Lakshmi Bai Jayasi

Indian entrepreneur who revolutionized textile production and empowered women workers in 19th-century Madras.

Lakshmi Bai Jayasi (1825–1898) was an Indian entrepreneur and industrialist who transformed textile manufacturing in Madras (now Chennai) during British colonial rule. Defying gender and caste barriers, she established Shakti Textiles in 1853, one of the first factories in India to employ female workers. Jayasi modernized loom technology by introducing steam-powered machinery while retaining traditional weaving techniques, creating a hybrid model that boosted productivity without displacing artisans. She advocated for fair wages and safe working conditions, founding the Nari Shakti Trust to support women's economic independence. Her 1868 treatise Women's Hands, Industrial Hearts argued for women's roles in industrialization, influencing later labor reforms. Jayasi's innovations are documented in the Chennai Textile Museum, and her legacy is explored in Empress of Looms: Lakshmi Bai Jayasi's Industrial Vision. Despite her contributions, her story was marginalized in colonial-era histories. Modern economists like Dr. Priya Menon have highlighted her role in India's early industrial economy through studies like Forgotten Female Innovators of Pre-Independence India.