This article is part of a series by The Wire titled ‘The Early Parliamentarians’, exploring the lives and work of post-independence MPs who have largely been forgotten. The series looks at the institutions they helped create, the enduring ideas they left behind and the contributions they made to nation building.

A patriot, eminent parliamentarian, firm believer in non-violence and selfless and dedicated worker for the cause of the emancipation of women and weaker sections of society, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur has left an indelible imprint on national life and polity.

Rajkumari Dame Bibiji Amrit Kaur (née Ahluwalia) was a freedom fighter and politician, and the first woman member of the Indian cabinet after independence. Following her long lasting association with the independence movement, she was appointed the first health minister of India in 1947 and remained in office until 1957. She also held the charge of the sports ministry and urban development ministry, and was instrumental in setting up the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. During her tenure, Kaur ushered in several healthcare reforms in India and is widely remembered for her contributions to the sector and her advocacy of women's rights. Kaur was also a member of the Constituent Assembly, the body that framed the Constitution of India.

Kaur, the only daughter among eight children of Raja Harnam Singh of the Kapurthala State of Punjab, was born in Lucknow on February 2, 1889. Her mother, Rani Harnam Singh, was the daughter of Golak Nath Chatterjee from Bengal. Although Kaur had inherited Christianity as her religion from her father, she had a deep reverence for all other faiths as well.

Like any aristocratic children of that time, Kaur had her early schooling abroad in the Sherborne School, Dorsetshire, UK, where she was sent at quite an early age. Later, she was sent to Oxford for higher education, where she excelled. She also took a keen interest in sports, especially hockey, cricket and tennis, and won several championships.

She could speak Italian and French fluently and could play the piano and the violin proficiently. She was recognised as a connoisseur of things cultural and aesthetic. After completing her education in England, she returned to India in 1918 at the age of 20.

Gandhi's disciple

After her return to India from England, Kaur became interested in the Indian independence movement. She was drawn to the thoughts and vision of M.K. Gandhi, whom she met in Bombay in 1919. Soon Kaur became one of his closest disciples. She worked as Gandhi's secretary for 16 years, and their correspondence was subsequently published as a volume of letters titled Letters to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.

She was so impressed by the views, ideas and magnetic personality of Gandhi that she later remarked: "There was a quiet strength, an earnestness and deep humility about him that went straight to my young heart .... I feel I have owed allegiance to him and to his cause from that time on."

Gandhi too used to confide in her, as is evident from one of his letters in which he had written, "My special function from childhood .... has been to make woman realise her dignity. I was once a slave holder myself but Ba proved an unwilling slave and thus opened my eyes to my mission. Her task was finished. Now I am in search of a woman who would realise her mission," and asked: "Are you that woman, will you be one?"

It was no wonder, therefore, that the Gandhian era produced so many women leaders of eminence. Kaur was among the privileged few who had, for many years, enjoyed and shared Gandhi's close confidence.

Having joined politics, she took an active part in the salt campaign and was arrested in Bombay. As a true patriot, she condemned the 'Communal Award' given by Ramsay Macdonald when he was premier in 1932, regarding the political rights of major and minor communities in India.

As a representative of the Indian National Congress, in 1937 she went on a mission of goodwill to Bannu, North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan). The British authorities charged her with sedition on July 16, 1937 and imprisoned her. During the 'Quit India' Movement in 1942, she led many processions and in one of them, was subjected to ruthless lathi charge in Simla. Subsequently, she was arrested and jailed. The hardships of the jail, which she had to undergo, were, however, too much for her. She was therefore put under house arrest in Simla.

The British authorities appointed her as a member of the Advisory Board of Education, but she resigned from the position following her involvement with the Quit India Movement in 1942. She was imprisoned by the authorities for her actions during the time.

As a parliamentarian and minister

Kaur was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India (1946-50), the Provisional Parliament (1950-52), Lok Sabha (1952-57) and Rajya Sabha (1957-62). A dedicated parliamentarian, Kaur always showed a keen interest in the business of the House. For parliamentary debates and discussions, she used to come fully prepared. Her speeches in the parliament not only gave a new direction to the Indian polity and made it richer but also provided food for thought.

After India became independent, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited her to become a member of his Council of Ministers. She thus acquired the distinction of being the first woman member of the Indian Cabinet after independence and held the portfolio of health from August 15, 1947 to April 17, 1957.

During her time health minister, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi – one of the best in Asia – came into existence. While piloting the AIIMS Bill in Lok Sabha on February 18, 1956, she had observed:

“It has been one of my cherished dreams that for postgraduate study and for the maintenance of high standards of medical education in our country, we should have an Institute of this nature in India which would enable our young men and women to have their background with the necessary experience that we would like to have of work in villages and the impetus that we would like to give to them to do research in the various spheres of medical education .... This is a pure, honest attempt to bring to this country good standards of medical education and to make them available to all.”

She also took keen interest in a variety of issues and legislative measures such as Sterilisation of the Unfit Bill, B.C.G. Vaccination Campaign, Report of Jaundice Enquiry Committee, Food situation, Countess of Dufferein's Fund Bill, 1957 and Annual Reports of Employees' State Insurance Corporation, and so on.

The suggestions made and solutions given by her on these issues were largely accepted by the House.

During this period, several important bills relating to her ministry such as The Indian Medical Council Bill, Indian Red Cross Society (Amendment) Bill, Government Premises (Eviction) Amendment Bill, Prevention of Food Adulteration Bill, 1954, Delhi (Control of Building Operation) Bill, 1955, Delhi Municipal Corporation Bill, 1957, Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes Bill, 1959_ Children Bill, 1959, Lady Harding Medical College and Hospital Bill, 1959, Geneva Convention Bill, 1960, Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 1961 etc., were discussed at length and later passed by parliament.

Kaur co-founded the All India Women's Conference in 1927. She was later appointed its secretary in 1930, and president in 1933.

Kaur died in New Delhi on 6 February 1964. Although she was, at the time of her death, a practising Christian, she was cremated according to family customs and her funeral was presided over by the SGPC. Kaur had never married, and had no children.

Qurban Ali is a trilingual journalist who has covered some of modern India’s major political, social and economic developments. He has a keen interest in India’s freedom struggle and is now documenting the history of the socialist movement in the country.

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