Sarojini Naidu: Biography, Literary Journey, Political Activism & Legacies

Date of Birth: February 13, 1879
Date of Death: March 2, 1949
Sarojini Naidu was an Indian political activist and poet, known for her significant contributions to India’s independence movement against the British Raj.
She served as the first Governor of the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh) after India gained independence.
Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and to be appointed as a governor of a state.

Sarojini Naidu was born into a Bengali Brahmin family in Hyderabad, on February 13, 1879, to Aghorenath Chattopadhyay and Varada Sundari.
Her father was the principal of Nizam College and held a doctorate of Science from Edinburgh University.
She was the eldest of eight siblings, with her family being well-regarded in Hyderabad.

Naidu passed her matriculation examination at the age of twelve in 1891, earning the highest rank.
She pursued higher education in England, studying at King’s College, London, and Girton College, Cambridge, with a scholarship from the Nizam of Hyderabad.
During her time in England, she met artists from the Aesthetic and Decadent movements.

In 1898, Sarojini Naidu married Govindaraju Naidu, a physician whom she met during her stay in England, in an inter-caste marriage, which was considered groundbreaking at that time.
They had five children, and their marriage was described as long and harmonious.
Their daughter, Padmaja, also became involved in the Quit India Movement and held various governmental positions in independent India.

Sarojini Naidu entered politics in 1902, urged by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, an important leader of the nationalist movement.
She became an increasingly popular orator, advocating for Indian independence, women’s rights, and women’s education.
Naidu played a crucial role in the establishment of the Women’s Indian Association in 1917 and advocated for universal suffrage and women’s rights in India and abroad.
She participated in the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and was jailed multiple times for her involvement in the Quit India Movement.
Naidu was the first Indian woman to preside over the Indian National Congress in 1925, demonstrating her significant influence as a political leader.

Sarojini Naidu began writing poetry at the age of twelve and published her first collection, “The Golden Threshold,” in 1905.
Her poetry, written in English, often depicted rich sensory images and lush depictions of India.
She was known as the “Nightingale of India” for her poetic prowess and lyrical quality of her poetry.
Some of her notable works include “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad” and “The Gift of India.”

Sarojini Naidu passed away on March 2, 1949, due to cardiac arrest at the Government House in Lucknow.
She is remembered as one of India’s feminist luminaries, and her birthday, February 13, is celebrated as Women’s Day in India to recognize the powerful voices of women in Indian history.
Naidu’s contributions to literature and politics are commemorated through various memorials, including the Golden Threshold, an off-campus annex of the University of Hyderabad, and asteroid 5647 Sarojininaidu, named in her memory.

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