Captain Lakshmi Sehgal was the first captain of the women’s wing of Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army (INA) and in 1947; she married Colonel Prem Kumar Sehgal. She lived in Kanpur where she continued her work as a doctor and social activist.
Captain Sehgal was born in Madras and qualified as a doctor from the Madras Medical College in 1938. Two years later, she moved to Singapore and set up a free clinic to help migrant Indian workers. It was here that she met Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943. He spoke of the need to create an all-women’s regiment in the Indian National Army in the fight for India’s independence and made her the commander.
In 1971, she joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and represented the party in the Rajya Sabha. In 2002, four Leftist parties — the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the All-India Forward Bloc — made her their candidate for President of India’s post and she unsuccessfully contested the election against Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
She is survived by two daughters, Subhasini Ali and Anisa Puri.
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PM, ansari mourn sehgal’s passing away
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, 23
Vice-president Dr Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday led the nation in mourning the death of freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, who breathed her last in Kanpur after a brief illness aged 97.
Expressing grief over the death of Sehgal, Dr Ansari said Captain Sehgal was a tireless campaigner of women’s rights and was in the forefront for social causes. He said, “Captain Lakshmi Sehgal represents the pinnacle of sacrifice and struggle for the country, and for the rights of the downtrodden and women. Her contribution in public life in politics, the trade union movement and the women’s movement are remembered by one and all.”
He added, “Her demise is a tremendous loss to the nation.”
Prime Minister Dr Singh said the nation has lost an icon of self-less service. “In the passing away of Shrimati Lakshmi Sehgal the nation has lost an icon of liberal values and selfless service.”