29 Facts About Vidyaben Shah

Vidyaben Shah was an Indian social worker and activist known for her work with children, women and the elderly in India.

Vidyaben Shah has held several leading positions in the field of social welfare since the 1940s.

Vidyaben Shah died at the age of 97 on 19 June 2020 at her residence in Delhi, her son Mihir Shah confirmed the news of Vidyaben Shah death.

Vidyaben Shah has been associated with a large number of organisations working for child welfare, education, Women and Family Welfare, Civic Administration, Fine Arts and Culture, Welfare of the Disabled, Senior Citizens and many other social and relief work activities.

Vidyaben Shah has received numerous awards for her distinguished work, including the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992.

In 1940 at a social function she met her would be husband Manubhai Vidyaben Shah who went on to become a Union Cabinet Minister in the governments of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi.

Vidyaben Shah became President of Bal Sahyog in 1966 and remained its President for the next ten years.

Vidyaben Shah was President of the Indian Council for Child Welfare for twelve years from 1976 to 1979, and 1985 to 1994; ICCW is the single largest institution in India working for the welfare of children.

Vidyaben Shah represented India at the United Nations International Year of the Child conference at Tashkent in 1979.

Vidyaben Shah attended International Conferences on children held at Tehran, Geneva and Birmingham, USA.

Vidyaben Shah attended the 6th SAARC Summit in Colombo in 1991.

Vidyaben Shah was the Chairperson of the Christian Children's Fund Advisory Board for five years.

Vidyaben Shah set targets of providing support for at least one FCC and one WWH per district in the country.

Vidyaben Shah represented India at the 42nd Meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women held in New York in 1998.

Vidyaben Shah was President and active Trustee of Delhi Gujarati Samaj for over 40 years since 1958, playing a formative role in developing the multifarious social, cultural and educational activities for the Gujaratis of Delhi.

One of the most popular initiatives of the Samaj under Vidyaben Shah's leadership was the development of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Bhavan.

Vidyaben Shah pioneered the setting up of the Mahatma Gandhi Sanskrutik Kendra in the 1970s for facilitating cultural exchange between the people of Delhi.

Vidyaben Shah played a leading role in the establishment of one of Delhi's most renowned schools, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.

Vidyaben Shah has been singly instrumental in establishing Sardar Patel Vidyaniketan, a school in the rural village of Mandi near Delhi.

Against all odds, over many years Vidyaben Shah continued her efforts with all the relevant authorities to finally get official recognition of the school.

Vidyaben Shah played the most pioneering role in the establishment of the Triveni Kala Sangam, a premier institution for imparting training in dance, music and painting.

Vidyaben Shah did a significant proportion of the fund raising for the construction of this renowned institution and has been the President of Triveni Kala Sangam for over five decades, while the institution has been very ably run by its distinguished and creative Founder Director Sundari Krishnalal Shridharani.

Vidyaben Shah was responsible for initiating the concept of Navyug Schools that has proved a landmark in the educational field for gifted children from the economically weaker sections of the society.

Vidyaben Shah worked to improve the civic amenities and essential services of a rapidly growing metropolitan area of Delhi, to beautify it and make life comfortable for the citizens of Delhi.

Vidyaben Shah used her fundraising skills in providing relief in many national calamities, such as Bihar floods and Andhra Pradesh cyclone of the 1970s and Gujarat floods of the early 1980s.

Vidyaben Shah continued to be a trustee of the Helen Keller Trust in India.

In 2007 Vidyaben Shah was invited to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment to examine the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill 2007".

Vidyaben Shah was Chairperson of the Bhagidari Scheme of Delhi Government and a Sahayogi of an Electricity Board in Delhi.

Vidyaben Shah was President Emeritus of the All India Kitchen Garden Association which encourages the growing of vegetables and flowers using organic methods and following of healthy lifestyle and eating habits across Delhi and other states.