Rani Bang Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Other Name: Dr. Rani Bang

Profession(s): • Activist • Community Health Researcher

Date of Birth: 17 September 1951 (Monday)

Age (as of 2024): 73 Years

Birthplace: Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Chandrapur

Marriage Date: Year, 1977

Age: 73 Years

Check Out Other Celebrities Biography

EDUCATION

College/University: • Nagpur University, Maharashtra • Johns Hopkins University, USA

Educational Qualification(s): • MBBS from Nagpur University (1972) • MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Nagpur University (1976) • Master of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University (1984)

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): 5′ 5″ (165 cm)

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Gray

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Marital Status: Married

Husband/Spouse: Abhay Bang (activist, community health researcher)

Children: Son(s) – 2 • Anand Bang (elder) (physician, health specialist) • Amrut Bang (younger) (program director at NIRMAN) Daughter – None

Parents: Father – (Doctor)

Grandparents: Grandfather – (Congress Party MP from Chandrapur)

Husband: Abhay Bang

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Awards, Honours, Achievements: 1991 • Maniklalji Balkishun Das Gandhi Charitable Trust Award for Outstanding Woman Social Worker of Vidarbha 1995 • Shamrao Bapu Kapgate Smruti Purskar for Outstanding Female Social Worker 1996 • Indian Council of Medical Research’s Sheshadri Gold Medal for ‘SEARCH’ for outstanding contribution to the field of community medicine in India • Natu Foundation Award for Contribution to Social Work in Maharashtra (January) • Named ‘The Couple of the Year’ (with Abhay Bang) by The Week 1998 • Samajwadi Mahila Sangathan Puraskar 1999 • Dr. James Tong Award by the Voluntary Health Association of India for ‘SEARCH’ for being the outstanding voluntary institution in India • Kasturba Gandhi Puraskar • Sane Guruji Puraskar • Late Shrimati Vimaltai Tidke Puraskar 2000 • Savitribai Phule Puraskar from the Government of Maharashtra for work among women • Literary Award from the Government of Maharashtra for the book ‘Goin’ • Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan Award for the outstanding contribution to rural development in Maharashtra 2001 • Vinaykumar Parashar Smruti Purskar, Akola • Darpan Puraskar at the Late Sow. Kamaltai Jamkar Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Parbhani 2002 • Sat Paul Mittal National Award by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD), New Delhi • Jankibai Apte Balikshram Puraskar, Ahmednagar • Ramshastri Prabhune Award for Social Justice, Satara • Adi-Shakti Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar from Mahalakshmi Trust, Pune 2003 • Shram Seva Puraskar from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik 2004 • Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar from Parkar Medical Foundation, Ratnagiri • Bhardakali Tararani Puraskar from Tararani Vidyapeeth, Kolhapur • Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award, Mumbai • Mauli Anandi Puraskar from Sadguru Vishwanath Maharaj Rukadikar Trust, Kolhapur 2005 • Named as the Global Health Hero by Time, USA • Navratna Puraskar from Doordarshan Sahyadri, Mumbai • Spirit of Mastek Award for exemplary work that has helped reduce child deaths at Gadchiroli (December) 2006 • MacArthur Foundation International Award for ‘SEARCH’ for creative and social work • Jamnalal Bajaj Award from Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation • Maharashtra Bhushan, the highest civilian award presented annually by the Government of Maharashtra State in India 2007 • Maitri Puraskar form the non-profit organisation Maitri Pariwar Sanstha, Nagpur • Pariwartanwadi Award from Dr. Shivram Mali Public Act, Kolhapur 2008 • Stree Shakti Puraskar for the year 2005 from the Ministry of Women and Child Development • Qimpro Platinum Standard Award for National Statesman for Quality – Health Care from Qimpro Foundation, Mumbai 2009 • Chandrapur Bhushan Award from Babasaheb Deshmukh Smruti Pratishthan, Chandrapur • Baa Award from Gandhi National Memorial Society, Pune • National Award for