Dayawati Modi was born in Kasganj — a small village in Uttar Pradesh. Daughter of Chheda Lal, Dayawati lost her mother at the age of three. She self educated herself, acquiring knowledge of the Vedas, and the Gita was the book to which she looked for guidance.

On June 19, 1932, Dayawati Modi married Gujarmal Modi at the age of seventeen and came to live in a joint family in Patiala comprising about a hundred people, whose needs and comfort she looked after with dedication. At her suggestion, Gujar Mal came to Begumabad, renamed it Modinagar and set up his first sugar factory. The fortunes of the Modi group of industries began to rise.

“I had a chance to read as my uncle had a good library. In the light of Diya I read late till night. My favorite reading included stories of Indian Heroes and Heroines. I was married at the age of seventeen and I went to his home in Patiala. It was a period of two years of struggle as I was a member of a joint family and the other women were mostly illiterate. My husband welcomed me as a Lakshmi and understood my plight. We left Patiala and came to UP and established Modi Nagar in 1934."

Now that he had money, Gujar Mal in 1935 gave Dayawati two options: either she could buy jewellery with their new funds or she could use them to develop Modinagar. She chose the latter, and set out with vigour and determination to establish schools and colleges.

Social worker

She admired Gandhi ji and was motivated by him.

'If you are ever in doubt whether what you are going to do is right or wrong. Here is a test I suggest. Think of the poorest man you have seen and ask yourself; Will what I am doing will benefit him ? If the answer is yes than you are on the right track.’ - M.K. Gandhi

When partition tore apart the country, and with it the lives of millions of countrymen, Smt. Modi was right there to give her helping hand. She worked whole-heartedly in the refugee camps and provided the unfortunate victims of the tragedy with food, clothing, shelter and her soothing and leaving touch.

A firm believer in women’s self-reliance, widow remarriage and education, she set up in 1954 the Samaj Kalyan Parishad, to provide vocational training, adult education, and widow rehabilitation. Many development schemes were started in the districts surrounding Modinagar.

The work can be termed as philanthropy or act of love or one can simply define it as "the will to do Good."

Welfare of women and children; widow rehabilitation; Rural education and vocational training, Leprosy Relief, Eye care and Family planning camps. The work of the Samaj Kalyan Parishad established in 1954 is a reflection of many things. Above all, it is an evidence of how much a woman, whose first altruistic activities began in a small post-partition refugee camp, can do for her fellow begins .... with a little help from God and from other people dedicated to the same noble cause.

Mrs. Dayawati Modi also worked for the relief of leprosy patients and worked to return these people to where they belong – the mainstream of life.

Women Empowerment

The greatness of Smt. Dayawati Modi revealed from the fact that she was not just concerned with the material achievement of her immediate family; on the contrary, as a dedicated educationist and social worker she believed in the education and uplift-ment of women and children, particularly those among the underprivileged.

Welfare of Women & Children and Widow Rehabilitation was her prime focus. The Center of Vocational Training in Modinagar run by the Samaj Kalyan Parisad Parishad trained women in various skills like tailoring and embroidery. On acquiring a certain level of proficiency in their chosen skills, these women were helped by Mrs. Modi to make a decent living for themselves. The Late Smt. Dayawati Modi personified courage and fortitude. She stepped out of her home to work for the upliftment of underprivileged women and children. And as staunch supporter of widow remarriage, she helped widows integrate themselves into society.

Her strong conviction was that the minimum prerogative of every woman was to receive due respect as a person and to have economic freedom. She served as a member of the Planning Committee of the All India Women’s Conference.

Educationist

The greatness of Smt. Dayawati Modi is revealed from the fact that she was not just concerned with the material achievement of her immediate family; on the contrary, as a dedicated educationist and social worker she believed in the education and upliftment of women and children, particularly those among the underpriviledged.


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