2018-08-18 Sat

The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war

- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

The creator made the loveliest thing after women, is a flower. But when that lovely flower has the strength to scarify itself in order to give birth to a fruit which can provide the seed to grow up into a tree. Then imagine the power a woman posse who can create, nurture and transform, it is within her lies the strength to transform or destroy the society.

Indian society has seen women's possessing these attributes and potentials. There were many women who had changed the face of Indian society. One among these women's who possess the strength to revolutionize the thinking process of the society was Vijay Lakshmi Pandit.

Vijay Lakshmi was born today on 18th August 1900. She was an Indian diplomat and politician. As the sister of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, she was the first women to hold the cabinet post. Lakshmi was also selected to the provincial legislature of the United Province and designated minister of the local self-government and public health in 1937.

Following the event of Indian Independence, she entered the diplomatic service and became India's ambassador to the Soviet Union (1947 to 1949) and simultaneously of United State, Mexico (1949 to 1951) and Ireland (1955 to 1961) and also an Indian high commissioner of the United Kingdom.

Vijay Lakshmi Pandit also headed the Indian delegation of United Nation in 1946 and 1968. She also became the first women President of the United Nations General Assembly. Between 1962 to 1964 Vijay Lakshmi also served as the Governor of Maharashtra.

India Post has issued a stamp in 2000 to celebrate the achievement of Vijay Lakshmi Pandit.