Vidyaben Shah

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Vidyaben Shah
Born(1922-11-07)7 November 1922[1]
Jetpur, Kathiawar, India
Died19 June 2020(2020-06-19) (aged 97)
Delhi, India
Occupation(s)Economist, social activist
SpouseManubhai Shah[2]
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Vidyaben Shah (7 November 1922 – 19 June 2020) was an Indian social worker and activist known for her work with children, women and the elderly in India. While she was already serving as Vice-President, she was appointed the first non-officio President of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)[3] by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. She has held several leading positions in the field of social welfare since the 1940s.[4] Vidyaben Shah died at the age of 97 on 19 June 2020 at her residence in Delhi, her son Mihir Shah confirmed the news of Vidyaben Shah death.[5]

Early years and background

Vidyaben was born in the town of

1992
.

In 1940 at a social function she met her would be husband

charkha (spinning wheel) while in prison during the Freedom Movement. Manubhai died in 2000.[6]
They have one daughter, three sons, three granddaughters and one grandson.

Career

Child welfare

A pioneer in the field of

vagrant
children. Vidyaben became President of Bal Sahyog in 1966 and remained its President for the next ten years. During this time with the help of her husband she started many innovative workshops for the children providing them with skills to make furniture and other handmade items. Having run a boat club at the Rajkot Bal Bhavan, she brought over a boat from Bal Bhavan in Rajkot all the way to the Bal Sahyog in Delhi and with it she started the first ever boat ride at Delhi's India Gate which now entertains thousands of people every week from all over Delhi and beyond.

Vidyaben was President of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW)

Advisory Board
for five years.

Women's welfare

Her involvement with women's issues dates back to her college days, where she set up the first

district in the country. In 1995, as a member of the official Indian delegation, she attended the Fourth World Conference on Women held at Beijing, China. She also represented India at the 42nd Meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
held in New York in 1998.

Intercultural activities

She was President and active Trustee of Delhi Gujarati Samaj

Higher Secondary School in Delhi, where over 1000 students pay very nominal fees. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of the school. One of the most popular initiatives of the Samaj under Vidyaben's leadership was the development of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhavan[18] (a hospitable guest house for economically weaker sections and students coming from outside Delhi). Vidyaben also pioneered the setting up of the Mahatma Gandhi Sanskrutik Kendra[19]
in the 1970s for facilitating cultural exchange between the people of Delhi. From the experience of the Delhi Gujarati Samaj, with support from eminent Gujaratis across India, in 1968 Vidyaben set up the Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj of which she was the founder President. Drawing guidance from the Akhil Bharat movement, many cities in India now have Gujarati Samaj spreading the traditions and culture of Gujarat and encouraging Gujaratis to mix with other peoples and creating an ethos of unity in diversity. Vidyaben continued to guide and support them.

Institutional builder in education

Vidyaben played a leading role in the establishment of one of Delhi's most renowned schools, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.[20] For many years, she was President of the Gujarat Education Society which runs the school. For several years, she was also a member of the Managing Committees of Modern School Barakhamba Road[21] and Vasant Vihar,[22] and of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.[23] She has been singly instrumental in establishing Sardar Patel Vidyaniketan, a school in the rural village of Mandi near Delhi. The school is run by Gujarat Education Society and caters to the economically weaker sections of society and especially encourages education of girls. Against all odds, over many years Vidyaben continued her efforts with all the relevant authorities to finally get official recognition of the school.

Institution builder in fine arts and culture

Vidyaben played the most pioneering role in the establishment of the Triveni Kala Sangam,[24] a premier institution for imparting training in dance, music and painting. She did a significant proportion of the fund raising for the construction of this renowned institution and has been the President of Triveni Kala Sangam for over five decades, while the institution has been very ably run by its distinguished and creative Founder Director Sundari Krishnalal Shridharani.[25]

Civic administration

As Vice-President and President of the

mentally challenged among others. She was responsible for initiating the concept of Navyug Schools that has proved a landmark in the educational field for gifted children from the economically weaker sections of the society. She also worked to improve the civic amenities and essential services of a rapidly growing metropolitan area of Delhi, to beautify it and make life comfortable for the citizens of Delhi. At the same time, she took up modernisation initiatives such as establishing a new office complex for the NDMC, housing blocks for its employees, and many commercial and shopping complexes
.

Social activism

Vidyaben used her fundraising skills in providing relief in many national calamities, such as

Godhra riots in Gujarat, disregarding her advancing years, at the request of Sonia Gandhi, she went from district to district, to spread the message of peace and communal harmony in Gujarat
.

Various other sectors

Vidyaben continued to be a

Cardiac Disorders
by the Indian Council for Medical Research.

Since the 1990s, she continued to be an active President of the Senior Citizens Service Forum

Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment to examine the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill 2007".[31] She was also Chairperson of the Bhagidari Scheme[32]
of Delhi Government and a Sahayogi of an Electricity Board in Delhi. She was President Emeritus of the All India Kitchen Garden Association which encourages the growing of vegetables and flowers using organic methods and following of healthy lifestyle and eating habits across Delhi and other states.

