India’s first health minister named in TIME’S list
NEW DELHI: India’s first health minister and torchbearer of women’s rights, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, has been accorded a revered place in TIME’S magazine’s list of the 100 most influential women “who were often overshadowed.” The magazine named Kaur, the woman of the year 1947 for “championing an independent India” and helping the country break free from its colonial ties and oppressive societal norms.
Born in 1880 in Punjab’s royal family, the princess completed her education from Oxford and after coming to India, became fascinated by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1930, she left the life of luxury and assisted Gandhi as a secretary.
After the country released itself from the clutches of British rule in 1947, she became the first woman in the independent India to hold a cabinet post of a health minister.
As a minister, she laid the foundation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), founded the Indian Council for Child Welfare and extensively campaigned to prevent malaria in the country.
Among other social works done by her, she also tackled issues like Devdasi and purdah system, pushed for women’s education, their right to vote and divorce.
According to the TIME’S, she not only helped “build lasting democratic institutions, but also inspired generations to fight for the marginalised.” Kaur breathed her last at the age of 75 in 1964 and was cremated as per the Sikh rituals even though she was a practicing Catholicism.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Nari Shakti awardees on Sunday at his official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi.
He will listen to the stories of the women achievers. Official sources say it will be a two-way communication.
In another event at Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Ram Nath Kovind will give away the Nari Shakti Awards on Sunday morning.
As promised by Modi, his Twitter account will be handled by the women achievers all through Sunday, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.