Capt.

Laxmi Swaminathan
(24 October 1914 23 July 2012)

INTRODUCTION
Lakshmi Swaminathan, a
revolutionary of the Indian
independence movement, an officer of
theIndian National Army, and the
Minister of Women's Affairs in theAzad
Hind Government.
Commonly referred to in India as
Captain Lakshmi.

EARLY LIFE
Lakshmi Swaminathan, born to noted lawyer Dr S
Swaminathan and social worker Ammu
Swaminathan in Madras on October 24, 1914.
She obtained her MBBS degree from the Madras
Medical College in 1938.
In 1940- She left for Singapore where she
established a clinic for the poor, mostly migrant
labour from India.
In 1942- During the surrender ofSingaporeby the
British to the Japanese, she aided wounded
prisoners of war, many of whom were interested in
forming an Indian liberation army.

RANI OF JHANSI
REGIMENT
It was theWomen's Regiment of theIndian
National Army.
Led by Lakshmi Swaminathan, the unit was
raised in July 1943 with volunteers from
the Indian population inSouth East Asia.
Women responded enthusiastically to join
the all-women brigade and Dr. Lakshmi
Swaminathan became Captain Lakshmi.

LATER YEARS
1971 She joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
and represented the party in the Rajya Sabha.
During the Bangladesh crisis, she organized relief
camps and medical aid in Calcutta for refugees who
streamed into India from Bangladesh.

1998 She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the then

Indian President, K. R. Narayanan.

CONTD..
2002 Four leftist parties - the Communist Party of
India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist),
the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the All
India Forward Bloc - nominated Sehgal as a
candidate in the presidential elections.
She was the sole opponent of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam, who emerged victorious.

FACTS AND
INFORMATION
Born

24 October 1914 (Madras, British India)

Died

23 July 2012 (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)

Other names

Captain Lakshmi Sehgal

Known for contribution as

Revolutionist, Freedom fighter

Spouse(s)

P. K. N. Rao ( -1940),
Prem Kumar Sahgal (1947-1992)

Children

Subhashini Ali, Anisa Puri

Grand Son

Shaad Ali (filmmaker)

Education

In 1938 Sehgal completed MBBS degree from

the Madras Medical College
Diploma in gynaecology and obstetrics

CONTD..
Contact with the Indian National Army

In Singapore, Lakshmi came in contact with the Indian

National Army. With the aim to help the poor, a clinic was
established by her.

Arrest

For being a part of the INA's march to Burma, the British

army arrested Captain Lakshmi in May 1945.

In 1971, Lakshmi became a part of the Communist

Party of India, representing the party in the Upper
House.

Activities and achievements

Relief camps were organized by her during the

Bangladesh crisis for refugees in Calcutta.

In 2002, Sehgal was selected as a candidate for the

presidential elections by four leftist parties - the
Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India
(Marxist), the All India Forward Bloc and the
Revolutionary Socialist Party.

Remarriage

Sahgal got remarried in March 1947 to Prem Kumar Sahgal

in Lahore.

Awards

Sahgal was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 1998

REFERENCES
www.mapsofindia.com
http://
www.winentrance.com/general_knowl
edge/lakshmi-sahgal.html
http://
indiatoday.intoday.in/story/veteranfreedom-fighter-lakshmi-sehgal-passe
s-away/1/209744.html

Thank you..