18-08-2018
It is of utmost sadness, I share the loss of my dearest aunt and inspiration, Chennupati Vidya, Parliamentarian, Social Reformer and Leader of Women and Children's Movement of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who passed away due to cardiac arrest, today, August 18, 2018, at 3.30 a.m. at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Chennupati Vidya was born on June 5, 1934 in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. Right from her young age she was inspired by the work of her parents, Gora and Saraswathi Gora, well known social reformers, atheist and humanist leaders of India. Witnessing the oppression of women and the freedom fight of India, Chennupati Vidya grew up to strengthen women and fortify their abilities. Mahatma Gandhi's principles were engraved in her service to humanity, life empowerment and secular thought and action. She stayed at Seva Gram, Gandhi’s ashram in 1940s and imbibed national spirit and educated under the guidance of prominent Sarvodaya leader, Sri. Prabhakarji.
Her marriage to Mr. Seshagiri Rao, was a revolutionary step in 1949, breaking the barriers of caste. She started casteless marriages in her family and set an example to others. She also advocated and practiced the registration of marriages under the Special Marriage Act. She has championed the cause of widow remarriages and promoting inter-caste and inter-religion marriages. She was also involved in the Sarvodaya and the Bhoodan movement.
At the age of 25 she was coopted as a member in Gollapudi village Panchayat (1962 –66) and co-opted member of Zilla Parishad Krishna from (1967 – 76), Member of Parliament from 1980–84 (7th Lok Sabha and 1989 – 91 (9th Lok Sabha). Her active involvement in Panchayat Raj has given inspiration to many women to enter in to decision making bodies and she gave training to elected women in Panchayat Raj, to deliver effective services.
As a Parliamentarian, she introduced private Member Resolutions and Bill for the promotion of secularism, castelessness and criminal reformation. She established Kasturiba Mahila Mandali (in 1965) and extended skill development for women in Amber charka, tailoring and embroidery. She was involved in Cooperative Movement as President, Milk Suppliers Society (1970) and Mahatma Gandhi Agricultural Cooperative Society, through which marketing, financial and resource availability is extended to farmers.
She was the Founder Director of AP State Women Finance Corporation (in 1975) through which micro credit was available to poor women to start income generating programmes. She was the member, CAPART, Central Social Welfare Board, National Executive Bharata Jana Gnana Vignana Jatha for promotion of scientific temper, awareness and education and Director, Indian Overseas Bank, Member-NGOs cell, Planning Commission, New Delhi, and Chairperson - Core Committee for 33% Women Reservation Movement.
Chennupati Vidya was the President, Krishna Zilla Parishad Girls High School Development Committee (since 1965). Chennupati Vidya was also the Chairperson and the driving force of Arthik Samata Mandal. It has implemented a comprehensive of rural development across AP and Telangana states. It has been helping hundreds of children through child and family sponsorship programme, supported by Save the Children Fund UK and Plan International.
Mrs. Vidya was the Central Working Committee Member in All India Harijan Sevak Sangh, New Delhi, and President in Andhra Pradesh Harijan Sevak Sangh, working for the mainstreaming of Harijans through a network of District Harijan Sevak Sangh Committees. She was instrumental in establishing an Ashram school for 125 children at Hyderabad.
Mrs. Vidya was also the Member, AP Women and Children Empowerment Society, Govt of Andhra Pradesh Mrs. Vidya was the Member, Vijayawada Police Commissionarate Constitution Committee, for the redressal of complaints, pertaining to women employees of Police department. She also was instrumental in visioning and leading the Mahila Mitra initiative along with the Vijayawada Police.
For the past six decades, she has been in the forefront of eradication of untouchability and the caste system, for the promotion of secular and humanist values and empowerment of women. Under her valuable guidance, a broad spectrum of rural development activities through its major organisations, Vasavya Mahila Mandali, Arthik Samata Mandal and Andhra Pradesh Harijan Sevak Sangh, for comprehensive rural development in hundreds of villages in various districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been taking place.
She founded Vasavya Mahila Mandali, a non-governmental organisation, guided by Gora and Saraswathi Gora and established in 1969 and registered in the year 1975. Its aim was to facilitate social change and economic development, focusing on women, children and Youth. Her work spread around thirteen hundred villages. She also took an active part in making people realize and take care about diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/ AIDS and issues like maternal death and infant death. She embarked on a mission of making women financially independent. She concentrated on skill development and formed small scale industries which helped women to work and grow in financial status. For all the work she took up, she used counseling as a key way to mold people as constructive citizens of the nation.
For her services to the society, she was approached by the Indian National Congress and was elected to Lok Sabha twice. Her entry in politics made her constituency flourish as she combined power with service. She was elected as Member of Parliament, Vijayawada Constituency in 1980 and 1989 and extended invaluable service to women and children and the secular and humanist political action.
Some of the awards recognizing her service include, Saraswathi Award, instituted by Shikshit Samaj, Delhi in 1983, Festive Award by Telugu Academy, Delhi in 1983, her services were recognized by Telugu Book of Records by labeling her “Adarsha Manya Mahila” in 2014, Andhra Pradesh Government has recognized her services to women and honoured her on the eve of the International Year of Women, 2015, Andhra Pradesh State Women Commission have recognised her services by honouring her on Women’s Day in 2014. She was the recipient of ICONIC MOTHER award from Government of Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Senior Citizen’s day 01 October 2016.
For her excellence in comprehensive development, she was awarded Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Award for the year 2014 in the field of development and welfare of women and children.
Chennupati Vidya’s life is a saga of struggle to achieve social justice and equality and to translate humanist ideas into practice. Although rooted in Indian society, she had global perspective. She has inspired thousands of children and women and provided them hope and opportunity to excel in their lives. A humble person who ensured that the voices of the common people are heard in the corridors of Parliament, through her reformation initiatives.
She has left behind a family of social workers, youth and children who would continue her secular social work. True to her ideals, her eyes were donated to Swetcha Gora Eye Bank. A signature welcoming smile on her face and inspiring and transforming work and as “Amma”, she will always be remembered. Her life is her message for the generations to come.
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