Poets

Sarojini Naidu was an Indian political activist and poet. She became an important figure in India and and in the entire world as a woman activist. Sarojini Naidu was born in Hyderabad State on 13 February 1879. In 1898, she married Govindaraju Naidu, a physician. They had five children.

In 1904, Naidu started to become famous, defending Indian independence and women’s rights. From this point on, she arranged protests, met important people like Mahatma Gandhi, and became the second woman President of the Indian National Congress and first Indian woman to preside over the INC conference.

After 1917, she joined Gandhi's Satyagraha movement which was a nonviolent movement opposing the British rule over India. When Gandhi was arrested in 1930, he put Naidu as the leader of the movement. After this time she was jailed twice by the British. First in 1932, and second in 1942 for participating in the Quit India Movement.

Eventually, when India was freed from the British rule and became independent in 1947, Naidu was appointed the governor of the United Provinces, which made her India’s first woman governor. She remained in office until her death in March 1949 at the age of 70.

Legacy

Sarojini Naidu was one of the most influential Indian women of all time. Her birthday, 13 February, to this day is celebrated as Women’s Day. As a poet she is known as “Nightingale of India ''. Edmund Gosse called her "the most accomplished living poet in India" in 1919.

Early Life ..