Rani Lila Ram Kumar Bhargava was a renowned social worker and political leader who fought for the freedom of India. Born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Rani Lila moved to Lucknow after her marriage at the age of 16. There she became involved in community service and political activism.
Fondly known as Rani Sahiba, the philanthropist was one of the founding members of the National Council of Women in India (NCWI) and served as its President as well. Established in 1925, the NCWI connected women from Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and other urban centres, allowing them to voice their opinions in the political arena and garner international support from other such organizations. A staunch nationalist herself, Rani Lila married into the family of Munshi Nawal Kishore, a book publisher who established the oldest printing press in Asia. Kishore’s estate also made large donations to nationalist universities like Benares Hindu University and Lucknow University. Rani Lila’s husband Raja Ramkumar Bhargava was also a member of the British Indian Association which demanded rights for Indians from the British Parliament.
In 1971, Rani Lila was awarded the Padma Shri for her dedicated service to the nation and commitment towards the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden.
Source: Indian Culture Portal