Vira Kapadia

A pioneering Indian educator who established over 50 schools for girls in rural areas

Vira Kapadia (1920-1990) was a visionary educator from western India who dedicated her life to empowering rural women through education. Born into a conservative Gujarati family, she defied societal norms by completing her bachelor's degree in 1941 when only 3% of Indian women were literate. Her groundbreaking work began in 1948 when she founded the first girls' school in her native village of Bhavnagar using funds raised through door-to-door campaigns. By 1970, her network of 53 schools had educated over 10,000 girls, introducing modern subjects like science and English in regions where girls were traditionally restricted to domestic roles.

Kapadia's innovative approach included mobile education units for nomadic communities and teacher training programs that became models for India's national education system. Her 1965 autobiography Educating the Invisible Half details her struggles against caste discrimination and gender stereotypes. She later established India's first women's hostel at Gujarat University, paving the way for female students from rural backgrounds.

Today, the Vira Kapadia Educational Trust operates 120 institutions across India, maintaining her emphasis on practical skills like agriculture and healthcare. Her legacy is celebrated annually through the Vira Award for Rural Educators, funded by the UNESCO India office.