Mumbai: Women’s empowerment cannot depend on society granting them freedom; it requires education, economic independence and the courage to challenge established norms. This is the conviction that has guided Vijayalaxmi Aney through decades of teaching law and working with women and children, from running an experimental nursery school in Nagpur to supporting vulnerable communities in Mumbai. A lawyer by qualification who chose teaching over courtroom practice, Aney, the wife of noted lawyer and former advocate general of Maharashtra Srihari Aney, has combined her interest in constitutional law with grassroots social work. Her initiatives have ranged from creating a child-friendly learning environment at Muktangan, a nursery school she founded in Nagpur, to working with organisations supporting street children and promoting women’s welfare. “I believe that while a person learns from observing others, he becomes strong through his own actions. Change does not come through others,” she says, articulating a philosophy that places individual agency at the heart of empowerment. Aney’s understanding of self-reliance was shaped early in life. Growing up in Mehekar, in Buldana district, she saw her mother, Malti Deshmukh, take up a job after the early death of her father, lawyer and later judge Shrikrishna Deshmukh, to support the family and educate her six daughters. The experience reinforced her belief that education and the ability to earn a livelihood are essential to independence. After graduating in science and working in a bank, Aney pursued law following the birth of her son, Madhav. She stood first in the LLB examination at Nagpur University and won several medals. She subsequently completed an LLM in constitutional law and briefly worked in court with advocate Sanyal, a prominent Communist leader, before opting for academia. She began teaching constitutional law and the interpretation of statutes at University College of Law in Nagpur. Teaching offered her the satisfaction of making complex legal concepts accessible and helping students develop independent perspectives. One of her most rewarding moments came when a student told her that her LLB lectures had helped her clear the LLM examination. Creating Spaces Aney’s commitment to education extended beyond formal classrooms. In Nagpur, she worked with Deen Dayal Shodh Sansthan’s Bal Jagat, an organisation dedicated to children’s all-round development. She also contributed to initiatives promoting art, music and theatre, including the Athawale Chitrakala Spardha, which involved thousands of schoolchildren across Vidarbha. Her most personal initiative was Muktangan, a nursery school built around the play-way method. Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of a mind without fear, the school sought to make learning an experience of freedom rather than fear. Aney recalls two children who had been turned away by larger schools because they struggled to adjust. Rather than forcing them into a conventional classroom routine, she would hold their hands and take them to a park opposite the school, allowing them to play until they gradually gained confidence and began interacting with other children. She also worked closely with educationist Kamaltai Paranjape, who developed schools and Bal Sadan, an orphanage, with an emphasis on experiential learning. As a director of Paranjape’s trust, Aney oversaw three schools and the orphanage. She regards this work as one of the most satisfying phases of her life. A Continuing Commitment After moving to Mumbai, Aney taught at Advani Law College and later at KC College of Law. She also worked with Salaam Balak Trust, which supports street children, and joined Mahila Vikas Mandal in Colaba. Over the past 25 years, she has contributed to the organisation’s programmes for women and children, serving as its president and as a trustee for the past decade. Her husband and their son supported her educational and social initiatives. Travel, literature and art also broadened her outlook, but her enduring focus has remained on education as a means of building confidence and independence. Aney believes society cannot be expected to deliver equality without women asserting their right to make choices and decisions. “Liberation or freedom cannot be given by others; you have to fight for it. We cannot expect society to give freedom to women. It has to be fought for,” she says. For Aney, the route to empowerment lies not merely in changing attitudes but in enabling women and children to develop the confidence, knowledge and independence to shape their own lives.
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