Janaki Devi Bajaj

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Janaki Devi Bajaj (7 January 1893 – 21 May 1979) was an Indian independence activist. She was born in Jaora State in a Hindu family. In 1902, in an arranged marriage, she joined Jamnalal Bajaj, who would later build a large business empire; the couple had five children, including Kamalnayan Bajaj.

Janaki Devi took an active role in the freedom movement and was jailed for participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932. She supported spinning khadi, worked for Gauseva (cow protection) and the betterment of the Harijan community, and pushed for temple entry for Harijans in 1928.

After India gained independence, she worked with Vinoba Bhave on the Bhoodan movement, which encouraged land donations to the poor. She served as President of the Akhil Bhartiya Goseva Sangh for many years starting in 1942.

Her autobiography, Meri Jivan Yatra, was published in 1965. In 1956, she received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.

Janaki Devi Bajaj died on 21 May 1979. Her legacy is remembered through several institutions named after her, such as the Janaki Devi Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and the Janaki Devi Bajaj Government Postgraduate Girls College in Kota. The Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha and the IMC-Ladies Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar for Rural Entrepreneurs were also named in her honor.