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Nirmala Deshpande | |
|---|---|
 Nirmala Deshpande | |
| Born | (1929-10-17)17 October 1929 Nagpur, Maharashtra, India |
| Died | 1 May 2008(2008-05-01) (aged 78) |
| Known for | Social activism |
| Member of Parliament,Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 27 August 1997 – 26 August 1999 | |
| In office 24 June 2004 – 1 May 2008(her death) | |
| Constituency | Nominated |
Nirmala Deshpande (17 October 1929 – 1 May 2008) (pronunciationⓘ) was a noted Indian social activist who had embracedGandhi and philosophy. She devoted her adult life to the promotion of communal harmony and service to women, tribal people, and the dispossessed in India.[1][2]
She was awardedPadma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of India in 2006.[3] and was awardedSitara-e-Imtiaz posthumously by Pakistan in 2010[4]
Deshpande was born to Vimala (विमला) and the Marathi writerPurushottam Yashwant Deshpande (पुरुषोत्तम यशवंत देशपांडे) inNagpur on 19 October 1929. Her father was the recipient of aSahitya Akademi Award in 1962 for his work inMarathiAnamikachi Chintanika (अनामिकाची चिंतनिका).
She did MA in political science from Nagpur, India, She also studiedFergusson College, Pune. Thereafter, she served as lecturer in political science inMorris College, Nagpur.[5]
Deshpande joinedVinoba Bhave'sBhoodan movement in 1952. She undertook a 40,000-km journey on foot --padayatra—across India to carry Gandhi's message ofGrām 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 inPunjab andKashmir when violence was at its peak in those states. Her peace mission to Kashmir in 1994 and her initiative in organizing India-Pakistan meet in 1996 were her two major public service achievements.[7] TheTibetan cause againstChinese suppression was also close to her heart.
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 foundedAkhil 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 aterrorist attack on Indian Parliament in 2001. (The attack had resulted in the death of 13 people.)
Deshpande visited many cities in theUnited States of America on a tour organized by a prominentIndian American fromLansing, Michigan in the last few years of her life. She was member of aRajya Sabha, when she died in her sleep in the early hours of 1 May 2008, inNew Delhi at the age of 79.[5]
She continually worked for harmony between India and Pakistan. Even her mortal remains were immersed inIndus river ofSindh province in Pakistan.[4]
Deshpande authored several novels inHindi, "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 onIsha Upanishad and a biography ofVinoba 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]
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Deshpande was a nominated member of IndianRajya Sabha two times during August 1997- August 1997 and during 24 June 2004 to 2010.[10] Her name was considered for theIndian Presidential position in 2007.
Deshpande received theRajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award (2005) and thePadma Vibhushan title in 2006.[11] She was a nominee for theNobel Peace Prize in 2005.
Nirmala Deshpande ji also received firstBanarsi Das Gupta"Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar" on 5 November 2007 in a function, present to her by Vice President of India Sh.Mohammad Hamid Ansari. in the presence of Smt. Sonia Gandhi (President UPA), Sh.Pawan Bansal (Cabinet Minister), Sh.Shriprakash Jaiswal (Minister of State), Sh.Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Chief Minister of Haryana), Sh.Santosh Bagrodia (Minister of State), Sh.Deepender Singh Hooda (Member of Parliament), Sh.Naveen Jindal (Member of Parliament), Sh. Ajay Gupta and many other VIPs at Balyogi Hall,Parliament of India, New Delhi.
She was conferred theSitara-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.
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