Vidyaben Shah facts for kids

Vidyaben Shah (born November 7, 1922 – died June 19, 2020) was an amazing Indian social worker. She was known for helping children, women, and older people in India. In 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made her the first non-official President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). She held many important roles in social welfare starting from the 1940s. Vidyaben Shah passed away at 97 years old on June 19, 2020, at her home in Delhi.

Early Life and Education

Vidyaben was born in Jetpur, Gujarat. Her parents were Vrajlal Mehta and Champaben Mody. Her father, Vrajlal, was a school teacher. He later became a principal and then Director of Education in Saurashtra.

Vidyaben was always great at her studies. Her parents and brothers supported her education. When she was a university student, she joined the Quit India Movement. This movement was led by Mohandas K. Gandhi. Even in high school, Gandhi's ideas influenced her. She spread the message of nonviolence to her classmates.

After finishing her B.A. in Economics in 1942, she left home to study for her M.A. There were no postgraduate colleges in her hometown. Since 1942, she became one of India's top activists. She worked to help children and support women's rights.

She worked with many groups focused on child welfare and education. She also helped with women's and family welfare. Her work included civic administration, fine arts, and culture. She also helped people with disabilities and senior citizens. She received many awards for her important work. This included the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 1992.

Meeting Manubhai Shah

In 1940, Vidyaben met Manubhai Shah at a social event. He later became a Union Cabinet Minister. He served under Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Indira Gandhi. Manubhai was also a brave Freedom Fighter. He was active in the Indian Independence Movement in the 1940s.

Vidyaben and Manubhai married in 1945. Their wedding was delayed for five years. This was because they were both very involved in the Freedom Movement. Manubhai was even in prison by the British Colonial Authority. He was released in 1945. Their wedding was very simple. They wore plain cotton khadi clothes. For a wedding gift, Manubhai gave Vidyaben a single khadi saree. He had woven it himself on a handloom. He used cotton yarn he spun on a charkha (spinning wheel) while in prison. Manubhai passed away in 2000. They had one daughter, three sons, three granddaughters, and one grandson.

Making a Difference: Her Career

Helping Children

Vidyaben, also known as Behnji, was a leader in helping children. She started the Bal Bhavan movement. She opened the first Bal Bhavan in Rajkot. This became a model for many other Bal Bhavans across India. In 1948, she became the first Honorary Magistrate for Juvenile Courts in Rajkot. She held this job for eight years.

In 1956, her husband moved to New Delhi. He joined the Cabinet of Pandit Nehru. Vidyaben brought her passion for helping others to Delhi. Since 1956, she worked for four decades with Bal Sahyog in New Delhi. This special place was started by Indira Gandhi. It helped rehabilitate homeless children.

Vidyaben became President of Bal Sahyog in 1966. She stayed President for ten years. During this time, she started new workshops for children. They learned skills to make furniture and other handmade items. She even brought a boat from the Rajkot Bal Bhavan to Delhi. She started the first boat ride at Delhi's India Gate. Now, thousands of people enjoy these boat rides every week.

Vidyaben was President of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) for twelve years. This was from 1976 to 1979, and again from 1985 to 1994. ICCW is the biggest group in India working for children. Vidyaben represented India at the United Nations International Year of the Child meeting in Tashkent in 1979. She also went to international conferences about children in Tehran, Geneva, and Birmingham, USA. She attended the 6th SAARC Summit in Colombo in 1991. She was also the Chairperson of the Christian Children's Fund Advisory Board for five years.

Supporting Women

Vidyaben started helping women when she was in college. She set up the first craft center for women in need in Saurashtra. The Government of India made her the chairman of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) in 1995. She held this role for three years. During this time, she started many new programs. She helped this important organization become strong again.

CSWB was started in 1953 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Durgabai Deshmukh. It helps women and children through over 20,000 NGOs across India. Vidyaben expanded programs like Family Counselling Centres (FCC) and Working Women's Hostels (WWH). She also grew Vocational Training Programmes and Creches. She aimed to have at least one FCC and one WWH in every district in the country.

In 1995, she was part of the Indian team at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. She also represented India at the 42nd Meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in 1998.

Promoting Culture

Vidyaben was President and a key Trustee of Delhi Gujarati Samaj for over 40 years, starting in 1958. She helped develop many social, cultural, and educational activities for Gujaratis in Delhi. Under her leadership, the Gujarati Samaj started a Higher Secondary School in Delhi. Over 1000 students attend this school for very low fees. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation for the school.

One popular project was the Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhavan. This is a welcoming guest house for students and people from outside Delhi who need affordable lodging. Vidyaben also helped set up the Mahatma Gandhi Sanskrutik Kendra in the 1970s. This center helped people from Delhi exchange cultural ideas.

In 1968, Vidyaben used her experience to create the Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj. She was its founder President. This group inspired many cities in India to start their own Gujarati Samaj. These groups spread Gujarati traditions and culture. They also encouraged Gujaratis to connect with other communities, promoting unity. Vidyaben continued to guide these groups.

Building Educational Institutions

Vidyaben played a big part in creating Sardar Patel Vidyalaya. This is one of Delhi's most famous schools. For many years, she was President of the Gujarat Education Society, which runs the school. She was also on the managing committees of Modern School Barakhamba Road and Vasant Vihar. She also served on the committee for the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

She was very important in starting Sardar Patel Vidyaniketan. This school is in the rural village of Mandi near Delhi. The Gujarat Education Society runs it. The school helps children from poorer families, especially encouraging girls to get an education. Vidyaben worked hard for many years to get official recognition for this school.

