Indumati Chimanlal Sheth

Indumati Chimanlal Sheth was an Indian independence activist, politician, social worker and educationist from Gujarat. Born in Ahmedabad and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, she participated in the independence movement and later served as a deputy education minister of the Bombay State and education minister of Gujarat. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1970 for her social work.

Indumati Chimanlal Sheth
Born1906 (1906)
Ahmedabad, British India (now in Gujarat, India)
Died1985 (aged 78–79)
OccupationSocial worker, independence activist, politician, educationist
Parents
  • Chimanlal Nagindas Sheth (father)
  • Manekba (mother)
AwardsPadma Shri (1970)

Biography

Indumati was born in Ahmedabad in 1906 to Manekba and Chimanlal Nagindas Sheth. Her father died in 1908 and had willed his fortune to be used for education which resulted in the establishment of a hostel and a school by her mother. Ambalal Sarabhai was a cousin of her father. She completed her primary education from the Government School in Ahmedabad. She matriculated in 1921 with a Chatfield prize awarded to the girl who stood first in the Bombay Presidency. She graduated from Gujarat Vidyapith in 1926 where she was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi.[1]

She briefly worked as an honorary lecturer at Gujarat Vidyapith. She joined and taught at Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya formed from the institutes founded by her mother.[1][2] She participated in the non-cooperation movement in the 1920s and the Quit India movement in 1942 for which she was imprisoned by the British authorities.[1][3] She had appealed and worked for peace during the riots in Ahmedabad in 1942.[1][4]

She established the Sammunnati Trust and Mahila Mudranalaya for uplifting women through education and employment.[1] She was also a member of Jyotisangh, a foundation for the women empowerment in Ahmedabad.[4] She promoted swadeshi (local produce) and established Khadi Mandir in Ahmedabad for promotion of khadi clothes.[1][5][6] She had served on the committee for the feasibility study of the university in Gujarat.[7]

She was associated with the Indian National Congress. She was elected as a member of Ahmedabad Municipal School Board in 1937.[8] In 1946, she was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly unopposed. After independence, she served as the deputy education minister of the Bombay State from 1952 to 1960.[1][9] In 1961, she established Vyayam Vidyabhavan for training physical instructors and the first fine arts college of newly founded Gujarat state.[8] She also elected from Ellis Bridge constituency and served as the Minister of Education, Social Welfare, Prohibition and Excise and Rehabilitation of Gujarat state from 1962 to 1967.[1][10][2][8] She was appointed as a member of University Grants Commission in 1969.[8]

She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1970 by the Government of India for her social work.[1][11] She died in 1985.[1]

Gujarati writer Snehrashmi had written her biography in Gujarati, Sanskarmoorti Induben (1987).[1]

References
  1. Jani, Suresh B. (19 February 2007). "ઇન્દુમતીબેન શેઠ" [Indumatiben Sheth]. ગુજરાતી પ્રતિભા પરિચય (in Gujarati). Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  2. "Founders". C N Vidyavihar. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  3. International Journal of Afro-Asian Studies: Vol.4, No.1. Universal-Publishers. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-61233-709-8.
  4. Achyut Yagnik (2 February 2011). Ahmedabad: From Royal city to Megacity. Penguin Books Limited. p. 262. ISBN 978-81-8475-473-5.
  5. Gandhi and the Mass Movements. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. p. 140. GGKEY:FUFBH8BBLN9.
  6. "Amdavadi khadi brand MORALFIBRE chosen for Hollywood film costumes". Desh Gujarat. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  7. M.V.Kamath (4 September 2016). GANESH VASUDEO MAVALANKAR. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. p. 141. ISBN 978-81-230-2323-6.
  8. "વિદ્યાવિહાર વિશે" [About Us - C N Vidyavihar]. C N Vidyavihar (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  9. The Times of India Directory & Yearbook, Including Who's who. Times of India Press. 1955. p. 316.
  10. India: A Reference Annual. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1962. pp. 410–411.
  11. "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
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