From the very early times women have played a notable role in social, cultural and political life of India. Today

women is at the top of the world as they achieved prominence in all walks of life.

KIRAN BEDI: The tough Indian women with a multifaceted and inspiringly dynamic Personality is one of the lone crusaders Whose ideal is to "hate crimes but no Criminals.” A personality that radiates honesty, confidence, dignity, courage. Along with a genuine sympathy for the

Underprivileged is her qualities .Right from her childhood this courageous lady believed that "the sky is the limit. Her parents have been her inspiration. She did well in sports. During 1972 Asian Lawn Tennis Tournament for women, she emerged champion. At the same time she was very good in her education. She passed her M.A Political Science with distinction and won a gold medal. In the same year she passed her Civil Services Examination. She became the first Indian woman to enter I.P.S in 1972. She won an Asia Region Award for the prevention of drug abuse and later, the prestigious Magsaysay award in 1994.for her great efforts and work. But even at the peak of glory Bedi was simple-hearted. The bulk of the prisoners of Tihar jail are illiterates and Mrs. Bedi firmly believes this to be one of the main reasons for the increasing crime rates.

She says-" If you have no education, if you can’t read a good book, if you can’t think an inspiring thought, then the idle minds turns to devil’s workshop”. ‘Education is a great preventer of crimes’. About the prisoners she says, "These people are brought here for correction & to find the right direction”. The lesson one has to learn is,

"IF ONE PUTS SINCERE EFFORTS TO ONE’S TARGET ONE IS BOUND TO GET FRUITS OF SUCCESS.”

MOTHER TERESA: On August 27^th , 1910 this remarkable woman born in Skopje ,Yugoslavia .

"We cannot serve the poor for love of all money in the world. But we do it in the name of god.”

These words of Mother Teresa show about the completeness in sacrifice of self ,love and compassion towards the poorest poor.

She chose her vocation at the age of 12, for almost at age of 17 she took shelter in Loreto Convent. When she returning from an errand, she saw a slum in Calcutta .

Her heart went out to the people there .she had found her vocation ,her real calling.

In 1946 she asked for permission to work in the slum .She left her convent. With only 5/- in pocket this brave woman learned a few basic medical skills and began to live in slums.

In 1948 she started her first school in the slums. She took for her dress a blue bordered white sari which later became the uniform of sisters. Slowly people started to come to her for help and medicine. There were early tuberculosis cases,

But as funds were not sufficient she set on begging expeditions her self which were quite disappointing at first .

Mother Teresa asked for a building where she and her workers could care these people. In 1952 the corporation gave her a dharmasala in the neighbourhood of the Kali Temple which is one of Calcutta’s old landmarks. This became "Nirmal Hirday” a home of dying destitutes. When asked if there is any place where she had not reached, her replay way "If there are poor on moon we shall go there too.” Once a person remarked that she was a nun out to convert Hindus to Christianity. Another said that this foreigner was doing this work not only for the sake of money, but also to make more Christians. They did not realize that she understood every word they said. For a long while she heard them in silence. Finally, she turned to them and said, gently but in a determined voice "Ami Bharater Bharat Amar” which means "I am Indian and India is mine.” This shows her love for adopted motherland.

She served such people until such a period that they could stand straight and pick up energy to work. She did not serve the people for recognition, but accepted

The awards only in the name of poor. Indeed, even after her death, mother had done India proud. She has become immortal not only in India but world over.

M.S. SUBBALAKSHMI: The queen of Carnatic vocalist
M.S. Subbalakshmi was born on 16/09/1916, in the temple town of Madurai, Shanmugavadium Subbalakshmi’s heart yearned for music right from interception. She grew up singing & listening to music. Under the able guidance of her mother & mentor,

M.S. Subbalakshmi started playing veena & singing bhajans. She was trained by several eminent musicians like Srinivasa Iyer, Musiri Subramanya Iyer & Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

Fondly known as Kunjumma, M.S. Subbalakshmi entered the world of limelight at a tender age of 12, when she gave her first public recital in Chennai. In a society

Dominated by male chauvinism, M.S. had faced an uphill task to shine. Her rising to fame was inevitable and soon she conquered the world of music through her spiritual, melodious & devotional music at 22, Kunjumma entered the world of Tamil cinema with her maiden venture in Seva Sadanan .Her versatile performence

In Shankuntala & Meera gained her world-wide acclaim. So much so that Meera had been dubbed in Hindi too. Her role as sage Narada in Savithri enthralled the audience & made her an instant hit. At the age of 24 she married Sadasivam, who encouraged & supported M.S through his genius work.

After her marriage, it was from then that Subbalakshmi’s music began to acquire grandeur and depth. She started her musical journey in 1944 with concerts for the Kasturaba Memorial Fund, culminating with the presentation of her great 1977 swaralaya Puraskaran concert at the age of 80. She was the first Carnatic musician to have a following in North India, the first also to introduce the South Indian classical system to the west. Little wonder, she was the first woman to be awarded the title of "Sangita Kalanidhi” of the Music Academy, Chennai, a title which is the dream of every Carnatic musician. She has also made her music debut abroad which was highly appreciated. M.S with her mystique charm became the unparalleled queen of the Indian music & a cynosure of all eyes. Singing is like meditation to her. She could sing well in Bengali, Tamil ,Malayalam, Kannada,

Sanskrit & Hindi & she had been well accepted both by the south Indians & North Indians.
M.S. Subbalakshmi was honoured with the "Padma Bhushan” in 1954, the Ramon Magsaysay in 1974, Padma Vibhushan in1975. Kalidas Samman for classical music in 1988-89, the Spirit of Freedom in 1989, Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in 1990”. She was the first musician to be awarded the "Bharat Ratna.” It was honoured on 13 January 1999. Yet all these awards made her humbler at heart. M.S Subbalakshmi is an epitome of humility , simplicity, elegance & generosity. She is the only Carnatic vocalist who is well-versed in Bharatnatyam and Mridangam [the South’s version of tabla.] Her shlokas, bhajans and kirtanas have become a class of their own.

The queen vocalist M.S Subbalakshmi passed away on 11/12/2004 at 11:45pm due to viral fever & Pneumonia. We should all wish that her music be immortal.