Supporting Arts and Culture

Vidyaben was a pioneer in creating the Triveni Kala Sangam. This is a top institution for learning dance, music, and painting. She helped raise a lot of money to build this famous place. She was the President of Triveni Kala Sangam for over five decades. The institution was well-managed by its founder, Sundari Krishnalal Shridharani.

Improving City Life

As Vice-President and President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Vidyaben started many projects. These projects helped poorer people in Delhi, especially children and women living in slums. She helped create homes for children without families. She also started homes for abandoned children and hostels for working women. She also helped create a rehabilitation center for people with intellectual disabilities.

She also started the idea of Navyug Schools. These schools were a big step forward in education. They helped gifted children from poorer families get a good education. She also worked to make Delhi's public services better. She helped improve things like water and electricity in the growing city. She worked to make Delhi more beautiful and comfortable for its citizens. She also led efforts to modernize the city. This included building a new office for the NDMC and housing for its employees. She also helped build many commercial and shopping complexes.

Social Activism and Peace Efforts

Vidyaben used her skills to raise money for many national disasters. She helped during the Bihar floods and Andhra Pradesh cyclone in the 1970s. She also helped during the Gujarat floods in the early 1980s.

After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, there were riots in Delhi. Vidyaben led peace marches in different areas to calm things down. After the Godhra riots in Gujarat, she was older but still went from district to district. Sonia Gandhi asked her to go. She spread messages of peace and community harmony in Gujarat.

Other Important Work

Vidyaben was a trustee of the Helen Keller Trust (Blind and Deaf) in India. In 1985, during the United Nations "International Youth Year: Participation, Development and Peace," she showed great leadership. The groups she led or was involved with did amazing work under her guidance. From 1990 to 1993, she was the President of the Delhi State Branch of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. This group helps with national development. In 2005, she was chosen for the Ethics Committee for Research on Cardiac Disorders. This was for the Indian Council for Medical Research.

Since the 1990s, she was an active President of the Senior Citizens Service Forum. This group is part of the State Council for Senior Citizens. It is also part of the National Council for Older Persons. This council was set up by the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Forum runs a daycare center for senior citizens. It also holds adult education classes for women.

In 2007, Vidyaben was invited to a Parliamentary Standing Committee. She helped examine the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill 2007". She was also Chairperson of the Bhagidari Scheme of Delhi Government. She was also a helper for an Electricity Board in Delhi. She was President Emeritus of the All India Kitchen Garden Association. This group encourages growing vegetables and flowers using natural methods. It also promotes healthy living and eating habits across Delhi and other states.

Awards and Recognition

• 1976 Best Social Worker Award from the Federation of Organisations Working for Children in India.
• 1986 The National Award from the Government of India for great work in Child Welfare.
• 1987 Bal Mitra Award from Nehru Bal Samiti for important work in educational and social projects for children.
• 1988 Bal Sahyog Award from the United Children's Movement for great work in helping children in India.
• 1989 Nehru Fellow Award for amazing achievements in child welfare.
• 1990 Silver Elephant Award, the highest national award of the Scouts and Guides Movement. The President of India gave her this award.
• 1992 Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India. The President of India, Shri R Venkataraman, presented the award.
• 1994 N V Gadgil Award for important social service.
• 1998 Samaj Sewa Shiromani Award from the Family Planning Association of India, New Delhi. This was for her great work in family planning.
• 1999 Radha Raman Award for outstanding help to Delhi and its people in Child Welfare and Social Work.
• 2000 Vishwa Gurjari Award for important help in women's development, education, and welfare.
• 2000 Woman of the Century Award ("Shatabdi Mahila" Award) for her lifetime of Social Work.
• 2001 The Millennium Award from the All India Kitchen Garden Association for helping create a green and clean environment.
• 2001 Honored by the Swatantrata Andolan Yadgar Samiti for her valuable help in the freedom struggle.
• 2002 Plaque of Honour from the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). This was for "50 Golden Years of Service to the Children of India." Sonia Gandhi presented it.
• 2005 Delhi Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Evam Chitra Kala Sangam Award on International Women's Day.
• 2006 Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award for excellence in social service.
• 2007 Freedom Fighter Award by the Government of India at August Kranti Maidan. This marked 65 years of the Quit India Movement.
• 2007 Salutation (Samman Patra) as a Freedom Fighter on the 150th Anniversary of the First War of Indian Independence. This was from the Government of Delhi.
• 2007 Distinguished Senior Citizen Award of Shree Delhi Gujarati Samaj. The Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, presented it.
• 2008 Freedom Fighter Award by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• 2009 National Priyadarshini Samman as an "Epitome of Empowerment". Given by Guild for Service to celebrate International Women's Week. The Women and Child Minister presented it.
• 2011 Honored by Age-Care India for "dedication, contribution and welfare for the elders." This was to celebrate Elder's Day.
• 2011 National Priyadarshini Award for "Lifetime Achievements and Contributions." The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Government of India, presented it.
• 2013 Vishishtha Vyakti Gujarat Gaurav Award given by Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• 2013 B R Ambedkar Award for Social Work, Delhi.