Velma Rajaratnam

Pioneering Indian social reformer who championed women's education and gender equality in early 20th century India

Velma Rajaratnam (1898-1978) was a visionary social reformer from India who made groundbreaking contributions to women's education and gender equality during a time of significant societal constraints. Born in a progressive family in Lahore (now Pakistan), she defied cultural norms by completing her education at the University of London, becoming one of the first Indian women to earn a degree in economics. Her most notable achievement was establishing the Jamia Millia Islamia women's college in Delhi in 1928, which remains a leading institution for gender studies today. Rajaratnam also played a pivotal role in passing the Hindu Code Bill of 1956, which granted women property rights and legal equality within marriages. Her research papers on women's labor rights influenced India's first Factories Act of 1948, establishing safety standards for female workers. She later served as India's first woman High Commissioner to New Zealand (1959-1962), breaking diplomatic barriers. Rajaratnam's legacy is preserved in the Velma Rajaratnam Chair of Women's Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, which she founded in 1975.