Awards

  • 1976 Best
    Social Worker Award of the Federation of Organisations Working for Children in India[33]
  • 1986 The National Award of the Government of India for outstanding services in the field of Child Welfare[34]
  • 1987 Bal Mitra Award[35] by Nehru Bal Samiti[36] for distinguished work in educational and social projects towards welfare of children
  • 1988 Bal Sahyog Award from the United Children's Movement in recognition of outstanding services in the welfare of children in India
  • 1989 Nehru Fellow Award for outstanding achievements in field of child welfare activities
  • 1990 Silver Elephant Award, the highest national award of the Scouts and Guides Movement[37] awarded by the President of India
  • 1992 Padma Shri awarded by Government of India; award presented by Shri R Venkataraman, President of India[38]
  • 1994 N V Gadgil Award for distinguished social service
  • 1998 Samaj Sewa Shiromani Award from the
    Family Planning Association of India,[39]
    New Delhi, for distinguished services in family planning
  • 1999 Radha Raman Award for outstanding contribution to Delhi and its people in the field of Child Welfare and Social Work
  • 2000 Vishwa Gurjari Award[40] for significant contribution in the field of women's development, educational enhancement and welfare
  • 2000 Woman of the Century Award ("Shatabdi Mahila" Award) for Social Work spanning the entire lifetime
  • 2001 The Millennium Award from the All India Kitchen Garden Association for contributing to a green and clean environment
  • 2001 Honoured by the Swatantrata Andolan Yadgar Samiti[41] for valuable contribution to the freedom struggle
  • 2002 Plaque of Honour of Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW)[42] for "50 Golden Years of Service to the Children of India" presented by Sonia Gandhi
  • 2005 Delhi Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Evam Chitra Kala Sangam Award on the International Women's Day
  • 2006 Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award[43] for excellence in the field of social service
  • 2007 Freedom Fighter Award by Government of India at August Kranti Maidan, commemorating 65 years of Quit India Movement
  • 2007 Salutation (Samman Patra) as Freedom Fighter on the 150th Anniversary of the First War of Indian Independence by the Government of Delhi
  • 2007 Distinguished Senior Citizen Award of Shree Delhi Gujarati Samaj[44] presented by the Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit
  • 2008 Freedom Fighter Award by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan
  • 2009 National Priyadarshini Samman[45] as an "Epitome of Empowerment" given by Guild for Service[46] to celebrate International Women's Week, presented by Women and Child Minister
  • 2011 Honoured by Age-Care India for "dedication, contribution and welfare for the elders" to celebrate Elder's Day
  • 2011 National Priyadarshini Award for "Lifetime Achievements and Contributions", presented by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Government of India
  • 2013 Vishishtha Vyakti Gujarat Gaurav Award given by Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj, Ranchi, Jharkhand
  • 2013 B R Ambedkar Award for Social Work, Delhi

References and external links

  1. ISBN 8178351749
    .
  2. ^ a b "India-CIS Chamber of Commerce and Industry website". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b NDMC website
  4. ^ Among the dignitaries present at the symposium was 86-year-old Vidhya Ben Shah who has worked for women and child rights for 65 years.
  5. ^ "Vidyaben Shah Indian social worker and activist passes away at age 98". EMEA Tribune. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. ^ A long obituary for Manubhai Shah in Indian Parliament on 19 February 2001
  7. ^ The First Bal Bhavan in India at Rajkot
  8. ^ At the Inauguration of the New Bal Bhavan in Rajkot on 27 March 2009, Former President of India Dr Abdul Kalam speaks about the role of Vidyaben Shah
  9. ^ The Present National Bal Bhavan in New Delhi
  10. ^ Bal Sahyog website
  11. ^ ICCW website
  12. ^ a b UN Observances website
  13. ^ UN General Assembly 31st Session Proclamations
  14. ^
    UN International Years on wiki
  15. ^ Colombo Declaration 1991
  16. ^ CSWB website and Mission Statement
  17. ^ Delhi Gujarati Samaj website
  18. ^ Delhi Gujarati Samaj Guest House webpage
  19. ^ Delhi Gujarati Samaj auditorium for cultural activities
  20. ^ Sardar Patel Vidyalaya website
  21. ^ Modern School Barakhamba Road website
  22. ^ Modern School Vasant Vihar website
  23. ^ Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan website
  24. ^ Cultural Events at Triveni Kala Sangam
  25. ^ Delhi's Cultural Oasis
  26. ^ UN General Assembly 34th Session Decisions
  27. ^ Fortis Escorts Heart Institute website
  28. ^ Vidyaben Shah, President of Senior Citizens Service Forum is key speaker at an AgeWell Foundation Symposium in 2009
  29. ^ National Council for Older person website
  30. ^ Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment website
  31. ^ 14th Lok Sabha Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment 2007–2008
  32. ^ Bhagidari Scheme of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
  33. ^ Directory of Voluntary Organisations provides reference to the Federation of Organisations
  34. ^ National Award for outstanding performance in the field of child welfare
  35. ^ Bal Mitra Awards webpage
  36. ^ Nehru Bal Samiti website
  37. ^ The Bharat Scouts and Guides website provides reference to the Silver Elephant Award
  38. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  39. ^ Family Planning Association of India website
  40. ^ click to see reference to another recipient of the Vishwa Gurjari Award
  41. ^ click to see the Institute for Socialist Education website which sponsors the Swatantrata Andolan Yadgar Samiti
  42. ^ ICCW website
  43. ^ A website provides reference to a list of Kalpana Chawla Excellence Awards for 2006
  44. ^ Shree Delhi Gujarati Samaj website
  45. ^ click here for reference to National Priyadarshini Samman
  46. ^ Guild for Service website
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