Lakshmi Sahgal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lakshmi Sahgal
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Sahgal at the 18th congress of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Delhi, 2005
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Lakshmi Swaminathan
24 October 1914 |
| Died | 23 July 2012 (aged 97) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
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| Children | 2 (incl. Subhashini Ali) |
Lakshmi Sahgal, born Lakshmi Swaminathan (October 24, 1914 – July 23, 2012), was a very brave woman who fought for India's freedom. She was a leader in the Indian National Army and a minister in the Azad Hind government. People often called her Captain Lakshmi because of her military rank during World War II.
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Early Life and Education
Lakshmi Sahgal was born on October 24, 1914. Her father, S. Swaminathan, was a lawyer. Her mother, Ammu Swaminathan, was a social worker and also fought for India's independence. Lakshmi had a younger sister named Mrinalini Sarabhai.
Lakshmi went to Queen Mary's College, Chennai for her studies. She then decided to become a doctor. She earned her medical degree from Madras Medical College in 1938. A year later, she specialized in treating women and babies. She worked as a doctor at the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital in Chennai.
In 1940, she moved to Singapore. There, she met members of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army.
Joining the Azad Hind Fauj
In 1942, the British forces in Singapore surrendered to the Japanese. Lakshmi helped wounded soldiers who were now prisoners of war. Many of these soldiers wanted to form an army to fight for India's freedom.
Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore in July 1943. He took charge of the freedom movement there. He announced that he wanted to create a special army unit just for women. This unit would be named after the brave queen, Rani of Jhansi, who fought against the British in 1857.
Lakshmi Sahgal was very excited about this idea. She immediately told Bose that she wanted to join. Many other women also joined the all-women brigade. Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan then became known as Captain Lakshmi. This name stayed with her for the rest of her life.
Captain Lakshmi became the Minister in Charge of Women's Organization in the Provisional Government of Free India. This government was led by Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore.
The Indian National Army (INA) marched towards Burma with the Japanese army in December 1944. However, by March 1945, the war was turning against them. The INA leaders decided to retreat. Captain Lakshmi was arrested by the British in May 1945. She stayed in Myanmar until March 1946. Then, she was sent back to India. At this time, trials of INA soldiers in Delhi made many people angry at the British. This helped speed up the end of British rule in India.
Life After Independence
In 1971, Lakshmi Sahgal joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist). During the Bangladesh crisis, she helped set up camps and medical aid for people who came to India from Bangladesh.
She was one of the people who started the All India Democratic Women's Association in 1981. She led many of its activities and campaigns. For example, she led a medical team to Bhopal after a terrible gas leak in 1984. She also worked to bring peace to Kanpur after riots in 1984. She was even arrested for protesting against a beauty competition in 1996. Even at 92 years old in 2006, she was still seeing patients at her clinic in Kanpur.
In 2002, four political parties nominated Lakshmi Sahgal as a candidate for the Indian presidential elections. She was the only person running against A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He won the election.
Family Life
Lakshmi married Prem Kumar Sahgal in March 1947 in Lahore. After their marriage, they settled in Kanpur. There, she continued her work as a doctor. She also helped many people who came to India after the Partition of India. They had two daughters, Subhashini Ali and Anisa Puri.
Her daughter, Subhashini, is also a well-known politician and worker's rights activist. Lakshmi's grandson is the filmmaker Shaad Ali.
Death and Legacy
On July 19, 2012, Lakshmi Sahgal had a heart attack. She passed away on July 23, 2012, at the age of 97 in Kanpur. Her body was given to the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College for medical research.
Awards and Recognition
- In 1998, Lakshmi Sahgal received the Padma Vibhushan award from the Indian president, K. R. Narayanan. This is one of India's highest civilian honors.
- In 2010, the University of Calicut gave her an honorary doctorate degree.
See also
- Indian National Army
- Janaky Athi Nahappan
- Rasammah Bhupalan
- Ethnic communities in Kanpur
