Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was a freedom activist and social reformer. She is known for her contributions to the Indian independence movement. She was born on 3 April 1903 in Mangalore, Madras Presidency, British India, to a Saraswat Brahmin family. Her father, Ananthayya Dhareshwar, was the district collector and her mother, Girjabai, belonged to a Saraswat Brahmana family. She got married at the age of 14 to Krishna Rao Krishna Rao is a renowned writer, copywriter, and >> Read More... in 1917 but was widowed two years later. She then married Harindranath Chattopadhyay Born on April 2, 1898, in Hyderabad, Telangana, Ha >> Read More... in 1923. She had a child named Ramakrishna Chattopadhyay. In India, she was the first lady to stand in the elections from the Madras Constituency. Several institutions like the National School of Drama, Central Cottage Industries Emporium, National School of Drama, and the Crafts Council of India exist because of her vision.

She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship in 1974. She was also awarded the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1965 and 1987, respectively. She was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1966 for Community Leadership, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1974. She was also awarded by UNESCO in 1977. Shantiniketan honored her with Desikottama. She wrote many books, and many books have been written about her. She also goes by the name Hatkargha Maa. She passed away on 29 October 1988 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.