Sharda Mehta (Aged 88) born on June 26, 1882, was an Indian social worker, a proponent of women’s education, and a Gujarati writer. She was among the first two women graduates in the modern-day Gujarat state of India, born to a family of social reformers. Mehta established institutes for women’s education and welfare, wrote several essays, an autobiography, and translated some works. She was a maternal great-granddaughter of Bholanath Divetia, a social reformer, and poet.
In 1901, Mehta received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Logic and Moral Philosophy from Gujarat College. She and her elder sister Vidyagauri Nilkanth were the first two women graduates in Gujarat. In 1898, she married Sumant Mehta, a medical student who later served as a personal doctor of the Gaekwads of Baroda State and as a social worker.
Mehta worked for social reforms and supported education, women’s empowerment, opposition of caste restrictions, eradication of untouchability, and Indian independence. She was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and began promoting swadeshi (domestic) goods and khadi clothes in 1906. In 1917, she organized a protest against indentured servitude (Girmitiya) and helped Indulal Yagnik in editing Navjivan in 1919. Mehta was associated with several educational and women’s welfare institutes in Ahmedabad, Baroda, and Bombay during these years, as well as being a member of Baroda Praja Mandal.
Mehta studied and was deeply influenced by Hindu texts, Sanskrit literature, and the works of Aurobindo, Sukhlal Sanghvi, and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. She was an essayist, biographer, and translator, and wrote essays on social issues in dailies and magazines. She passed away by 13 November 1970
Sharda Mehta
(1882 – 1970) – (Gujarart)
Sharda Mehta (Aged 88) born on June 26, 1882, was an Indian social worker, a proponent of women’s education, and a Gujarati writer. She was among the first two women graduates in the modern-day Gujarat state of India, born to a family of social reformers. Mehta established institutes for women’s education and welfare, wrote several essays, an autobiography, and translated some works. She was a maternal great-granddaughter of Bholanath Divetia, a social reformer, and poet.
In 1901, Mehta received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Logic and Moral Philosophy from Gujarat College. She and her elder sister Vidyagauri Nilkanth were the first two women graduates in Gujarat. In 1898, she married Sumant Mehta, a medical student who later served as a personal doctor of the Gaekwads of Baroda State and as a social worker.
Mehta worked for social reforms and supported education, women’s empowerment, opposition of caste restrictions, eradication of untouchability, and Indian independence. She was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and began promoting swadeshi (domestic) goods and khadi clothes in 1906. In 1917, she organized a protest against indentured servitude (Girmitiya) and helped Indulal Yagnik in editing Navjivan in 1919. Mehta was associated with several educational and women’s welfare institutes in Ahmedabad, Baroda, and Bombay during these years, as well as being a member of Baroda Praja Mandal.
Mehta studied and was deeply influenced by Hindu texts, Sanskrit literature, and the works of Aurobindo, Sukhlal Sanghvi, and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. She was an essayist, biographer, and translator, and wrote essays on social issues in dailies and magazines. She passed away by 13 November 1970
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