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Sarojini Naidu, famously called the Nightingale of India, was a poet, freedom fighter, and social reformer whose words inspired generations. Sarojini Naidu’s Birth Anniversary 2026 on February 13 honors her remarkable contributions to India’s independence, women’s empowerment, and literature, celebrating her legacy as a visionary leader and tireless advocate for social change.
Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale of India
Sarojini Naidu was a political activist, freedom fighter, poet, orator, and administrator. She was one of the first women to actively participate in India’s struggle for independence. Naidu also became the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress and the first woman governor of an Indian state.
Early Life and Education of Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was born on 13 February 1879 in Hyderabad, India to Bengali parents, Dr. Aghore Nath Chattopadhyay and Varada Sundari, a poetess. A child prodigy, she mastered multiple languages including English, Bengali, Urdu, Telugu, and Persian.
Naidu joined Madras University at age 12 and later studied at King’s College, London and Girton College, Cambridge, where her love for poetry grew. She wrote her first long poem, The Lady of the Lake, containing 1,300 lines, while still a student.
Political Career and Freedom Struggle
Inspired by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mahatma Gandhi, Naidu entered politics after being affected by the Partition of Bengal in 1905. She actively participated in the Indian National Congress, supporting Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance against British rule.
In 1924, she became the first Indian woman president of the Congress. She was imprisoned several times for her activism, including 21 months during the Quit India Movement in 1942. In 1947, she was appointed governor of the United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh), serving until her death.
Women’s Rights Advocacy
Naidu was a strong advocate for women’s rights. In 1917, she founded the Women’s Indian Association to promote women’s empowerment and encourage female participation in the freedom struggle. Her work inspired countless women to fight for India’s independence and social reform.
Literary Contributions
Sarojini Naidu was a gifted poet, earning the title “Nightingale of India” (Bharat Kokila) by Mahatma Gandhi. She wrote poetry in English, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Persian, and Bengali, and her notable works include:
- The Golden Threshold (1905) – her first poetry collection
- The Lady of the Lake – a 1,300-line epic poem
- She was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1914
Her poetry was praised by eminent Indian leaders such as Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru for its lyrical beauty and imagery.
Death and Legacy
Sarojini Naidu passed away on 2 March 1949 in Lucknow due to cardiac arrest. She is remembered as a visionary poet, fearless freedom fighter, and champion of women’s rights, whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
Interesting Facts About Sarojini Naidu
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
- She wrote The Lady of the Lake while solving an algebra problem.
- She gave Mohammed Ali Jinnah the title “Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity.”
- She returned her Kaisar-i-Hind medal in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- She received a scholarship to King’s College, England, from the Nawab of Hyderabad for her poetry.
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Start Learning!Literary works of Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu’s poetry collection includes children’s poems as well as those written on themes including patriotism, romance, and tragedy. ‘In the Bazaars of Hyderabad’ remains one of her most popular poems. Given below are some of her famous works:
- Golden Threshold (1905) was her first collection of poems
- The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death, and the Spring (1912)
- The Broken Wing: Songs of Love, Death and the Spring, including “The Gift of India” (1917)
- Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity (1919)
- The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India, Allahabad: Kitabistan (1943)
- The Indian Weavers(1971)
Inspirational Quotes by Sarojini Naidu
- “A country’s greatness lies in it’s undying ideals of love and sacrifice that inspire the mothers of the race.”
- “We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech and earnestness in action”
- “I am not ready to die because it requires infinitely higher courage to live.”
- “The new has come and now the old retires. And so the past becomes a mountain cell.”
- “We want a new breed of men before India can be cleansed of her disease.”
National Women’s Day 2026
Sarojini Naidu’s birthday is celebrated as National Women’s Day in India. She actively worked for the empowerment of women. She spoke about women’s rights and fought for them. She urged women to take part in the freedom struggle. National Women’s Day is observed on 13 February to celebrate the social, cultural, political, and economic achievements of women. It also helps in raising awareness about gender bias. Contrary to the past, women has now been able to break the gender barrier and set foot on all fields which were earlier dominated by men.
Let’s have a look at some of the quotes about women and their strength:
- “Don’t let anyone tell you you’re weak because you’re a woman” – Mary Kom
- “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
- “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.” – Maya Angelou
- “There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.”- W.E.B. Dubois
- “Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.”
- “Girls with ambition become women with vision.”
- “She is the architect of a family, society, nation, and world.”
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Start Learning!Sarojini Naidu Birth Anniversary 2026 Quiz
Sarojini Naidu’s first collection of poem was ______________.
(a) The Golden Threshold
(b) The Indian Weavers
(c) The Broken Wing: Songs of Love, Death and the Spring
(d) The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death, and the Spring
Sarojini Naidu went to ____________________ for higher studies.
(a) France
(b) Germany
(c) England
(d) Spain
Where was Sarojini Naidu born?
(a) Kolkatta
(b) Hyderabad
(c) Bengaluru
(d) Delhi
Sarojini Naidu was the governor of ____________.
(a) United Provinces
(b) Hyderabad
(c) Madras
(d) Delhi
What was Sarojini Naidu’s maiden name?
(a) Sarojini Naidu
(b) Sarojini Singh
(c) Sarojini Chattopadhyay
(d) Sarojini Banerjee
Who gave Sarojini Naidu the title ‘Nightingale of India’?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Mohammed Ali Jinnah
(c) Chandrashekar Azad
(d) Mahatma Gandhi
Sarojini Naidu died of ___________________.
(a) plague
(b) cardiac arrest
(c) age related illness
(d) accident
Which university did Sarojini Naidu attend?
(a) University of Calcutta
(b) University of Delhi
(c) University of Bombay
(d) University of Madras
Sarojini Naidu died in _________________.
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Lucknow
(c) Calcutta
(d) Madras
National Women’s day recognizes the power of women in the country and their significant voices in bringing about change and progress. Sarojini Naidu was a woman who strived hard for equality and upliftment of women. What better occasion than the birth anniversary of this great lady can be chosen as the day for celebrating womanhood and her achievements.
