Dr. Sushila Agrawal is ninety-five-years old. She was an academician and writer. Though she was born in an era when women had limited opportunities, she lived a life which even women of today can only dream of.

Dr. Sushila Agrawal was born and brought up in Udaipur. She was the first child of her family. Even though she was a girl child, her family gave her equal importance and love as they would have given to a boy child.

Dr. Sushila says that her family never discriminated between a girl and boy. Her grandfather would always say that love a girl child more as she would go to her in-laws’ house after her marriage whereas a boy child will be with you forever.

Dr. Sushila was interested in studying. Her family always supported her. She did her BA in Udaipur itself. She did her MA and PhD at Allahabad University. Dr. Sushila always wanted to make a career in academia. She started teaching at a university and became a professor. Besides teaching, she would also write. Her first book entitled “Press, Public Opinion, and Government in India” was published by California University. Her first book also got admiration in London. Later, her two more books got published. Title of her second book was Third World and International Organisation.

In 1971, Dr. Sushila went to Canada. There she worked as a fellow at the Centre for Developing Area Studies. She researched on foreign aid in India and its impact on India’s development. To add to her repertoire, she has written three books and edited four books. Besides, she has been the Vice President and then President of Society for African Studies in India. She has also been the Honorary Director of Women Studies Centre, Jaipur.

Dr. Sushila says that though in olden times there were restrictions on women by society, they were respected. Today women have been given more freedom, but respect for them has not increased by any means.

Even after her retirement Dr. Sushila continued working. She would travel to Delhi frequently for her work. She served as the Education Secretary of Mahila Mandal. She was also a member of the advisory committee of Seva Mandir.