Durgābāi Deshmukh (15 July 1909 – 9 May 1981) was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer, social worker and politician. She was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and of the Planning Commission of India.
A public activist for women's emancipation, she founded the Andhra
Mahila Sabha (Andhra Women's Conference) in 1937. She was also the
founder chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board. In 1953, she
married C.D. Deshmukh, the first Indian governor of the Reserve Bank of India and Finance Minister in India's Central Cabinet during the years 1950-1956
Among the southern states,
Andhra had the unique distinction of contributing the largest contingent
of women Satyagrahis who, unmindful of the hardships, entered the
prisons. In the non-cooperation movement of 1922, a young girl of twelve
years offered satyagraha at Kakinada. This young girl, Durgabai,
afterwards exhibited her dynamic abilities by founding a unique
organization — the Andhra Mahila Sabha — which is regarded as the
foremost among the women’s welfare and educational institutions of
entire South India.
Durgabai, familiar to the rest of the country as Durgabai Deshmukh
was born in Rajahmundry on 15 July 1909. As noted earlier she
participated in the Non-Co-operation Movement when she was hardly twelve
years of age. After the suspension of the Non Co-operation Movement,
she propagated the ideals of Gandhiji in the villages around Rajahmundry
and Kakinada, by establishing schools to give training to women in
spinning and weaving.
Along with Andhra Kesari T. Prakasam
she participated in the Salt Satyagraha movement in Madras city in May
1930. She was imprisoned in 1930 and again in 1932. In spite of her
active participation in the national struggle Durgabai found time to
take the M.A. and B.L. degrees. From 1935 till her death she devoted her
entire energy to the welfare of women and children.
In 1936 she established Andhra Mahila Sabha mainly, to coach young
Telugu girls of Madras city to appear for the Matriculation examination
of the Banaras Hindu University. From such a humble beginning Andhra
Mahila Sabha became within a decade a great institution of education and
social welfare in the city of Madras. She had the unique capacity to
get funds for the institution from both the rich and the poor alike.
Andhra Mahila Sabha trained women in various activities like nursing,
journalism, and teaching. Durgabai founded and edited a monthly journal
in Telugu called Andhra Mahila. The activities of Andhra Mahila Sabha
attracted the attention of Pandit Nehru who wanted to utilize the
services of Durgabai at the national level.
At the national level Durgabai’s services were utilized fully. She
was the Chairwoman of a number of central organizations like, Central
Social Welfare Board, National Council for Women’s Education and
National Committee on girls’ and women’s education. She was a Member of
Parliament and Planning Commission. She was also associated with the
Andhra Educational Society, New Delhi.
After the formation of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Mahila Sabha extended
its activities to Hyderabad city. At Hyderabad, Andhra Mahila Sabha,
besides running a number of educational institutions including a
college, opened many welfare institutions for women and children.
Durgabai was awarded the fourth Nehru Literary Award in 1971 for her
outstanding contribution to the promotion of literacy in India. In 1975
she was awarded ‘Padma Vibhushan.’
Durgabai Deshmukh died on 9th May, 1981. In her death the country has lost one of the most dynamic women of the country.
