Assurance of Learning 2

Problem Domain
Exploration
Who are the key subjects, what are
the key objects, properties and
events (SOPE) in the problem
domain?
Subject- Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal

Object-

Under privileged or
marginalized
section
of
society| Woman |INA |AIDWA |
British Rule |CPI(M)
Properties- A life journey of
activist, freedom fighter and
revolutionary Captain Lakshmi
Sehgal.
Events- Moving to Singapore |
Joining INA |Partition |Refugee
problem from Bangladesh |Sikh
Riot |Joining CPI(M)| Campaign
against Miss World Pageant|
Presidential Election |Passing of
Captain Lakshmi

Analysis

Ethical Analysis

From the given case and

additional data researched,
Capt Lakshmi Sehgal, a doctor
by
profession
was
a
revolutionary. Her life was
greatly influenced by social
and political conditions of her
time. Right from her childhood
rebellion
against
existing
social
stigma
and
discrimination against tribal,
her becoming a doctor with a
purpose of serving poor and
especially
woman,
her
association with INA as leader
of womans wing and her
becoming
Minister
of
Womans affair we can see
evolution of an activist Capt
Lakshmi. She was greatly
influenced by some of the
ladies in her life (Her mother,
Suhasini,
her
daughter
Subhasini).
She
was
motivated by woman cause.
Joining all woman regiment of
INA can be seen in this light.
Her campaign against Miss
World Pageant can be seen in
continuation. Any call for
helping poor, woman or
marginalized
section
of
society was enough for this
fighter to motivate (serving
refugees
after
partition,
helping
refugees
from
Bangladesh, her stand during
Sikh
right).Her
inclination
towards left ideology may be
seen in this light.

Is
your
SOPE
observational
and analytic search
honest, objective and
unbiased?

Predisposition
is
unavoidable. I tried to be
neutral as far as possible
but I have some basic
assumptions.
The
identity of Capt. Lakshmi
Sehgal is strongly linked
with her association with
Subhash Chandra Boses
INA. Without this identity
Captain Lakshmi Sehgal
becomes Dr. Lakshmi
Sehgal
and
is
lost
amongst many unsung
heroes
of
freedom
movement and social
activists
who
stood
against the wrong in
society.
I have based my opinion
based
on
the
facts
available in case and
some internet search. I
could
not
find
any
material to remove my
predisposition.
My SOPE observational
and analytic search is
honest, objective and
unbiased
as
far
as
possible.

What are the basic legal,

ethical and moral issues
involved in the SOPE
domain?
Legal Issues:
- Arrest under British Rule
- Arrest during her
campaign against Miss
world pageant.
Ethical Issues:
- Joining CPI(M)
- Campaign against Miss
World Pageant.
Moral Issues
- Divorce
- Joining with forces who
were critical of Subhash
Chandra Bose

Why do you consider them

legal,
ethical or moral? Are there
other legal, ethical and
moral
issues you have not
identified?
Legal Issues: Although her
regiment never went in to
active combat, she had
broken the law by being part
of a radical group INA from
British Rule perspective and
hence was arrested. From
public perspective (Indians
under British Rule) she was a
freedom fighter and this act
cannot be seen from legal
point of view. She was again
arrested for protesting against
Miss World Pageant. This act
of her if not illegal, definitely
was threat to law and order.
Ethical Issues:
Joining CPI (M) or bending towards
communist ideology: Communists
derided Netaji as running dog of
imperialism when he defied the
Communist call for support to the
British during World War II and her
strong opposition to the Miss World

Pageant raises some ethical questions.

Communists still question Netajis
role in aligning with Axis Power
(Japan, Germany and Italy) and doubt
his aggressive patriotism. Can we
imagine Capt Sehgals identity
without her association with INA?
This may not be unethical but
certainly this weakens her association
with Netaji.
As a member of AIDWA, she was
arrested for the march against the

What are the

implications and
ramifications of these
legal, ethical and
moral issues?
These issues, if not
addressed or answered
properly, have potential
to affect greatness of
Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal.
There are some space for
critics to lower the
eminence of Capt.
Lakshmi Sehgal.

beauty competition. As a woman who

fought all along her life for the cause
of woman, her stand is probably not
unethical. She might have considered
Miss World Pageant as an act of
commoditizing woman hood. Many
may consider this against freedom of
expression.
Moral Issues: Morals are values that
we attribute to a system of beliefs, be
they
religious,
political
or
philosophical, and has potential to
help or harm anyone including
yourself. For some, her divorce and
moving to Singapore to avoid certain
issues, may be a moral issue. Also
her joining of communists raises
question of morality as this has
potential to harm sentiments who
never doubted patriotism of Subhash
Chandra Bose. No doubt Capt Sehgal

