Vidyagauri Nilkanth

Vidyagauri Nilkanth was an Indian social reformer, educationist, and writer. She was also one of the first two women graduates in Gujarat. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life

Vidyagauri Nilkanth was born on 1 June 1876 in Ahmedabad. She was the daughter of a judicial officer, Gopilal Dhruva and Balaben. ^[1] Nilkanth was married to Ramanbhai Nilkanth and together they wrote many articles, books and jointly edited a magazine, Jnansudha.^[2]

Education and career

With the support of her husband, Nilkanth completed her matriculation and pursued higher education. She graduated from Gujarat College with a Bachelor of Arts in moral philosophy and logic in 1901. She was awarded a fellowship and thus her sister, Sharda Mehta, and she became the first two women graduates in Gujarat.^[2] Nilkanth was a founder member of the All India Women's Conference in Ahmedabad.

Social work

Nilkanth was involved social work from a young age. She devoted her life for the upliftment of women. ^[2] She started tailoring classes for poor Muslim women with support from the National Indian Association. She organized adult education classes and various activities for the War Relief Fund during World War I. She started the Ahmedabad branch of the All India Women's Conference. She also presided over the Lucknow session of the AIWC. She was associated with numerous educational institutions such as the Maganbhai Karamchand Girls’ High School, the Diwalibai Girls’ School, Ranchhodhal Chhotalal Girls’ High School and the Vanita Vishrams which provided secondary education to women who were widows or dropouts from school because of marriage.^[1]

She founded Lalshanker Umia Shanker Mahila Pathshala, which was later affiliated to SNDT (Karve) University. She taught English, Psychology and Philosophy in this college. She presided over the 15th session of the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. She was a prolific writer and contributed to women’s magazines such as Gunsundari, Streebodh, and Sharda. With her sister she translated R.C. Dutt’s book, The Lake of Palms.^[1]

References