Category Personalities

One of the glamorous women of all time, Marilyn Monroe’s real name was Norma Jeanne Morteson but was baptized as Norma Jeanne Baker. Born in 1926, she became one of the celebrated film personalities of her time. She was now among the most famous women in the world. She died on August 5th, 1962 from an overdose of sleeping pills. 

     Kalpana Chawla explored the limits of her dreams and died a heroine’s death. She was the first Indian born woman to travel to space. Her flying dreams were inspired by J.R.D Tata, a pioneering Indian pilot. After earning her degree in aeronautical engineering from the Punjab Engineering College, Kalpana Chawla left for the United States. She obtained two Master’s degrees, and a Ph.D. In 1982, she married Jean Pierre Harrison, and became a U.S citizen. She joined the NASA Ames Research Center.

      On December 5th, 1997 she flew to space in the STS-87 Columbia spacecraft. It made 252 orbits round the Earth, and Chawla was given a special award by her peers. In 2003, the ill-fated STS-107, Columbia space craft flew into space carrying Kalpana Chawla and six other crew members. While re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the space shuttle shattered and everybody in it met a tragic end in 2003. 

        “My public life began when I was three”, said Indira Gandhi. Indira was born into the aristocratic Nehru family. She married Feroz Gandhi, a supporter of the Indian National Congress. Indira was groomed by her father Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi was elected president of the Congress party in 1959, and the Prime Minister of India in 1966. The public applauded her bold decision to privatize 14 major private banks in 1969. In 1971, she led India to victory over Pakistan, and recognized the Republic of Bangladesh.

       The Emergency declared in June 26, 1975 was a dark chapter in her political life as large scale cruelties were committed. Indira Gandhi lost power in the 1977 elections, but she won a landslide majority in 1980. Her fight against terrorism in Punjab led to her untimely death. On October 31st, 1984, Indira’s own bodyguards shot her in cold blood.

         Captain Lakshmi fought fearlessly on the battle field for India’s freedom. She was a doctor, and received her MBBS degree from the Madras Medical College in 1928. She moved to Singapore, and set up a successful practice. In 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose called upon women to join his Indian national Army.

         An inspired Lakshmi, joined as Colonel in the Rani of Jhansi regiment. She fought on the battle front, and treated the wounded. However, Captain Lakshmi was captured and brought to India. She received a hero’s welcome. After Independence, she became a Rajya Sabha MP. During the Bangladesh crisis, she organized relief camps and medical help in Calcutta for the Bangladesh refugees. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1998.

         Aruna Asaf Ali was a true heroine of the Independence movement. On August 8th, 1942, the British threw Mahatma Gandhi and the other great leaders into prison. In the nation’s hour of need, Aruna Asaf Ali proved her mettle. Watched by thousands, she hoisted the national flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan.

         Aruna was iron willed, and as lovely as a rose. In 1924, she married Asaf Ali brushing off the opposition of society. The Salt movement saw Aruna Asaf All in her element. She prepared salt, led processions, and addressed meetings. She was arrested.

          She was arrested again in 1932, when she took part in the Satyagraha movement. Following her hoisting of the national flag, Aruna Asaf Ali was forced to go underground. After her death, Aruna Asaf All was awarded the Bharat Ratna. 

         Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, the youngest of three children of an Albanian builder, on August 26th, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. At the age of 18, she joined the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland. It was here that she chose the name Teresa, in memory of Saint Terese of Lisieux.

          Mother Teresa later came to Calcutta to teach. However, she always wanted to serve   the poor, and she received what she believed to be a call from God, telling her to devote her to working with the poorest in India. So she got permission to establish a new order of nuns, called The Missionaries of Charity. She and her fellows gathered dying people off the streets of Calcutta and brought them to this home to care for them. Mother Teresa’s first orphanage was started in 1953. While in 1957, she and her Missionaries of Charity began working with lepers. In the years following, her homes have been established in hundreds of locations in the world. Mother Teresa died in 1997.

          Mother Teresa has been given many awards, including the ‘Padmashree Award’, ‘The Nobel Peace Prize’, ‘The Pope John XXIII Peace Prize’, and ‘Medal of Freedom’ as well as many more. All through her life, she served people suffering from various incurable diseases, and those unwanted by the society… so is it any wonder that she is called ‘The Angel of Mercy’?