Jayashri Naishadh Raiji (1895–1985) was an Indian independence activist, social worker, reformist and politician. She was a member of the

1st Lok Sabha The First Lok Sabha was constituted on 17 April 1952 after India's first general election. The 1st Lok Sabha lasted its full tenure of five years and was dissolved on 4 April 1957. The First Session of this Lok Sabha commenced on 13 May 1952. To ...

from Bombay Suburban seat.

Early life

Jayashri was born on 26 October 1895 to Sir

Manubhai Mehta Sir Manubhai Nandshankar Mehta CSI (22 July 1868 – 14 October 1946) was an Indian politician. He was the dewan of Baroda state from 9 May 1916 to 1927. From 1927 to 1934, he was the prime minister of Bikaner state. Life He was born on 22 J ...

in Surat and for her higher studies attended the Baroda College.

Career

Known for her social work, Raiji became the chairperson of Bombay Presidency Women's Council in 1919. During the

Non-cooperation movement Non-cooperation movement may refer to: * Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922), during the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule * Non-cooperation movement (1971), a movement in East Pakistan * Non-cooperatio ...

(1930), she participated in the picketing of shops selling foreign goods and was imprisoned by British authorities for six months during the Quit India Movement (1942).To encourage the adoption of swadeshi goods, she helped organise exhibitions and set up women's co-operative stores. After India gained independence, she contest the first general elections from Bombay Suburban constituency and became a member of the

. She was one of founding members of the Indian Council for Child Welfare. In 1980, she was awarded the

Jamnalal Bajaj Award Jamnalal Bajaj Award is an Indian award, for promoting Gandhian values, community service and social development. Established in 1978, by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation of Bajaj Group, it is given annually in four categories, and usually pres ...

for Development and Welfare of Women And Children.

Personal life

She was married to N. M. Raiji in 1918 and had four children from him. She died in 1985.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raiji, Jayashri 1895 births People from Vadodara Indian National Congress politicians from Maharashtra India MPs 1952–1957 Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra Women members of the Lok Sabha Indian social reformers Indian independence activists from Maharashtra Prisoners and detainees of British India Indian feminists 1985 deaths 20th-century Indian women politicians Women in Maharashtra politics 20th-century Indian women educational theorists 20th-century Indian educational theorists Social workers from Maharashtra Women educators from Maharashtra Educators from Maharashtra