Short Biography of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit | Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Biography

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Biography

Born :Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was born in Allahabad, on August 18, 1900.

Parents: Vijaya Lakshmi’s father was Motilal Nehru who belonged to the Kashmiri Pandit community. Her mother, Swaruprani Thussu was the second wife of her father.

Early Life: Even at a very young age, he took interest in politics. She attended her first political meeting when she was just 16. She also volunteered in Annie Besant`s Home Rule League.

Education: She received private home education in India and abroad by governesses and tutors.

Marriage: In 1921 she was married to Ranjit Sitaram pandit a Maharashtrian barrister. They had three daughters.

Career: Her political career began in 1934 with the election of the Allahabad Municipal Board. 1936: elected to the Assembly of the United Provinces.

Contributions/ Major Achievements:

In 1939 when the British government declared that India was to participate in World War II, she resigned from the congress office as a protest.
She got imprisoned as a participant in “Quit India movement”.
She was the member of the constituent assembly that drafted the Indian constitution.
She was jailed for presiding over a public meeting where the pledge of Independence was taken.
From 1962 to 1964, she was the Governor of Maharashtra.

Awards and Recognitions:

She was first to become an ambassador of India to the Soviet Union.
She was the first female President of the UN general assembly.
She received more than 8 honorary degrees from universities all over the world as well as Indian ones.

Conclusion: She was a politician and a diplomat. She was very active in the Indian freedom movement and always held high national as well as international portfolios throughout.