Moturu Udayam
Born on October 13, 1924 into a progressive family, she was married at 14 to communist activist Moturu Hanumantha Rao.
Born on October 13, 1924 into a progressive family, she was married at 14 to communist activist Moturu Hanumantha Rao. The couple faced financial hardships and lost two of their children. Udayam worked as daily wage labourer even as she was active in the movement to support her family. In 1948, during second Andhra Mahila Sangam meet, Udayam was arrested for opposing police banishment and sent to Nandigama jail along with 70 other women protesters. After Independence, she worked as a medical representative to support her family. She may well have been the first woman medical representative. Udayam was an artist who performed street plays, songs and burrakatha, an oral storytelling technique. Udayam was elected as first joint secretary in the first Andhra Mahila Sangam meet in 1946. She served for 18 years as state secretary. At AIDWA inaugural meet held in 1981, she was elected Treasurer. Udayam broke stereotypes all her life. In Vijaywada, it was common to see her riding her bicycle, wearing a shirt over her sari. Udayam died in March 2001.
International Women’s Day (IWD) was observed for a whole week as ‘International Women’s Week’ in Delhi. A state level rally was organised jointly with 31 organisations on March 8 but AIDWA also held…
The statement above sums up the spirit and the core focus of AIDWA’s Save India Convention on Assault against Women’s Citizenship Rights which was held in Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi on December 8,…
Born in 1926, Niruben Patel abandoned her school at the call of Gandhiji, to later rejoin. She went on to complete her MA from Elphinston College, Bombay. She became a member of the Communist Party,…
Born in Chittagong district (now Bangladesh) on 27 July 1913. While studying at Bethune College in Calcutta, she was inspired to join the Chhatri Sangha, and was drawn into the revolutionary circle…
DOZENS of children at the ward no. 100 of BRD Medical College hospital, Gorakhpur met their tragic death during the fatefull night of August 10-11 this year. This was not merely an accident. It was…
