Who Was the First Indian Woman President of Indian National Congress?

Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to lead the Congress in the 1925 Kanpur session of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become a governor in independent India. Beyond these titles, her true legacy lies in her ability to blend the sensitivity of a poet known as the ‘’Nightingale of India’’. She broke the glass ceiling of Indian politics at a time when women's voices were rarely heard in the public square, ensuring that the foundation of the Indian Republic was built on the principles of gender equality and courage.

Sarojini Naidu: President of the 1925 Kanpur Session of Indian National Congress (INC) 

A poet, women’s rights activist and freedom fighter, Sarojini Naidu is recognised and remembered for her multifaceted contribution to Indian society and the freedom movement. Sarojini Naidu took the stage as the President of the INC in 1925; it was a watershed moment in Indian history for women's participation in political participation. Following in the footsteps of Annie Besant (the first woman president of INC) and her mentor Mahatma Gandhi (1924 president), Naidu’s leadership signalled that the Congress was evolving into a truly representative body. During the presidential address at the Kanpur Session, she emphasised:

• National Unity: She worked tirelessly to bridge the growing gap between Hindu and Muslim communities.

• The Role of Women: She famously stated that the "honour of the nation" was in the hands of its women, encouraging them to step out of domestic seclusion and join the Satyagraha.

• Indigenous Industry: She reinforced the importance of Khadi and the boycott of foreign goods as a means of economic self-reliance.

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What are the Major Contribution of Sarojini Naidu? 

Sarojini Naidu was influenced by leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mahatma Gandhi, and  she became a central figure in the Indian independence movement. She was not a leader who governed from a distance. She was on the front lines of the most dangerous protests in Indian history.

1. The Dharasana Salt Satyagraha: Following Gandhi’s arrest during the Salt March in 1930, Naidu led 2,500 marchers in a non-violent raid on the Dharasana Salt Works. Despite brutal police crackdowns, her composure and courage garnered worldwide media attention for the Indian cause.

2. The Quit India Movement: She participated in Quit India Movement and imprisoned along with Gandhi Ji long in the Aga Khan Palace. 

3. The First Female Governor: After India independence, she became the first woman governor of the United Provinces or India. She famously referred to herself as a "bird in a gilded cage" in this administrative role and served with distinction until her death in 1949.

Early Life and Education of Sarojini Naidu: 

• Birth: She was born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad to a Bengali family. Her father, Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, was a scientist and the principal of Nizam College, while her mother, Barada Sundari Devi, was a poetess.

• Education: She studied initially at the University of Madras, where she topped the matriculation exams at just 12 years old. She later studied in England at King's College, London, and Girton College, Cambridge, on a scholarship from the Nizam of Hyderabad.

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Political Leadership and Contribution: 

• Sarojini Naidu joined the Indian National Movement in the wake of the 1905 partition of Bengal. Her interactions with stalwarts of the Indian Independence Movement like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi inspired her to actively work towards the cause of freedom and social development. 

• In between 1915 and 1918, she delivered lectures on social welfare, women's empowerment and nationalism in various parts of the country. 

• She helped to establish the Women's Indian Association in 1917. The same year, along with Annie Besant, she went to London to present the case for women’s franchise before the Joint Select Committee. 

• She went to London in 1919 as a part of the All India Home Rule League. 

• In 1920, she returned to join Gandhi ji at the Non-Cooperation Movement amidst the growing national movement.

• Sarojini Naidu was jailed in 1930, first for her participation in the Salt Satyagraha, where the protesters were subjected to the brutal repression by the British. In 1931

• She participated in the round-table conference with Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malaviya. She was later arrested again in 1932 and 1942, when she spent 21 months in jail.

• Sarojini Naidu was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress Party in 1925, the first ever woman to assume that position. 

• She believed in the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence and was instrumental in disseminating Gandhian principles to the rest of the world. 

• She was appointed the governor of Uttar Pradesh after India's independence in 1947, becoming India's first woman governor, and remained in that position till her death in 1949. She died on 2 March 1949 while working in her office in London.

Literary Career:

Sarojini Naidu Before entering politics, she gained international fame as a poet. Her work is celebrated for its lyrical beauty, imagery, and themes of nature, patriotism, and Indian culture. Her notable collections include:

• The Golden Threshold (1905)

• The Bird of Time (1912)

• The Broken Wing (1917)

Who is known as the Nightingale of India? 

Sarojini Naidu is known as the Nightingale of India (Bharat Kokila). The title of Bharat Kokila was given to her by Mahatma Gandhi because of the lyrical, musical quality of her poetry and her vivid descriptions of Indian life. Her work was celebrated for its rich imagery and emotional depth, much like the melodious song of a nightingale, and her most famous poetry collections include The Golden Threshold, The Bird of Time and The Broken Wing.

Sarojini Naidu’s transition into politics was driven by her conviction that the liberation of India was inseparable from the liberation of Indian women. She travelled extensively, advocating for women’s suffrage and education, which built the grassroots support that eventually led to her historic appointment. She was a fierce advocate for women's rights, education, and communal harmony. February 13 of every year is celebrated as National Women’s Day in India as a fitting tribute to the woman who proved that the pen and the protest are equally powerful tools for freedom.

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