History or narrative of key

SOPE elements
October 24, 1914 - Date of
Birth.
1938- Received MBBS from
Madras Medical College.
1940 After her failed
marriage left for Singapore
December 1944- March to
Burma began by INA
March 1945- the decision to
retreat was taken by the INA

is an exemplary role model in may

terms
The issues which we could not
analyze are her actions as a
student. The case material
does not through any light on
her activities as student
during freedom movement.
We suddenly see Lakshmi
Swaminathan as a doctor
leaving for Singapore after
some narrative from her
childhood.
Whom do you include or
exclude
in
the
SOPE
narrative and why? With
what consequences, and
to whom?
I would like to include
- Students movement in
1940
for
freedom
struggle and her role or
opinion.
- The reasons/motive for
her inclination towards

Is
your
SOPE
narrative, history and
analysis fair, accurate
and factual?
Yes. Our SOPE narrative
is based on the facts
presented
in
case
material. These
facts
were further verified by
some
more
sources
(news
paper
archive,
internet search, etc.). We

leadership
May 1945- arrested by the
British army
March 1946- Send to India
after house arrest in Burma,
INA trials in Delhi intensified.
March 1947- Captain Lakshmi
married Col. Prem Kumar
Sehgal, a leading figure of the
INA.
Early
1970s Daughter
Subhasini joined CPI(M),
1971 -left for Kolkata for
serving
needy
from
Bangladesh in border area.
1972- Joined CPI (M)
1981 AIDWA formed, Capt.
Sehgal was one of the founding
members
October, 1984 Assassination
of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then
PM of India.
December 1984- Bhopal Gas
Tragedy
1996 Miss World Pageant,
Bangalore
1998awarded
the Padma
Vibhushan by
Indian
president K. R. Narayanan
2002- Fought
Presidential
election against Dr. A PJ Kalam
as Lefts candidate.
July 23, 2012- Left for
heavenly abode.

left ideology. Was it

based on her free will?
- Communists
opinion
towards
Subhash
Chandra
Bose
(politically may not be
correct)
This will help me in removing
my biases. Based on the
narrative
I
describe
Dr.
Lakshmi Sehgal as activist
who struggled for the cause of
marginalized
section
of
society and for womans
cause. I am not able know
Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal as
freedom fighter. This will help
many like me.
No
exclusion.
More
information is always good.

tried to be as neutral as
possible while analyzing
the case. So the analysis
should be factual and
accurate.

Explanation of the SOPE

narrative from an ethical
and moral perspective
The fight will go on, truly
describes this lifelong fighter.
Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal never
lost any opportunity to serve
the needy, poor and woman.

Laws not complied:

- Under British rule
siding with INA was
against the law
- Arrested for protesting
against Miss World
Pageant.
Major social and cultural

Are you looking for

the right antecedents,
determinants and
concomitants?
We have exercised due
diligence in trying to
come up with the right

Even she did not hesitate in

leading all woman regiments
and risking her life for the
cause she believed in. She was
on war front along with the
brave hearts of INA fighting for
their country in the jungle of
north east and Burma leaving
behind her comfort as one of
most prosperous doctor in
Singapore.
This was Capt Sehgal
demonstrated a high ethical
and moral values. This
remained with her with rest of
her life. Whether it was flood of
refugees from Pakistan in
desperate medical need or call
of Jyoti Basu for helping
refugee from Bangladesh or
victims of Bhopal Gas tragedy
Capt Lakshmi Sehgal was
always there to take the work.
We can see the soldier in Capt
Lakshmi Sehgal During 1984
Kanpur Sikh riot where she
came in open to protect the
victims.
Her protest against Miss World
pageant may be for furthering
woman cause but casts some
shadow from ethical and moral
perspective. Some may see
this against free will of woman
or cultural activism.

