Smt. Rukmini Lakshmipati born on 06.12.1892, in a landlord’s family from Madurai, graduated from Presidency College, Madras and was subsequently married to Dr.AchantaLakshmipati, a staunch nationalist and thus began an involvement in the national movement for independence. She was deeply influenced by the thought and deeds of such eminent national leaders as Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu and C. Rajagopalachari.
She first made her presence felt in the area of social reform as secretary of the “BharataStriMahamandal”, Madras. She was a prominent member of Women’s Indian Association since its inception. She also had the honour of working as the President of the Youth League in Madras, an organization dedicated to the upliftment of women. To her and similar social reformers, goes the credit of actively pursuing and getting passed social Legislation raising the age of marriage, age of consent etc. Mrs. Lakshmipati also presided over the Youth Tamil Conference which was convened at Madurai, Victoria Edward Hall.
She became a member of the Congress Party in 1923, giving up all her jewellery to the Harijan Welfare Fund of Gandhiji. She further participated in the Salt Satyagraha in 1931 at Vedaranayam and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. She was arrested in the Civil Disobedience Movement and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Smt. Rukmini Lakshmipati served as the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee during 1935-36 and was elected Municipal councilor. In 1936 she presided over the Tamil Nadu Provincial Committee held at Karaikudi. In 1937, she returned to the Madras Legislative Assembly and also became a Member of the Working Committee of the Indian National Congress. She served next as the Deputy Speaker of the Madras Legislative Assembly during the first Congress Ministry. She visited Japan as a Member of the Good Will Mission (1938). In 1940, she was again sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for participation I the Satyagraha Movement. After the World War, when the Congress assumed office, she was elected again to the Madras Legislative Assembly and was made Minister for Health in the Ministry formed by Sri T. Prakasam in 1946. In Independent India, she continued to be an MLA till her death on 6th August, 1951. She also served on several local bodies like corporation of Madras and Chinglepet District Board. She further served as an Honorary Presidency Megistrate at Madras.