Rukmini Devi – The Woman Who Declined The Opportunity To Become The President

[JANASENA]

A stellar career

Rukmini Devi an Indian theosophist, choreographer of Bharatanatyam, animal rights activist, the member of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Dancing was restricted to her as she belonged to high caste but she didn’t only learnt it she also established Kalakshetra, an academy for dance and music. It is now a 100 acre deemed university under Kalakshetra foundation situated in Chennai. Her father who was very keen and interested in the Theosophical Movement,  moved to Adyar, Chennai upon retirement, where he built his home near the headquarters of the Theosophical Society Adyar founded by Dr. Annie Besant.  It was here that young Rukmini was exposed to not just theosophical thought, but also new ideas on culture, theatre, music, and dance, and later met the prominent British theosophist Dr. George Arundale who later married Ms. Rukmini Devi. 

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Activism in the Legislature

She was later nominated as a member of Rajyasabha in 1952 and re-nominated in 1956. She worked and spent a lot of her efforts in upholding animal rights and prevention of cruelty against them. She was instrumental in setting up of the animal welfare board of India under her chairmanship in 1962 and remained on board until she demised. She also promoted vegetarianism.

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She has won awards and people’s hearts

In 1977, Morarji Desai offered her to nominate her for the post of president of India, which she humbly denied. In 1994, an act of Indian parliament recognized the Kalakshetra foundation as an institute of national importance. Google honored Rukmini Devi on her 112th birthday with a doodle. She was honored with various national and international awards such as Padma Bhushan (1956), Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Prani Mitra, Honorary doctorate from Wayne state university USA, Kalidas Samman, Scrolls of honor from county and city of Los angles.

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