Durgabāi Deshmukh was a pioneering figure in India’s struggle for independence and the empowerment of women. A freedom fighter, social reformer, lawyer, and politician, Durgabai made a lasting impact on India’s social and political landscape. She became an active participant in the Salt Satyagraha, a key part of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Arrested multiple times for her activism, Durgabai was an unflinching advocate for women's emancipation and social welfare.

She founded the Andhra Mahila Sabha in 1937, a movement aimed at addressing the socio-economic issues faced by women in Andhra Pradesh. This initiative not only provided a platform for women’s rights but also promoted education, healthcare, and vocational training. She was also instrumental in creating the Central Social Welfare Board in 1953, which became a powerful organization working for the rehabilitation and empowerment of women, children, and the disabled across India.

One of her most significant pioneering contributions was her role in the creation of Family Courts in India. During her visit to China in 1953, she observed the functioning of family courts and realized the importance of such a system in India. She advocated for the establishment of Family Courts in India to expedite justice for women in familial matters, a concept that would take decades to be fully realized.

Durgabai was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, where she was the only woman in the panel of chairmen. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights within the assembly and played a significant role in the framing of India’s laws. Durgabai was the first to emphasize the need for a national policy on social welfare, leading to the establishment of the Central Social Welfare Board.

Her pioneering work in education, particularly for girls, led to the establishment of the National Council on Women’s Education in 1958. Through this council, she pushed for reforms that would improve access to education for girls, including the provision of free education up to Class VIII and the creation of separate departments of women’s education at the state level. Durgabai also encouraged the expansion of co-education at the higher levels of education, fostering equality for girls in academic spaces.

Durgabai’s legacy is not only marked by her leadership in politics and social reform but also by her relentless pursuit of justice and equality for women. Through her pioneering efforts in the social welfare sector and education, she laid the foundation for many policies that continue to benefit women in India today. Recognized with the Padma Vibhushan and numerous other awards, Durgabai Deshmukh’s contributions have left an indelible mark on Indian society.