Poornima Arvind Pakvasa (5 October 1913 – 25 April 2016), known as the Didi of Dangs, was an Indian independence activist and social worker from Gujarat.

Early life

Pakvasa was born in Ranpur near

Limbdi State Limbdi State was a princely state and was entitled to a 9-gun salute during the British Raj. It was ruled at that time by members of the Jhala dynasty. It belonged to Kathiawar Agency. After India's independence The Indian independence m ...

, Saurashtra (now in Gujarat). She was also Manipuri dancer and classical vocal singer.

Political and social activism

Pakvasa first met Mahatma Gandhi at Ranpur when she was eight. She participated in the independence movement in Limbdi. At the age of 18, she participated in the Dandi March during which she was arrested. Her inmate in jail was Kasturba Gandhi. Pakvasa taught her how to read and write English. Mahatma Gandhi was appreciative of this act and gave her his blessings to continue on the path of education. She participated in the 51st session of the Indian National Congress at Haripura in 1938. In 1954, she started Shaktidal, an institution for the cultural, physical and spiritual education of women in Bombay (now Mumbai). She headed the Bhosla Military School, Nashik for 25 years. Later in 1974, she established Ritambhara Vishwa Vidyapeeth and extended its activities to become a residential school and college at

Saputara Saputara is a hill station located in Sahyadris or Western Ghats. Saputara town is part of Dang district in Gujarat, India. It is a tourist destination. Famous Places There are so many famous place that attract more tourist they are some ...

. The school chiefly served tribal girls of Dang. She turned 100 in October 2013 and died on 25 April 2016 at the age of 102 in Surat. Her last rites were performed in

by her children.

Awards

In 2004 she was awarded the Padma Bhushan award for her services to society. She was awarded Santokbaa Award in 2013.

Personal life

She married Arvind Pakvasa and was a daughter-in-law of

Mangaldas Pakvasa Mangaldas M. Pakvasa, મંગળદાસ પક્વાસ ( Bombay, 7 May 1882 – 6 November 1968) a freedom fighter and one of the first five Indian Governors, served as the first President of the Bharat Scouts and Guides from 1953 to ...

. She had two daughters - Aarti and Sonal Mansingh - and a son Anuj.

Sonal Mansingh Sonal Mansingh (born 30 April 1944) is an Indian classical dancer and Guru Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancing style. She has been nominated by the President of India to become a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. She is the youngest recipient of ...

is an Indian classical dancer.

References

External links

Profile of Poornima Arvind Pakvasa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pakvasa, Poornima Arvind 1913 births 2016 deaths Indian centenarians Social workers from Gujarat Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in social work Social workers Women educators from Gujarat Educators from Gujarat 20th-century Indian educators 20th-century Indian women People from Botad district Gandhians Indian independence activists from Gujarat Women centenarians 20th-century women educators