Padmaja Naidu

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Overview

Padmaja Naidu born Hyderabad, India November 17, 1900 (d. 1975). Gandhian independence leader; daughter of Indian National Congress President Sarojini Naidu; arrested for civil disobedience, 1942; Governor of West Bengal, 1956. (photo Female Indian Freedom Fighters)

Quotations

On Hyderabad takeover: “The time has come for forgiveness for all those who sinned so grievously both before and after the police action. Without that there is no chance of any enduring peace.” (to Nehru, per Nehru to Patel, Oct. 1, 1950 in Taylor Sherman, State Violence, 2010); photo Female Indian Freedom Fighters)

Sarojini Naidu

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Overview

Sarojini Naidu born Hyderabad, India February 13, 1879 (d. 1949). Nonviolent activist for Indian independence; patriot; politician; poet known as "The Nightingale of India." Second female president of Indian National Congress, 1925. Lectured on nonviolence in US, 1928; arrested for Gandhian actions, 1930, 1932, 1942, 1943; presided over Asian Relations Conference, New Delhi, 1947.

Quotations

"Men say the world is full of fear and hate,
And all life's ripening harvest-fields await
The restless sickle of relentless fate.

But I, sweet Soul, rejoice that I was born,
When from the climbing terraces of corn
I watch the golden orioles of Thy morn."
(Poem "In Salutation to Eternal Peace"; photo http://bit.ly/JTQdl4)

Taslima Nasrin

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Overview

Taslima Nasrin born Mymensingh, East Pakistan August 25, 1962. Bangladeshi doctor, poet, novelist, essayist; human rights activist. Exiled, 1994; expelled from India after seven months house arrest. Awarded UNESCO prize for nonviolence, 2004.

Quotations

"I have defended women and the minority community that is being oppressed. I cried loudly for equality and justice, justice for all people whatever their religion or gender." (taslimanazrin.com)

"The diversity of our world's many languages, cultures and ethnicities is not a pretext for conflict, but is a treasure that enriches us all." (May 15, 2005 speech to women of Deauville; photo Wikipedia)

Sushila Nayar

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Overview

Sushila Nayar born Kunjah, Punjab, India December 26, 1914 (d. 2001). Gandhi's physician; member of Gandhi's ashram; participated in nonviolent protests, jailed 1942-4; active in Gandhi's Noakhali campaign for religious harmony; participated in Bhave's Bhoodan movement; Indian Minister of Health, 1962.

Quotations

"This was Satyagraha. To try to touch the opponent's heart and convince him of the correctness of your own thinking, of your own step. It required a bond of love, absence of anger or ill-will towards the opponent. If the opponent would not give you even an opportunity to convince him, you tried to get it by touching his heart through self-suffering." (Reminiscences of Kasturba Gandhi; photo mkgandhi.org)

Kamala Nehru

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Overview

Kamala Kaul Nehru born Delhi, India August 1, 1899 (d. 1936). Indian nonviolent freedom fighter arrested for leading nonviolent protests. Wife of first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, sister-in-law of internationalist nonviolence leader Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, mother of Indira Gandhi, and grandmother of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Led women's picketing Allahabad 1921; twice jailed; member of Gandhi's ashram; British refused her offer to be arrested as member of Working Party of Indian National Congress which launched civil disobedience campaign, Delhi Aug. 26, 1930.

Quotations

"[T]he most effective way of gaining our freedom is through nonviolence. We will therefore prepare ourselves by withdrawing, so far as we can, all voluntary association from the British Government, and will prepare for civil disobedience. . . " (Jan. 28, 1930 independence pledge; photo Wikipedia)

Orzala Ashraf Nemat

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Overview

Orzala Ashraf Nemat born Kabul, Afghanistan May 24, 1977. Afghan human rights leader; founded Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of Afghanistan (HAWCA) 1999.

Quotations

“[A] true and long standing peace can only come to Afghanistan if the inner peace within the Afghan society is built. The inner peace within the Afghan society is required to be built by reconciliation; by addressing the crimes committed during war; by speaking and healing the wounds of war in the people’s minds. The people who lost their loved ones due to the acts of those who led the wars during all these decades. Silencing the past will only direct us to further darkness in the future.” (Copenhagen, Sept. 21, 2012; photo world fellows.yale.edu)

Binalakshmi Nepram

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Overview

Binalakshmi Nepram born Imphal, Manipur, India October 19, 1974. Awarded Sean MacBride Peace Prize for disarmament work, 2011; founded Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI), 2004; Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network (MWGSN), 2007.

Quotations

"You cannot shoot an unarmed person. This goes for both the State and non State actors. . . nonviolence will win at the end." (Sangai Express, June 30, 2010; photo India Today, April 20, 2009)