​​Celebrating Indo-German Women: Bridging Cultures, Shaping History

A short overview of a few great women in history who have strengthened solid cooperation and goodwill between the two countries.

• Eva von Bahr-Bergius (1890–1972): A German architect who settled in India, Eva von Bahr-Bergius contributed to the field of architecture in India during the early to mid-20th century. She designed several buildings, blending German modernism with Indian architectural elements.
• Lilavati Munshi (1901–1983): Lilavati Munshi, of Indian and German descent, was a social worker and educationist. She co-founded the Indian Cooperative Union and played a key role in promoting cooperative movements in India.
• Jyotirmoyee Devi (1894–1988): A German-born Indian independence activist, Jyotirmoyee Devi was associated with the Indian National Congress and played a role in the freedom movement.
• Freitag, Christine (1926–2007): A German physician who spent a significant part of her life in India, Christine Freitag contributed to medical research and healthcare in India. She was associated with the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Vellore.
• Urmila Goel (1929–2014): Born in Germany, Urmila Goel was an Indologist and Sanskrit scholar who lived in India. She made substantial contributions to the study and promotion of Sanskrit literature and Indian philosophy.
• Janaki Ammal (1897- 1984): Was an Indian botanist known for her studies on plant breeding, genetics and cytogenetics. Her research on chromosome numbers in plants was crucial in selecting plants for cross-breeding and developing high-yielding varieties of sugarcane, eggplant, and magnolias. She is often referred to as the ‘woman who sweetened India’s sugar cane’.