Maniben Kara

Maniben Kara (1905–1979) was an Indian social worker and trade unionist. She was a founder member of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha and served as its president. She was honoured by the Government of India in 1970 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.

Early life Born in 1905 in Bombay, British India (now Mumbai) in a middle-class family to an Arya Samaj member, Maniben Kara did her schooling at St. Columba High School, Gamdevi, Mumbai and secured a diploma in Social science from the University of Birmingham.

Career Returning to India in 1929, she got involved with the Independence movement, founded Seva Mandir and a printing press and published Independent India, a nationalist publication for the Indian revolutionary, M. N. Roy. and started engaging in trade union activism. and was also involved with the All India Railwaymen's Federation and was its former president. She was also a founding member of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and other government initiatives.

Maniben Kara, who never contested in a political election, was honoured by the Government of India with the civilian award of Padma Shri in 1970. Nine years later, she died, at the age of 74. and maintains the Maniben Kara Foundation Hall, in Grant Road area in Mumbai.