Sarojini Naidu

Born in Hyderabad in 1879, Sarojini Naidu was known early for her gift with language and went on to study in England. She became famous for poetry collections including The Golden Threshold, and her musical style earned her the nickname "the Nightingale of India."

Naidu later devoted much of her life to public service and the Indian freedom movement. She worked closely with major nationalist leaders, spoke widely on civil rights and self-rule, and in 1925 became the first Indian woman to serve as president of the Indian National Congress.

After India became independent, she served as the first woman governor of Uttar Pradesh. She died in 1949, remembered both for poetry that brought Indian themes to English verse and for a public career marked by energy, eloquence, and political resolve.