March 11th, 1954
Margaret Elizabeth Cousins (née Gillespie, also known as Gretta Cousins; 7 November 1878 – 11 March 1954) was an Irish-Indian educationist, suffragist and Theosophist, who established All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) in 1927
Margaret (Gretta) Cousins, an Irish-Indian suffragist, women’s rights activist, and theosophist, passed away on March 11, 1954. Born Margaret Elizabeth Cousins in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1878, she became a significant figure in both Irish and Indian movements for women’s rights.
In Ireland, she was involved with the Irish Women’s Suffrage and Local Government Association and was instrumental in the women’s suffrage movement. After marrying James Cousins, a fellow theosophist, in 1903, her activism expanded to include a variety of social issues, including vegetarianism, theosophy, and education reform.
The Cousins moved to India in 1915, where Gretta continued her activism. She was a co-founder of the Women’s Indian Association (WIA) in 1917, a pioneering organization in the Indian women’s movement, which advocated for women’s rights, including suffrage, educational opportunities, and social reforms. She played a significant role in the fight for Indian women’s rights to vote and was also involved in the Indian nationalist movement.
Gretta Cousins’ work left a lasting impact on women’s rights movements in both Ireland and India. Her efforts helped pave the way for future generations of women activists in both countries.
