Indian women have always proved their bravery and intelligence.
If the importance of proper education is understood and proper knowledge is imparted to every child from childhood without any gender discrimination, then definitely the development of the society and the country will reach the highest peak.
Got married at the age of 13. Due to her intelligence and willingness to learn, she landed managerial duties at the family's shipping company.
India's first shipping company was once headed by a woman. Sumati Morarji, known as the First Lady of Indian Shipping.
She single-handedly managed a fleet of 43 ships and more than 6 thousand employees.
She helped to establish a model for modern Indian shipping companies that would promote to the world not only the underpinnings of business values but also the ideas of Indian culture and heritage.
Her name is also included in the count of Mahatma Gandhi's friends. Sumati Morarji also showed her participation in many freedom movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi.
In the year 1971, she was honored with the Padma Vibhushan Award by the Government of India.
Let us know the life journey of Sumati Morarji…
Read This Also: India's first female pilot who flew the plane for 1000 hours at the age of 21
Early Life
Sumati Morarji was born on 13 March 1909 in Bombay (Mumbai) in a prosperous wealthy family. Her father's name was Mathuradas Gokuldas and her mother's name was Premabai.
Her parents named her Jamuna after the holy Yamuna river. Then perhaps they did not realize that the future of the only daughter among seven children was going to be linked to water.
During that time girls did not have much freedom socially. Women were trapped in the shackles of many social rules.
According to the customs of that time, at the young age of 13, Sumati Morarji (Jamuna) was married to Shanti Kumar Morarji, the only son of pre-independence famous industrialist Narottam Morarji.
Narottam Morarji, along with being a businessman in the textile industry, also established the Scindia Steam Navigation Company in the year 1919.
It was beyond imagination that the reins of the shipping company established by Narottam Morarji were going to come into the hands of Sumati Morarji (Jamuna).
Sumati Morarjee and Shanti Kumar Morarjee Marriage Affair Since it was the growing relationship between two rich and famous families, this wedding was one of the biggest social events in Bombay. The events continued for almost a week. And the discussion about this marriage continued for a month.
Read This Also: India's first woman Air Force pilot Harita Kaur Deol to fly solo up to 10,000 feet
Jamuna to Sumati Morarji
Narottam Morarji was highly impressed by Jamuna's sharp intelligence quick learning skills and dedication to acquiring knowledge. And they changed her name from Jamuna to Sumati.
Sumati is a Sanskrit word that means 'woman of superior intelligence'. At that age, Sumati Morarji was proficient in Hindi, English, and Marathi languages.
She repeatedly expressed her keen interest in the business affairs of the Morarji family and often shared her brilliant ideas.
Due to the early demise of her mother-in-law, she took full responsibility for the house as well.
Read This Also: The Kargil girl Gunjan Saxena first pilot of Indian Air Force
As the first shipping lady
In the year 1923, at the age of 14, Sumati Morarji was nominated to the managing agency of Scindia Steam Navigation Company. Which was somewhat unheard of for the times.
At the age of 20, she was inducted into the company's board of directors.
At that time the shipping trade was in its infancy. Narottam Morarji had lobbied for some ships to transport cargo between India and Europe.
Sumati Morarji has gone from humble beginnings sailing a few ships to gradually growing. In the year 1946, she took full charge of the company.
Building on her experience and expertise, she developed the shipping business spectacularly over the next few decades.
She single-handedly increased the company's fleet to 43 large ships weighing 5,52,000 tons. She managed over 6,000 employees. She also became the President of the Indian Fleet Association.
Due to her amazing work, she was elected as the first woman president of the Indian National Steamship Owners Association from 1956-1958 and again in 1965, which was later renamed the Indian National Ship Owners Association.
After India's independence, as Indian trade grew, ships played an important role in facilitating exports and imports.
Sumati Morarji made major contributions to Indian trade relations and transportation with her expertise and experiences.
By the year 1965, Scindia Steam Navigation Company, run by Sumati Morarji, became one of the oldest, largest, and most respected establishments in India.
In the year 1970, she became the Vice President of the World Shipping Federation, London.
She also served as the Chairman of Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping.
She was the chairperson of the company from 1979 to 1987. Unfortunately, the debt-ridden company was taken over by the then Shipping Credit and Investment Corporation of India.
At that time 23 ships of the company, which Sumati Morarji called her daughters, were sold. She remained chairperson emeritus of the company until 1992.
Read This Also: India’s first Woman Merchant Navy Captain Radhika Menon
Role in the freedom struggle
Sumati Morarji and her husband Shanti Kumar Morarji made important contributions to India's freedom struggle. Sumati Morarji was one of the close friends of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhiji used to correspond with her regularly. Between 1942 and 1946, Sumati Morarji fully cooperated with him in the underground movements for independence.
Sumati Morarji, through her fleet, helped the Sindhis to get safely from Pakistan to India during the Ashanti partition.
Read This Also: Meet The first woman Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force and the first Indian woman to conduct scientific research on the North Pole
Social Work
Sumati Morarji was deeply spiritual and a devotee of Shrinath Ji. She used to worship Tulsi.
In 1965, she arranged a ticket for Swami Prabhupada, later the founding Acharya of ISKCON, to travel to New York on his ship Jaladatta.
She founded Vidya Kendra School in Juhu, Mumbai.
She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor, in 1971 for her civil services.
Read This Also: India's youngest commercial pilot at the age of 19, Maitri Patel
Death
Sumati Morarji died on 27 June 1998 at the age of 89 due to heart failure.
Sumati Morarji was truly the mother of Indian shipping.
Read More:
0 Comments
Please do not enter any spam link in the comment box.