Nirmala Deshpande
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Nirmala Deshpande (17 October 1929 – 1 May 2008) (
She was awarded
Early life and family
Deshpande was born to Vimala (विमला) and the Marathi writer Purushottam Yashwant Deshpande (पुरुषोत्तम यशवंत देशपांडे) in Nagpur on 19 October 1929. Her father was the recipient of a Sahitya Akademi Award in 1962 for his work in Marathi Anamikachi Chintanika (अनामिकाची चिंतनिका).
She did MA in political science from Nagpur, India, She also studied
Social activities
Deshpande joined Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan movement in 1952. She undertook a 40,000-km journey on foot --padayatra—across India to carry Gandhi's message of Grām Swarāj. She recognized that it was difficult to practice Gandhian principles, yet believed that doing so was the only way towards a truly democratic society.[6]
Deshpande was known to be the spirit behind peace marches in
She served as the president of a historical organization i.e. Harijan Sevak Sangh from June 1983 to till her death. She was involved or associated with many other social organizations and bodies. And also, she founded Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj that won the National Communal Harmony Award in 2004.[8]
In 2006, Deshpande championed clemency for Afzal Guru, who had been convicted of a terrorist attack on Indian Parliament in 2001. (The attack had resulted in the death of 13 people.)
Deshpande visited many cities in the
She continually worked for harmony between India and Pakistan. Even her mortal remains were immersed in Indus river of Sindh province in Pakistan.[4]
Authorship
Deshpande authored several novels in Hindi, "Seemant", on the theme of women's liberation, and "Chimlig", based on Chinese cultural ethos, (one of which got a national award), some plays, and travelogues. She also wrote a commentary on Isha Upanishad and a biography of Vinoba Bhave.
She also founded the magazine Nityanutan and started its publishing in 1985. This magazine was dedicated to world peace and nonviolence and was one of the most effective magazines carrying thoughts of nonviolence and peace. After her death, the magazine is being published every month through crowdfunding by one of her close associates Ram Mohan Rai, a social activist from Panipat (Haryana).[9]
Honors
Deshpande was a nominated member of Indian
Deshpande received the
Nirmala Deshpande ji also received first
She was conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's third highest civilian honors, on 13 August 2009; the eve of Pakistan's Independence Day.[12]
On her name, a small museum[9][13] was established in Panipat (Haryana) with efforts of Ram Mohan Rai. This museum is like an honor and tribute and includes her belongings.
References
- ^ "Veteran Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande is no more". Indian Express. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- DNA. 1 May 2008.
- ^ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
- ^ a b "Next Nirmala Deshpande award ceremony to be held in Pakistan - Times of India".
- ^ a b "Veteran Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande dead". CNN-IBN. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
- ^ "The never-say-die crusader". The Tribune. 2 January 2005.
- ^ "DAWN - Opinion; May 03, 2008". 3 May 2008.
- ^ "Awards - NFCH". nfch.nic.in.
- ^ a b "In memory of Nirmala Deshpande - Daily Times". 6 May 2014.
- ^ "Rajya Sabha members". Rajya Sabha secretariat, New delhi. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "A votary of peace and harmony". The Hindu. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008.
- ^ "- News - Samay Live". www.samaylive.com.
- ^ "Muniratnam dedicates his Padma to RASS workers".Archived 2018-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- www.snsmt.org
- www.bdgf.in
- "Nirmala Deshpande's ashes reach Karachi for immersion in the Indus". thecheers.org. 7 May 2008.