Dayawati Modi

Background

Dayawati Modi was born in Kasganj—a small village in Uttar Pradesh. Daughter of Chheda Lal, Dayawati lost her mother at the age of three.

Career

People she helped due to her altruistic nature colloquially referred to her as Maji as a sign of respect and gratitude. The institution was at the forefront of uplifting the underprivileged by giving them access to education, vocational training and other allied support services. In honour of Dayawati Modi’s philanthropic contribution to society, her family instituted three awards: Dayawati Modi Kavi Shekhar Samman, the Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and Education and the Dayawati Modi Stree Shakti Samman.

Since her death in 1994, the Dayawati Modi Foundation has carried on with the same altruistic principles, which governed Modi"s life.

Achievements

• 1982- Shiromani Award for Sikh Studies 1983- Kala Sangam Award 1986- Bharat Seva Ratna by World Religious Parliament 1978- Included by Cambridge University in their Who’s Who of Intellectuals for the year.