Andhra Mahila Sabha was the brainchild of Durgabai Deshmukh who established it to provide education and specialised courses to women. The idea of this Sabha germinated in her mind years before it was officially established. It grew out of Balika Hindi Pathasala in the Kakinada district where Durgabai used to study and teach Hindi as a young girl.
Durgabai’s zeal to teach and help women and establish institutions like the Benaras Hindu University led her to start a children’s club in 1937 called “The Little Ladies of Brindavan” with her mother. They started Hindi language classes and around a hundred and fifty women and children were taught singing and dancing.
Durgabai realising the need for an independent women’s body founded the Andhra Mahila Sabha in 1938. Several prominent princely rulers and national leaders donated land and money for building women’s school and hostel. Soon the Sabha started training women in the vocations of spinning, tailoring, weaving and making bamboo, canes, mats and handmade paper. Prominent female leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Rukmini Arundel and Rangamma Obul Reddy presided over its annual day celebrations.
With support from independent India’s Government, Andhra Mahila Sabha opened more facilities like hospitals, educational institutions and training facilities, especially for women.
This Sabha was a major step towards women’s empowerment in India.
Source: Indian Culture Portal