Achamma Mathai: Difference between revisions

'''Achamma Mathai''' was an Indian social worker, women's rights activist,<ref name="Women's Rights and World Development">{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnJ9J9UygR0C&q=Achamma+Mathai&pg=PA304 | title=Women's Rights and World Development | publisher=Sarup & Sons | date=1998 | access-date=31 March 2015 | author=Bela Rani Sharma| isbn=9788176250153 }}</ref> a co-founder of ''Dr. John Mathai Centre'', an institute of [[Information Technology]], Economics, Management, Theatre Arts and Music under the [[University of Calicut]] and the wife of [[John Mathai]], the first [[Railway Minister of India]] and a former [[Finance minister of India|Finance minister]].<ref name="JMCTSR">{{cite web | url=http://www.jmctsr.org/?p=history | title=JMCTSR | publisher=JMCTSR | date=2015 | access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> During her stay in Delhi, when her husband was serving in the [[Government of India|Union Ministry]], she was reported to have been involved in activities related to children's education.<ref name="Delhi Metropolitan: The Making of an Unlikely City">{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JIwXVPZS8jYC&q=Achamma+Mathai&pg=PA78 | title=Delhi Metropolitan: The Making of an Unlikely City | publisher=Penguin Books India | date=2007 | access-date=31 March 2015 | author=Ranjana Sengupta| isbn=9780143063100 }}</ref> During the riots that followed [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]], she worked alongside [[Sucheta Kripalani]] for the rehabilitation of the riot victims.<ref name="Women's Rights and World Development" /> She served as a member of the Advisory Committee for Libraries in 1955<ref name="Committees and Commissions in India, 1947-73: 1977 (4 v.)">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXa6g_lJOWAC&q=Achamma+Mathai&pg=PA86 | title=Committees and Commissions in India, 1947-73: 1977 (4 v.) | publisher=Concept Publishing Company | date=1975 | access-date=31 March 2015 | author=Virendra Kumar (Editor)}}</ref> and as the chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board in the early Sixties.<ref name="Early Years Education: Policy and practice in early education and care, Volume 3">{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Z7PAtZhzb4C&q=Achamma+Mathai&pg=PA87 | title=Early Years Education: Policy and practice in early education and care, Volume 3 | publisher=Taylor & Francis | date=2006 | access-date=31 March 2015 | author=Rod Parker-Rees, Jenny Willan| isbn=9780415326728 }}</ref> The [[Government of India]] honoured her in 1954, with the award of [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest Indian civilian award for her contributions to the society,<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref> placing her among the first recipients of the award.