Sarojini Naidu, also known as the “Nightingale of India,” was a prominent political activist and poet. Sarojini Naidu played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule. She was an active participant in the Indian Nationalist Movement and was associated with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi.
Besides her involvement in politics, Sarojini Naidu was also an excellent poet. She wrote her poems in English, often following the style of lyric poetry seen in British Romanticism. What made her stand out was her ability to paint a vivid picture with words, using rich sensory images to describe India. People admired her as a poet, often calling her the “Indian Yeats,” likening her to the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats.
Naidu was born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad, India.
Her father, Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, was a Bengali Brahmin, holding a doctorate of Science from Edinburgh University. His role as the principal of Nizam College in Hyderabad showcased his dedication to education.
Sarojini’s mother, Barada Sundari Devi, was also inclined towards literature and wrote poetry in Bengali. She was the eldest of the eight siblings.
In 1891 at the age of twelve, Naidu achieved a significant milestone by passing her matriculation examination.
Remarkably, she had already begun her journey as a writer at the tender age of twelve. One of her early works, a play called “Maher Muneer,” written in Persian, caught the attention and admiration of the Nizam of the Kingdom of Hyderabad.
From 1895 to 1898 Naidu Studied in England, first at King’s College, London, and later at Girton College, Cambridge, she pursued her education with a scholarship from the Nizam of Hyderabad.
During her stay in England, engaging herself with artists from the Aesthetic and Decadent movements exposed her to diverse ideas and perspectives, influencing her own intellectual and artistic development.
In 1898, she married Govindaraju Naidu, a physician whom she had met during her time in England. The couple had five children, and their daughter Padmaja, as you mentioned, went on to play a significant role in the Quit India Movement.
In 1904, Naidu emerged as a captivating orator, passionately advocating for Indian independence and women’s rights, particularly emphasizing women’s education. Her speeches often followed the five-part rhetorical structures of Nyaya reasoning.
Nyaya is one of the six classical schools of Indian philosophy, specifically belonging to the school of logic. The term “Nyaya” is Sanskrit for “logic” or “rule,” and the Nyaya school focuses on the analysis of logic and reasoning. It is attributed to the ancient philosopher Gautama, also known as Akṣapāda. The Nyaya system is known for its systematic examination of various aspects of logic, epistemology (theory of knowledge), and metaphysics (nature of reality).
In 1905, her first book of poems, titled “The Golden Threshold,” was published in London. The book featured a sketch of Naidu as a teenager in a ruffled white dress, drawn by John Butler Yeats.
In 1906, she addressed both the Indian National Congress and the Indian Social Conference in Calcutta, showcasing her commitment to social and political causes.
In 1911 she was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal for her dedication to social work and for her efforts in flood relief. However, in protest against the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919, she later returned the medal.
In 1912, Sarojini Naidu released her second and most passionately nationalist book of poems, “The Bird of Time.” This collection was published in both London and New York and featured the well-known poem “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad.”
In 1914 marked a significant encounter for Naidu, as she met Mahatma Gandhi. This meeting led to close associations with prominent figures like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, and Sarala Devi Chaudhurani.
In 1917, along with Reddy, she played a key role in establishing the Women’s Indian Association. During the same year, Naidu, alongside her colleague Annie Besant, who served as the president of the Home Rule League and Women’s Indian Association, advocated for universal suffrage in front of the Joint Select Committee in London, United Kingdom.
Her last book of new poems published in her lifetime, “The Broken Wing,” emerged in 1917. This collection included notable works such as “The Gift of India” and “Awake!,” the latter being dedicated to M.A. Jinnah.
Additionally, Sarojini Naidu supported the Lucknow Pact, a joint Hindu–Muslim demand for British political reform, at the Madras Special Provincial Council.
After 1917, she joined Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha movement, embracing nonviolent resistance against British rule. Sarojini Naidu’s life was marked by a dynamic blend of literary contributions, political activism, and social advocacy.
In January 1918, Sarojini Naidu’s impactful speeches were compiled and published for the first time in a collection titled “The Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu.” The popularity of this publication led to expanded reprints in 1919 and again in 1925.
In 1919, Naidu traveled to London as a part of the All India Home Rule League, continuing her tireless efforts to advocate for freedom from British rule.
In 1920, she actively participated in the non-cooperation movement in India, demonstrating her commitment to the cause of independence.
In 1924, Naidu represented the Indian National Congress at the East African Indian National Congress.
The year 1925 marked a historic moment when she became the first Indian female president of the Indian National Congress.
In 1927, Naidu played a pivotal role as a founding member of the All India Women’s Conference, contributing to the advancement of women’s rights and social issues.
Taking her advocacy worldwide, in 1928, she traveled to the United States to promote the principles of nonviolent resistance. The same year, a collection of all her published poems was printed in New York, showcasing the breadth of her poetic contributions.
Naidu’s influence extended beyond India, as she presided over the East African and Indian Congress’ 1929 session in South Africa.
In 1930, Sarojini Naidu, alongside fellow female activists like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Khurshed Naoroji, actively participated in the march led by Mahatma Gandhi. When Gandhi was arrested on April 6, 1930, he appointed Naidu as the new leader of the campaign.
In 1931, Naidu and other Congress Party leaders took part in the Second Round Table Conference, which was chaired by Viceroy Lord Irwin, following the Gandhi-Irwin pact.
In 1932, Naidu faced imprisonment by the British authorities. Additionally, during the Quit India Movement in 1942, she was once again jailed for her active involvement. This time, she endured imprisonment for 21 months.
After India gained independence from British rule in 1947, Sarojini Naidu achieved another historic milestone. She was appointed as the governor of the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh), becoming India’s first woman governor. She held this position until her passing in March 1949 at the age of 70.
In 1961, posthumously, Naidu’s unpublished poems were compiled in a collection titled “The Feather of the Dawn,” edited by her daughter Padmaja Naidu.
Sarojini Naidu’s life and contributions stand as a testament to her unwavering dedication to India’s struggle for freedom and her subsequent role in the nation’s governance.
Sarojini Naidu’s legacy continues to be celebrated and recognized in various ways:
- Her birthday, February 13, is observed as Women’s Day in India, honoring the powerful voices of women in the country’s history.
- In 1919, Edmund Gosse acclaimed her as “the most accomplished living poet in India.”
- Composer Helen Searles Westbrook set Naidu’s text to music in her song “Invincible.”
- Asteroid 5647 Sarojininaidu, discovered in 1990, was named in her memory.
- In 1966, the first biography of Naidu, titled “Sarojini Naidu: a Biography” by Padmini Sengupta, was published.
- In 1975, the Government of India Films Division produced a documentary about Naidu’s life titled “Sarojini Naidu – The Nightingale of India,” directed by Bhagwan Das Garga.
- In 2014, a biography for children titled “Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale and The Freedom Fighter” was published by Hachette.
- In 2020, a biopic was announced titled “Sarojini,” directed by Akash Nayak and Dhiraj Mishra, with Dipika Chikhlia portraying Naidu.
Sarojini Naidu’s contributions to literature, politics, and the freedom movement have left an indelible mark on India’s history, and these commemorations reflect the enduring impact of her life and work.