Nirmala Deshpande

Born: 19 October 1929

Died: 1 May 2008

She was a noted Indian social activist who had embraced Gandhian philosophy.
She devoted her adult life to the promotion of communal harmony and service to women, tribal people, and the dispossessed in India.
She was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of India in 2006 and was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz posthumously by Pakistan in 2010.
She joined Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan movement in 1952.
She undertook a 40,000-km journey on foot –padayatra—across India to carry Gandhi’s message of Grām Swarāj.
She recognized that it was difficult to practice Gandhian principles, yet believed that doing so was the only way towards a truly democratic society.
She was known to be the spirit behind peace marches in Punjab and Kashmir when violence was at its peak in those states.
Her peace mission to Kashmir in 1994 and her initiative in organizing India-Pakistan meet in 1996 were her two major public service achievements.
The Tibetan cause against Chinese suppression was also close to her heart.
She continually worked for harmony between India and Pakistan.
Even her mortal remains were immersed in the Indus river of Sindh province in Pakistan.