Hailing from a lineage of nationalist leaders, Vijaya Lakshmi was the daughter of Motilal Nehru, an affluent and influential figure in the nationalist movement. Additionally, she was the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, who served as India’s inaugural Prime Minister upon independence. After receiving both domestic and international education, she wedded Ranjit Sitaram Pandit (d. 1944) in 1921. Conforming to the conservative Hindu practice, her name was entirely transformed after marriage to signify her husband’s clan.
Deeply rooted in her family’s heritage, she actively participated in the Indian nationalist struggle and endured imprisonment by British authorities on three occasions. Her engagement in the movement led her to assume roles in municipal governance in Allahābād, Western India. Subsequently, she gained entry into the legislative assembly of the United Provinces (later known as Uttar Pradesh), where she became a pioneer as the first Indian woman to hold a cabinet portfolio. Notably, she served as the Minister for Local Self-Government and Public Health from 1937 to 1939.
Regenerate
