Tue Apr 08 17:09:30 UTC 2025: ## Forgotten Patriot’s Life Chronicled in New Biography

**Chennai, April 8, 2025** – A newly translated biography, “The India I Saw,” sheds light on the remarkable life of S. Ambujammal (1899-1981), a largely forgotten Indian freedom fighter and social worker. The book, a translation of the Tamil biography “Naan Kanda Bharatham,” was released by Rupa Publications with support from the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation. Proceeds from sales will benefit the Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam (SGN), a social service organization Ambujammal founded in 1948.

Born into a wealthy Iyengar family, Ambujammal’s early life was marked by neglect as a sickly girl child. However, a pivotal encounter with Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 transformed her life, leading her to actively participate in the Indian independence movement. The biography details her involvement in protests, picketing, and even imprisonment. Ambujammal’s contributions extend beyond the freedom struggle; she translated works of prominent Hindi writers into Tamil, including a Munshi Premchand story that became the basis for M.S. Subbulakshmi’s debut film. At Gandhi’s request, she also translated the Tulsi Ramayana.

Following Gandhi’s assassination, Ambujammal dedicated herself to social service, establishing the SGN to uplift women. After independence, she served as chairperson of the Madras Social Welfare Board and oversaw the 1955 Avadi Congress. Today, a street in Alwarpet, Chennai, where the SGN is located, bears her name, a fitting tribute to a woman who overcame early adversity to leave a lasting legacy. The book, translated by V. Sriram, offers a compelling portrait of a significant figure in Indian history, whose story has remained largely untold.

Read More