammootty-conferred-dlitt-by-calicut-university/703504 |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]]}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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