Shobhana Ranade | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ranade in 2012 | |
| Born | (1924-10-26)26 October 1924 |
| Died | 4 August 2024(2024-08-04) (aged 99) |
| Occupation | Social worker |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan Jamnalal Bajaj Award CNN IBN Real Heroes 2012 Life Time Achievement Award Rabindranath Tagore Prize Pride of Pune Award Rajeev Gandhi Manav Seva Award National Award Mahatma Gandhi Award |
Shobhana Ranade (26 October 1924 – 4 August 2024) was an Indian social worker andGandhian, known for her services towards her cause of destitute women and children. TheGovernment of India honoured her in 2011, with thePadma Bhushan—the third highest civilian award—for her services to the society.[1]
Sawarkar was famous during our schooldays and our generation was enthused by his message of love and devotion to Mother India, says Shobhana Ranade,Bhave used to call me Shobhaniya. Mahatma taught us about non-violence and help the downtrodden.[2]
| The Real Heroes Award | |
|---|---|
 The Real Heroes Award | |
| Presented by | Reliance IndustriesCNN-IBN |
Ranade was born on 26 October 1924,Poona, in theBombay Presidency.[3] The turning point in her life came in 1942, when she was 18, when she metMahatma Gandhi at theAga Khan Palace, in Poona, which resulted in the young Shobhana taking upGandhian ideals for the rest of her life.[4]
Ranade's life was devoted to the cause of destitute women and children. Her social career took a turn, in 1955, when she went to North Lakhimpur,Assam, joining apadyatra (walkathon) withVinobha Bhave and helped setting up theMaitreyee Ashram and aShishu Niketan,[5] the first child welfare centre in the region. She also started the campaign,Adim Jaati Seva Sangh, a program for imparting training toNaga women oncharkha weaving.[2][4]
In 1979, she returned to Pune and helped founding the Gandhi National Memorial Society and an institute for women for training, based at Aga Khan Palace.[2][4][6]
In 1998, Ranade, under the aegis of the Gandhi National Memorial Society, established theKasturba Mahila Khadi Gramodyog Vidyalaya, an institute for destitute women, for training them in 20 village trades and skills.[4][5][6][7]
She started anSOS children's village in Maharashtra, under the name,Balgram Maharashtra which has now grown to provide a home to 1600 orphans.[4] TheHermann Gmeiner Social Centre, founded by Ranade and situated at Shivajinagar, Pune, is a children's home dedicated to the rehabilitation and education of street children, caring for 112 boys and 138 girls.[5]
Another child welfare project was theBalgriha andBalsadan, established by Ranade at Saswad, in Pune. These centres now provide home to 60 destitute girls.[5] Ranade was also involved with theSave Ganga Movement, drive to save River Ganges from pollution, through Gandhi National Memorial Society.[8]
Ranade lived in Pune, taking care of her activities centred on Aga Khan Palace.[4] She died on 4 August 2024, at the age of 99.[9]
