Premlila Vithaldas, (1894–1977) known as Lady Thackersey,was an Indian educationist and

Gandhian The followers of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest figure of the Indian independence movement, are called Gandhians. Gandhi's legacy includes a wide range of ideas ranging from his dream of ideal India (or ''Rama Rajya)'', economics, environmentalism, ...

. She was the wife of educationist and philanthropist Sir Vithaldas Thackersey. When her husband died in 1925, she was 31 years old, yet continued his work, both in the field of education and philanthropy and dedicated herself to the cause of

women's education Female education is a catch-all term of a complex set of issues and debates surrounding education (primary education, secondary education, tertiary education, and health education in particular) for girls and women. It is frequently called girls ...

. She remained the chairperson of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust (1956-1972), and also became the first Vice-Chancellor of

SNDT Women's University SNDT Women's University, also called by its full name Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, is a women's university in the city of Mumbai, India. The university headquarters are at Churchgate in South Mumbai, while the ma ...

in Mumbai. She was awarded the

Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons without ...

, India's second highest civilian honour given by

Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

in 1975, for her contribution in the field of education.

References

Indian women educational theorists 1894 births 1977 deaths Gandhians Women's education in India SNDT Women's University Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in literature & education Indian women philanthropists Indian philanthropists 20th-century Indian educational theorists 19th-century Indian women 19th-century Indian people 20th-century Indian women scientists Educators from Maharashtra Women educators from Maharashtra Scholars from Mumbai 20th-century women educators {{india-bio-stub