Eminent Gandhian Sushila Nayar dead

Wardha, Jan 3
Dr. Sushila Nayar President of the Kasturba Health Society and Director of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram passed away due to the cardiac arrest at 4 pm at her residence on Wednesday. Born on December 26 1914 in Kunjah district of West Punjab now in Pakistan, Dr. Nayar did her MBBS and MD from the Punjab University. She later completed her M.P.H. and Dr. PHD From John Hopkins University Baltimore, US.

From her childhood she was associated with Mahatma Gandhi & plunged herself in the Freedom Struggle. During the Quit India Movement she was in detention at Aga Khan Palace detention camp along with Bapu & Kasturba Gandhi. She participated in Gandhiji's programmes for peace and communal harmony in Nokhali Punjab and continued to do so till Mahatma Gandhi's death in 1948. She also participated in Vinoba Bhave's Bhudan Movement and led a padyatra from Kanyakumari  to Kashmir in 1956-1957.  After Independence she became active in politics.

She authored many books which included 'Bapu Ki Karavas ki Kahani' which won the President's Award in 1952. English translation of this book was later published in 1955. In 1948 she wrote Himari B. A. Navjeevan'. The book was co-authored by Vanmala Parikh. In 1950 Dr. Nayar wrote 'Kasturba-Wife of Gandhi'. Her famous books are Satyagraha at work, India Awakened, preparing for Swarajya and Final Fight for Freedom. Besides the Presidents Award for her book in 1952 Dr Nayar also got Desikouttama by Vishva Barite University, Shantiniketan in 1955 while in 1996 she got Amol Prabha Das Award given by BA Bapu Samiti, Pune.

During her illustrious career, Dr. Nayar also held various positions in different organizations. She was founder of Kasturba Hospital Sevagram, Secretary of Medical Board of Kasturba Trust, President of Indian Council of Medical Research (1962-67). Member of Governing body of ICMR (1962=67 and 1977-79) President of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, President of the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, chairperson of the Indian Red cross society (1964-67) President of the National Society for prevention of blindness, founder member of Indian council of Child Welfare, international Vice chairperson of WILPF and member of International Executive committee of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

The last rites were performed on 4 January 2000 afternoon at Vriddhashram area in the premises of Boy's Hostel on Warud Road.

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