antecedents: WE can always

find some great people who
left behind their foot prints
we can follow. These people
sacrifice their life for a larger
cause and become
antecedents for many more
great lives to follow. In this
case, Sehgal herself was
influenced by Subhas Chandra
Bose. Her father was a well
known lawyer. Her mother a
social activities. The national
movement running parallel to
her formative years has also
great influence on her life.
She was also influenced by
Suhasini and her daughter
Subhasini, both leftist.
Major social & cultural
determinants:
Her father was a well known
lawyer and her mother a
social worker; she was
exposed to social work and
freedom movement (burning
of her cloths by her mother on
Swadeshi call) at early age.
Her family was actively
involved in Freedom Struggle
which made a huge impact on
her from the childhood, and
finally drove her towards
taking up social work as a
mainstream occupation
Major social & cultural
concomitants:
Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal is mostly
known for her Social Work, her
political side of life was also actively
brewing. She inclined towards left
politics and she herself admitted that
she never felt like making lot of
money. She Joined Communist Party
(Marxist) and AIDWA. Also, she was

antecedents,
determinants and
concomitants. Only the
facts and issues
presented in the case
have been used to
identify right
antecedents
determinants and
concomitants.

a presidential candidate along with

Abdul Kalam. Her life was best
described as a culmination of a great
social career and political affiliations.
Characterize SOPE from an
ethical and moral
Perspective
This SOPE can be analyzed and
critiqued from a multitude of viewpoints. Some may argue that Capt.
Sehgal was a great social worker , but
some may say she was radical in some
of her other ideas. Others would say
that she always stood for woman cause
and her association with Neta ji can be
seen in this perspective. Some may say
that she was influenced by national
movement and Neta ji but other may
counter by linking her with left
ideology. As an activist she wanted full
attention of Govt. and public on grave
matter which afflicts our country. We
have tried to look at her life from a
neutral view point, and have actively

tried to be unbiased whether from

the leftist angle or from the rightist
outlook

Problem solutions
alternatives?
In SOPE there are many instances
which one can choose to highlight and
analyze. Our choice will decide
everything about our SOPE. In this
case, we have been slightly bent
towards analyzing her commitment for
womans cause and social work, and
tried to link her actions from this
perspective. Her inclination towards
left was taken to strengthen our

How are SOPE elements

ethically and morally
interrelated? Are they
mere
random or arbitrary
sequences
or associations?
SOPE elements are linked
entirely, ethically or morally.
Whether it was her
association with INA or
protesting against Miss World
Pageant, we clearly see a
continuation of her resolve to
fight for woman cause.

Are you looking for

the right
relations and
interdependencies
between
SOPE elements
The relations and
interdependencies were
analyzed to come with
the answer. The SOPE
elements were strongly
correlated with the
subject and it did not
appear to be a case of
random or arbitrary
sequences or association

We see some disconnect

when it comes to presidential
election. May be it was her
parties decision
We can say that SOPE
elements are not mere
random or arbitrary
sequences or association.
How many ethical and
moral solutions can you
identify? How
do you rate them in terms
of effectiveness and brand
value?
The case material presents
many instances which can
help in identifying ethical and
moral solutions
Ethical Solutions :
Gaining trust of Hindus and

Are your legal, ethical

and
Moral problem
solution alternatives
MECE?
The solutions are
mutually exclusive but
not exhaustive. The
diversity of her
actions make it
difficult to come up

analysis. There are instances where we

can see her view-point appreciating
diversity of thought and secular
values. This might give an alternative
SOPE. Secular credentials INA and
communist are well known and her
family enjoys great diversity.

muslim by her work among

refugees.
Confronted Anti-Sikh mobs in
Kanpur ensuring no Sikh
families be attacked in her
vicinity
In 1984, she lead a medical
team to Bhopal after the gas
tragedy despite dangerous
conditions being prevalent
vicinity

with an exhaustive set

of solutions.

Moral solutions:
Conflict between Captain
Lakshmi and her grandmother
regarding her interaction with
tribal girl
Burning of foreign goods by
her mother
Diversity: Marrying a north
Indian. Her daughter married
to a Muslim
We would rate her working with
refugees and diversity Highest.
Learning from AOL2
We understand that predisposition is
unavoidable and aware of our
assumptions. We have learnt the
significance of predisposition and
keeping our assumptions under check.
We have learned to be very cautious of
the way, we analyze anything. WE
learned the significance of questioning
our analysis and question actively, if
our biases are neutral, or if we are
doing justice from all view-points. This
exercise may help in increasing my
ability to analyze issue at hand
critically and present diverse
perspective.

How we can reinforce

learning?
Learning is a life long
journey. We should
learn to question to
learn. Right problem
only leads to right
solution. Be aware of
our predisposition and
read a lot.