Who was the first woman to be nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha?

Explanation

In 1952, Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904-1986), the dancer who revived Bharatanatyam and founded Kalakshetra, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India. She was the first woman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha. She served two terms, from 1952 to 1962.

The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, can have up to 12 members nominated by the President under Article 80 of the Constitution, from among people with special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service. Many famous artists have been nominated, including Prithviraj Kapoor, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar, M.F. Husain, Sonal Mansingh and Ilaiyaraaja.

In the Rajya Sabha, Rukmini Devi is especially remembered for her work for animal welfare. She introduced a private member's bill for the prevention of cruelty to animals, which led to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, one of the most important animal protection laws in India. She also served as the first Chairperson of the Animal Welfare Board of India, set up in 1962. In 1977, Prime Minister Morarji Desai offered to nominate her for the post of President of India, but she declined.

Rukmini Devi was born in Madurai in 1904 and was associated with the Theosophical Society. She learnt Sadir (the earlier form of Bharatanatyam) at a time when the dance had lost social respect, and she worked to give it dignity and a new identity. She founded Kalakshetra in Chennai in 1936. She received the Padma Bhushan (1956) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (1967).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sarojini Naidu was a poet and freedom fighter and the first woman Governor of an Indian state (United Provinces), but she was not nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
• ✗Lata Mangeshkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1999, much later.
• ✗Vyjayanthimala was elected to the Lok Sabha and later served in the Rajya Sabha.