Around the time of Independence, India produced some outstanding women trailblazers, who defied convention, charted new paths and redefined the role of women in society. Noted social worker Sarojini Varadappan belongs to this select band. Continuing to make a difference even in her 90s, she says, “Social service is my life’s mission and first love.”
Growing up at a time when even acquiring an education was a struggle for a girl, she dropped out after Class IX at the National Girls School, Madras, then run by the Theosophical Society. Learning Hindi at home, she passed the Visharadh examination from home, as even going to the exam hall was not permitted by the family.
After marriage, she completed an MA in Political Science from Mysore University (There was no need for an undergraduate degree for candidates fluent in English, she informs.). “Education is a lifelong pursuit,” she smiles. Small wonder then that she went on to acquire an MA in Vaishnavism from Madras University, followed by a PhD at the ripe age of 80.
Her first brush with the social sector happened with her joining the Seva Dal — a volunteer movement run by the Indian National Congress. An assignment she cherishes is the opportunity to serve Mahatma Gandhi when he visited the Hindi Prachar Sabha in Chennai—managing the swelling crowds and hundi collections for Harijan welfare. Her proficiency in Hindi came in handy, she says, with a twinkle in her eye. In course of time, many of the Seva Dal volunteers made the transition to public life and social work.
“Since 1941, I was in the Women’s Indian Association — the oldest women’s movement in India. It was started by Theosophists Annie Beasant and Margaret Cousins, who wanted a platform for Indian women,” she remembers.
Sarojini Varadappan steadily rose up the hierarchy, serving as its honorary secretary for 28 years, and later became president — a post she continues to hold.
Among the numerous projects of the Women’s Indian Association, which now has 75 branches, are a working women’s hostel, creches for working mothers, family counselling centers and legal assistance for women going through divorce, numerous job-oriented courses, and assistance for women entrepreneurs. Under Varadappan’s stewardship, much ground was covered in the area of literacy, translating to 50,000 literates.
Also, as president of the Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch, until 2007, Varadappan expanded its scope, from running a blood bank to organising massive relief during natural disasters.
The nonagenarian has also played a catalytic role in the field of education, with a number of schools and a college to her credit.
While she maintains that the approach of NGOs vis-a-vis the government is more personal, she laments the fact that while some dedicated NGOs do good work, most social workers hanker after publicity and awards, and professionally trained ones come for the money. Her biggest regret is that not enough youth are getting into this sector. “We need a second line,” she says.
Politics was never on her agenda in spite of her lineage (she happens to be the daughter of the former CM of the erstwhile Madras province, M Bhaktavatchalam). Her name was proposed for a Rajya Sabha membership more than once, but it fell through due to a conspiracy of circumstances. Notwithstanding indifferent health, this Padmashri and Padma Bhushan awardee still packs in a lot. “I don’t know how I managed to complete my autobiography,” she laughs.
Reading, music (her accomplishments in Carnatic music — vocal and instrumental — are impressive), and playing host to friends who drop by to seek her counsel (she is associated with over 25 NGOs) keep her busy. Nevertheless, the dyed-in-the-wool social worker in Sarojini Varadappan still feels, “Whatever we do is a drop in the ocean. That we don’t have time is not an excuse. We have plenty of time.”