Padmaja Naidu
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Padmaja Naidu (1900 - 1975)

Padmaja Naidu
Born in Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British Indiamap
Ancestors ancestors
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at age 74 in New Delhi, Delhi, Indiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 23 Jan 2023
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Biography

Notables Project
Padmaja Naidu is Notable.
India Sticker Native
Padmaja Naidu was born in India

Padmaja Naidu was an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as the 4th Governor of West Bengal from 3 November 1956 to 1 June 1967.

Padmaja was born in 1900. She was the daughter of Muthyala Naidu and Sarojini Chattopadhyay.

At the age of 21, she co-founded the Indian National Congress in the Nizam ruled princely state of Hyderabad. She was jailed for taking part in the "Quit India" movement in 1942. After Independence, she was elected to the Indian Parliament in 1950. In 1956 she was appointed the Governor of West Bengal. She was also associated with the Red Cross and was the chairperson of the Indian Red Cross from 1971 to 1972.

Padmaja Naidu and Jawaharlal Nehru were romantically involved and lived together for many years. Padmaja never married, hoping Nehru would one day propose to her. However, Nehru did not marry Padmaja because he feared hurting his daughter, Indira. After Nehru's death in 1964, Padmaja continued to reside in the bungalow on his official estate, until her own death in 1975.

Historical Notes of Importance

New Delhi: September 17, 1948, is a historic day in India’s journey as an independent nation. On that day, the largest princely state, Hyderabad, was integrated with the Union of India. Until this date it was under the rule of the Asaf Jahi dynasty or the Nizams. A military operation was involved called Operation Polo; started on September 13th and for four days the state was plunged into chaos. After the ceasefire, Military Administration was installed.

From [1]Padmaja was a leading figure in the political and social circles of Hyderabad in the 1940s.

She was present in the city during the Police Action and its aftermath, and her account focuses on the human tragedy that unfolded in the run-up to the Police Action and soon after it. Padmaja wrote to Sarojini (then governor of United Provinces) on October 4, 1948 – the first day after the military intervention when letters and telegrams could be sent out from Hyderabad. It provides a glimpse of what was happening in Hyderabad in that fateful month. [1]

She goes on to describe in her letter partially published in the History of Hyderabad … blackouts, no petrol, no papers, no post, no telegraph, very little food of any kind at all and no meat for several days,” Padmaja wrote. She described the scene at the Naidu bungalow, Golden Threshold, located on Station Road like this [1]

“Our house is just like the Railway station at train time all day long, with all manner of people – ranging from high officials to frightened villagers and workers of all kinds coming and going the whole time, consultations being held in every room, and usually the compound overflowing with delegations and refugees’ families from every district in the state.” [1]

She goes on to say she saw ‘orry loads of little boys, ranging in age from ten to fifteen, being sent out to the front to fight the Indian Army.’ [1] End.


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Sources

  1. "The Wire - A Glimpse of What Was Happening in Sept 1948 by Dinesh C. Sharma";[1]:Accessed on 26 Jan 23




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Padmaja Naidu



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