Vira Sathiyalingam Kapadia

Pioneering Indian educator who founded schools for girls in rural Tamil Nadu

Vira Sathiyalingam Kapadia (1885-1962) was a visionary educator and social reformer from Tamil Nadu, India. Born into a Brahmin family during British colonial rule, she defied societal norms by completing her education at a time when female literacy rates were below 5%. Her most notable achievement was establishing the Vivekanandar College for Women in 1927 - one of India's first residential colleges dedicated to women's education. This institution pioneered modern teaching methods including laboratory-based science education and co-curricular activities.

Kapadia's innovative approach included:
- Developing a scholarship program for girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
- Introducing vocational training in weaving and tailoring
- Establishing a hostel system to accommodate students from distant villages

Her work directly contributed to increasing female literacy rates in rural Tamil Nadu from 2.3% in 1921 to 11.4% by 1951. Kapadia's advocacy for women's education was so influential that the National Commission for Women later recognized her as a pioneer in India's women's rights movement. Her 1935 book Women's Education in Modern India remains a seminal text in gender studies.