A member of the Kapurthala ruling family in Punjab, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur received education in England. Impressed by Gandhi’s message and efforts after her contact with him in 1919, she began involving herself in Congress activities.
She participated in the Satyagraha of 1930. She was put behind bars for her agitation during the Quit India Movement in 1942. She was appointed India’s first health minister after the country won freedom. From then on, she concentrated her efforts on uplift of the poor, women and children.
She was a founder-member of the All India Women’s Conference. She founded the Indian Council of Child Welfare and was its President as well. She also played a memorable role in aiding the Indian Red Cross.