CAPTAIN LAKSHMI SAHGAL

 

From Sampath’s Desk:

 


CAPTAIN LAKSHMI SAHGAL

(24 October 1914-23 July 2012)

 

A great saga of immense inspiration for women of the world in general and India in particular came to an end with the passing away of Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (born Lakshmi Swaminathan) at the ripe age of 97 on 23.7.2012. She was born on 24.10.1914 in Pattambi, Malabar District of British India (present day Kerala). Her Alma mater was Queen Mary’s College and Madras Medical College – both in present day Chennai. After receiving her MBBS degree from the Madras Medical College in 1938 and getting her diploma in Gynecology and Obstetrics, she worked as a doctor in the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, Triplicane, Chennai for some time. In 1940, she went to Singapore and met members of the Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (The Azad Hind Fauj). Impressed and inspired as she was by Subash Chandra Bose, she joined the INA and functioned as the Commander of the All-Women Rani Jhansi Regiment which she raised.

 

She was a Doctor, Army Captain, Commander of the Rani Jhansi Regiment, parliamentarian, champion of women’s cause, saviour of the down-trodden, social activist, and most strikingly an undaunted woman warrior with unflagging enthusiasm encouraged by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose – all rolled into a versatile personality that she was.

 

She fought for freedom of India as part of the INA. Post-independence she championed the cause of emancipation of women and their betterment, besides working for nation-building. She held dear to her heart social activities for the welfare of people belonging to lower strata of the society till she breathed her last. She was an epitome of courage, conviction, commitment, fortitude, grit, gumption, determination and dedicated service to humanity and more importantly, a source of great inspiration to Indian women. She strove for liberation – political (from colonial rule), economic and social - of people in general, and women and the have-nots in particular. She has left behind a rich legacy of qualities like valiance, daring and intrepidness for women to come out of their so-called protected cocoons, break the manacles and shackles of all hues in the name of tradition, custom and age-old practices, and join the mainstream life. She shunned what was conveniently branded as male domains. She is a role-model for our present-day women generations who have joined all the three wings of our Defence establishment viz. Army, Navy and Air Force. Today our women make foray and inroads into all fields excelling in all facets of human life even in hitherto considered as male fortress or citadel. All that is happening now – slowly but steadily.

 

We salute Captain Lakshmi Sahghal and her bravery that is sure to inspire upcoming women generations of India and make them increasingly prove their mettle in all fields.

 

         

R.SAMPATH

 

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