Vidyaben Shah (Aged 98), who was born on 7 November 1922, was an Indian social worker and activist known for her work with children, women, and the elderly in India. While serving as Vice-President, she was appointed as the first non-officio President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
As a university student at a young age, she participated in the Quit India Movement under the guidance of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Even as a high school student, she was influenced by Gandhi and had inspired her fellow students with the message of nonviolence. Since 1942, she has been one of India’s leading activists in the field of child welfare and women’s rights. She has been associated with numerous organizations working for child welfare, education, women and family welfare, civic administration, fine arts and culture, welfare of the disabled, senior citizens, and many other social and relief work activities. She has also received numerous awards for her distinguished work, including the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992.
In 1945, in a simple ceremony, Manubhai married Vidyaben after their marriage was delayed by five years due to their active involvement in the Indian Freedom Movement, and Manubhai’s imprisonment by the British Colonial Authority. The bride and groom wore plain cotton khadi clothes during the wedding.
Vidyaben used her fundraising skills to provide relief during many national calamities, such as the Bihar floods and Andhra Pradesh cyclone of the 1970s and Gujarat floods of the early 1980s. She also led peace marches from area to area at the outbreak of arson and riots in Delhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. After the Godhra riots in Gujarat, disregarding her advancing years, at the request of Sonia Gandhi, she traveled from district to district to spread the message of peace and communal harmony in Gujarat. She passed away on 19 June 2020.
Vidyaben Shah
(1922 – 2020) – (Gujarart)
Vidyaben Shah (Aged 98), who was born on 7 November 1922, was an Indian social worker and activist known for her work with children, women, and the elderly in India. While serving as Vice-President, she was appointed as the first non-officio President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
As a university student at a young age, she participated in the Quit India Movement under the guidance of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Even as a high school student, she was influenced by Gandhi and had inspired her fellow students with the message of nonviolence. Since 1942, she has been one of India’s leading activists in the field of child welfare and women’s rights. She has been associated with numerous organizations working for child welfare, education, women and family welfare, civic administration, fine arts and culture, welfare of the disabled, senior citizens, and many other social and relief work activities. She has also received numerous awards for her distinguished work, including the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992.
In 1945, in a simple ceremony, Manubhai married Vidyaben after their marriage was delayed by five years due to their active involvement in the Indian Freedom Movement, and Manubhai’s imprisonment by the British Colonial Authority. The bride and groom wore plain cotton khadi clothes during the wedding.
Vidyaben used her fundraising skills to provide relief during many national calamities, such as the Bihar floods and Andhra Pradesh cyclone of the 1970s and Gujarat floods of the early 1980s. She also led peace marches from area to area at the outbreak of arson and riots in Delhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. After the Godhra riots in Gujarat, disregarding her advancing years, at the request of Sonia Gandhi, she traveled from district to district to spread the message of peace and communal harmony in Gujarat. She passed away on 19 June 2020.
News