Pramila Dandavate

Pramila Dandavate
Member of Parliament,Lok Sabha
In office 1980-84
Preceded by	Ahilya Rangnekar
Succeeded by	Sharad Dighe
Constituency	Mumbai North Central
Personal details
Born	(1928-08-27)27 August 1928 Bombay,British India
Died	31 December 2001(2001-12-31)(aged 73)
Political party	Janata Party
Source:[1]

Pramila Dandavate(Devanagari:) (1928–2001) was a political activist from Mumbai, associated with thePraja Socialist Partyand later with theJanata Party.

Early life and background

Pramila Dandavate was born on 27 August 1928 born to Janardan and Lakshmibai Karande.Her father was a gynaecologist whose clinic andmaternity hospitalwere located near theGirgaum Chowpattyand who alo served as the President of the Mumbai Obstetrics & Gynecological Society from 1950 to 1952.

Dandavate was associated with theSwastik Leagueduring her childhood.TheSwastik Leaguewas an organisation established byM. R. Jayakar.

Dandavate started her schooling at age 5 and painting was her hobby. TheSecond World Warhad started and sinceBombaywas a part of the British Empire, there were rumours thatBombaycould possible be attacked by theAxis powers.As a result, manymiddle classfamilies fromBombaystarted sending their families to their ancestral homes inKonkan.Dandavate and her siblings was sent toMalvanand she completed her fourth standard (which was equal to today's eight standard) from theAnant Shivaji DesaiTopiwala High School. At that time, Rashtra Seva Dal activists like Dnyaneshwar Deulkar used to hold theshakhaand Dandavate started attending it.

The downfall of theAxis PowersincludingGermanyandJapanled to a sense of security among the residents ofBombay,and Pramila returned to the city with her siblings. Dandavate was then enrolled in theChikitsak Samuha Shirolkar High Schooland she pursued herMatriculation in Indiafrom the High School. She started attending a Rashtra Seva DalshakhaatGirgaumsince 1945. After herMatriculation in India,Dandavate was enrolled in aHome economicscourse at theSophia College for Women.But Dandavate did not complete the course and after a year at home joined theSir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Artfrom which she earned a graduate degree in Fine Arts in the year 1951.

AfterVinoba Bhavestarted theBhoodan movement,Dandavate painted some posters about the movement with the help of her associates. These posters were published inSadhana (weekly).In view of her dedication and love for art, she was appointed as a teacher at an Art School where she worked for some time. Although Dandavate enjoyed art, she was always attracted towards the Rashtra Seva Dal activities. She also liked dancing and had taken lessons from the accomplished dancerMadame Menaka,alsk known as Leila Sokhey.

Dandavate was elected as member to Mumbai Municipal Corporation during 1968-1973. She had representedMumbai North Central (Lok Sabha constituency)in 7th Lok Sabha in 1980-84 asJanata Partycandidate.

Dandavate died in New Delhi on 31 December 2001, aged 73.

External links

• Official Biographical Sketch in Lok Sabha Website