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Politics and education
Annie Besant
Her life
Born in London in 1847, Annie Besant was a writer, speaker and campaigner for workers and women before she made India her home in 1893.
She founded schools, including the Central Hindu College that grew into Banaras Hindu University, launched the Home Rule League in 1916, and in 1917 became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress. She died in Adyar, Chennai, in 1933.
Achievements
- ✦Founded the Home Rule League in India
- ✦Became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress in 1917
On the timeline
1917
Women's groups demand the right to vote, led by Sarojini Naidu and Annie Besant.
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