Poornima Arvind Pakvasa

Poornima Arvind Pakvasa

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Category: Social Work

Poornima Arvind Pakvasa Profile

  • Name:
  • Poornima Arvind Pakvasa
  • Born:
  • October 5, 1913
  • Died:
  • April 25, 2016
  • Spouse:
  • Arvind Pakvasa

Poornima Arvind Pakvasa Biography

Poornima Arvind Pakvasa was an eminent social worker and educationalist who lived in Gujarat. She was fondly called Didi of Dangs. She was a greatest contributor in the field of tribal girls’ education. For her contributions to Indian freedom struggle movement and social service, she was honoured with Padma Bhushan by government of India in 2004. She passed away on April 25, 2016 at the age of 102. She was a participant of Dhandi March and was kept in jail aside Kasturba Gandhi. Famous classical dancer and recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, Sonal Mansingh is her daughter. Sonal was earlier married to famous diplomat, Lalit Mansingh – son of social worker, Mayadhar Mansingh.

 

She was born in Gujarat on 5 October 1913. She went to a military college in Amreli and learnt flying aircraft flying in Nagpur. At the age of 18, she joined freedom struggle movement. She worked as worked as a volunteer with Subhash Chandra Bose in Rajkot. While she was arrested and jailed for her participation in Dandi march, Kasturba Gandhi was her inmate. While at jail, she taught Kasturba how to read and write English. She was blessed by Mahatma Gandhi who asked her to do social service in the field of education. Since then she has stood as a great pillar of women empowerment.

 

In 1956 she started "Shaktidal" – an educational institution for women, and she focused to give education to women of weaker sectors of the society. In 1969 Shaktidal was transformed into a full-fledged residential school and college and also renamed it as Ritambhara Vishva Vidyapeeth. The institute is situated at Saputara. So far more than 7,000 tribal girls of the Dangs and Surat districts have been educated in this institution. Apart from giving education, she also supported physical training to women to make them strong.

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Updated: July 09, 2016

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