Naidu, Sarojini (1879-1949), was an Indian politician and poet known as the “Nightingale of India.” She played an important part in India’s struggle for freedom from British rule.
Naidu was born in Hyderabad on Feb. 13, 1879. Her parents were reformist Hindus from Bengal. She grew up speaking Urdu, Bengali, and English. Throughout her life, Naidu worked to unite the people of many different religions, languages, and communities in India.
Naidu wrote poetry in English. Her collections include The Golden Threshold (1905), The Bird of Time (1912), and The Broken Wing (1917). Her best-known poems include “Bangle-Sellers” and “Palanquin-Bearers,” which capture the colors and sounds of Indian village life.
In 1925, Naidu became president of the Indian National Congress, a political party that also included Mohandas K. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru in its membership. Along with other activists seeking Indian independence, Naidu was imprisoned several times by the British for her political activities. After India gained independence in 1947, Naidu became governor of the state of Uttar Pradesh. She died on March 1, 1949.
