Sarojini Naidu Biography
Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India, was born on February 13, 1879 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. She has many firsts to her credit, including being the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state. The eldest daughter of Aghornath Chattopadhyaya and Barada Sundari Devi, she was fluent in many languages.
Sarojini Naidu studied at the Madras University, before moving to England to study. She married Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu Naidu. The couple had five children Jayasurya, Leelamani, Nilawar, Padmaja and Randheer. The partition of Bengal in 1905 drew her to join the Indian freedom struggle. She soon came into contact with the stalwarts of the Indian freedom movement.
In 1916, she published a biography of Muhammad Ali Jinnah titled The Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity. In 1919, she became the Home Rule League’s ambassador to England. In 1925 she was elected as the President of the Congress and traveled to New York in October 1928. In 1942, she was arrested during the “Quit India” movement and was lodged in jail for 21 months with Mahatma Gandhi. Sarojini Naidu shared a close rapport with Mahatma Gandhi.
Sarojini Naidu presided over the Steering Committee at the Asian Relations Conference in March 1947. After India became independent, she became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, the first Indian woman to become a governor. In addition to being a freedom fighter, she was a prolific poet. In 1905, the first volume of her collection of poems, The Golden Threshold was published. Two more volumes, The Bird of Time and The Broken Wing were published in 1912 and 1917 respectively. Later, some other poetry books The Magic Tree, The Wizard Mask, and A Treasury of Poems were published.
On 2nd March 1949, Sarojini Naidu fell ill and her physician gave her a sleeping pill for a good nights sleep. She smiled and uttered the words “Not eternal sleep I hope”, but that night she died in her sleep.
Sarojini Naidu Facts
| Name | Sarojini Naidu |
| Born | February 13, 1879, Hyderabad |
| Maiden Name | Sarojini Chattopadhyay |
| Known As | The Nightingale of India, Bul Bule Hind |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Bengali Hindu |
| Father | Mr. Aghore Nath Chattopadhyay |
| Mother | Ms. Barada Sundari Debi |
| Siblings | Birendranath, Harindranath |
| Education | University of Madras, King’s College London, Girton College, Cambridge |
| Marriage | 1898 |
| Spouse | Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu Naidu |
| Children | Five childern named Jayasurya Naidu, Padmaja Naidu, Randheer Naidu, Aditya Nilawar Naidu and Leelamani Naidu. |
| Occupation | Activist, Political Leader, Poet |
| Independence movement | Sarojini Naidu joined the Indian national movement in the wake of partition of Bengal in 1905. |
| During 1915-1918, she travelled to different regions in India delivering lectures on social welfare, women’s empowerment and nationalism. | |
| Political Career | Become the president of the Indian National Congress in 1925. |
| Governor of the United Provinces from 1947 to 1949. | |
| Literacy Career | The Golden Threshold, The Bird of Time, The Broken Wings, Muhammad Ali Jinnah entitled as The Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity, The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India |
| Famous Poems | Damayante to Nala in the Hour of Exile, Ecstasy, Indian Dancers, The Indian, Indian Love-Song, Indian Weavers, In the Forest, Ramamuratham, Nightfall in the City of Hyderabad, Palanquin Bearers, Suttee, The Soul’s Prayer, Street Cries |
| Awards | Hind Kesari medal in 1928 |
| Achievements | First Indian woman appointed as president of Indian National Congress and first woman to be appointed Governor of any state in India. |
| Died | March 2, 1949, Lucknow by heart attack. |
| After Death | Her daughter Padmaja published a collection of poems entitled The Feather of The Dawn in 1961. |