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Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

(1900-1990), Indian Ambassador to the United States and President of the United Nations General Assembly

Sitter in 17 portraits
Born in Allahabad, India, the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru. Like her brother, she was imprisoned for activism during India's struggle for independence. She became the first woman to hold a cabinet position in pre-Independence India (1937). She was the leader of the All Indian Women's Conference (1941-1943). Widowed after her barrister husband Ranjit Sitaram Pandit died in jail after being arrested for Independence activism. She brought up her children independently because of discriminatory Indian laws dictated that women were not entitled to any inheritance. During her political career she was Indian ambassador in Moscow, Washington and Mexico, the leader of the Indian UN delegation (1946-8, 1952-3), the first woman president of the UN General Assembly (1953) and Indian High Commissioner to London (1954-56). She became the Indian representative to the UN Human Rights Commission in 1978.

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Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Lotte Meitner-Graf - NPG x202563

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Lotte Meitner-Graf
gelatin silver print, mid 1950s
NPG x202563

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Vivienne - NPG x133231

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Vivienne
bromide print mounted on card, late 1950s
On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x133231

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104678

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104678

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104679

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104679

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104680

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104680

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104681

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104681

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104682

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104682

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104683

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104683

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104684

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104684

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104685

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104685

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104686

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104686

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru), by Rex Coleman, for  Baron Studios - NPG x104687

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Sarup Kumari Nehru)

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 31 July 1961
NPG x104687

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