Women’s Development Through Application of Science and Technology for the year 2007, presented by the President of India Pratibha Patil • National Character Award from Charitrya Pratishthan, Pune • Rajai Award by Rajai Pratishthan Nanded 2010 • Swami Rama Humanitarian Award from Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Dehradun • Dory Storms Child Survival Recognition Award from M Core, Washington • Received Jewel of Maharashtra Award from State DNL Summit in association with Zee 24 Taas and Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai • Freedom-fighter Dada Undalkar Social Award from Dada Undalkar Smarak Samiti, Undale, Pune • Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar from Haware Foundation, Mumbai • Samajik Gaurav Puraskar from URL Foundation, Mumbai 2011 • CNN-IBN Life Time Achievement Award from Reliance Foundation • Swasthya Bharat Samman from Zee News and LIC, New Delhi • Jaitai Matru Gaurav Puraskar from Shri Jaitai Temple Committee, Wani • Jeevan Sadhana Award from Nagpur University • Savitribai Phule Award from Nanded Zilla Parishad • Rotary Vocational Service Excellence Award from Rotary District 3030 • Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club of Pune 2012 • Prerana Poonj Sanman at the Vidarbh Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Nagpur • Doctor Of Literature (D.Litt) from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai • Pulotsav Social Gratitude Award, Pune • Abhijeetdada Kadam Humanitarian Award from Abhijeet Dada Kadam Memorial Foundation, Pune 2013 • Dr. Narendra Dabholkar Memorial Award, Satara • Late Leelatai Limaye Samaj Seva Puraskar from Vanita Samaj, Mumbai • Excellence Award from the State Bank of India • Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Puraskar from the Subordinate Engineers Association, Gadchiroli • Honoured with the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA • Elected to the Society of Scholars by the Johns Hopkin University • Babasaheb Ambedkar Daleet Mitra Puraskar • Dr. B.N. Purandare Outstanding Service Award • Karmayogini Bhavneek Ekatmata Puraskar from Navbharat Shikshan Mandal, Sangli 2014 • Kesharilalji Bordia Smruti Sanman from Jeevan Raksha Charitable Trust, Udaipur • Sanjeevani Sanman from Doordarshan Sahyadri, Mumbai 2015 • Doctorate Honoris Causa from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow • Doctor of Literature (D. Litt) from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune • Vidarbha Ratna Award from Ramkrushna Paikuji Samarth Smarak Samiti, Nagpur • Dr. Wankar Lifetime Achievement Award from IMA Nagpur, presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis 2016 • IMC Juran Quality Medal from IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Award Trust, Mumbai • Public Health Champion Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health in the Country from WHO India • Vidarbha Bhushan Award from Vidarbha Samaj Sangh, Mumbai • Dr. Gujar Award from Maharashtra Arogya Mandal, Hadapsar, Pune • Yashaswinee Puraskar from Samvad Samajik Sansthan, Wai 2017 • Kasturba Sanman from Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha • Life Time Achievement Award at the Navabharat Health Care Summit and Awards, Mumbai • Sahyadri Lifetime Achievement Award from Sahyadri Pratishthan Maharashtra • Jijabai Achiever’s Award from the Women’s Development Cell of Shivaji College, Delhi 2018 • Lifetime Achievement Award from the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Mumbai • Healthcare Humanitarian Award from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), New Delhi (30 August) • Iconic Changemaker Award from Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley at the Businessline Changemaker Awards in New Delhi • Jeevan Sarthak Puraskar from Durgeshwar Mitra Mandal and Anushka Stri Kala Manch, Pune • Women of Wonder Achievers Award for Best Social Worker from Wockhardt Foundation, Mumbai • Lokmata Puraskar from Lokmata Sumatitai Smruti Pratishthan, Nagpur (24 December) • Padma Shri 2019 • Mahatma Gandhi Manav Seva Award from MG College, Armori • Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik (presented by the Maharashtra CM in Mumbai) • Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar Award 2020 • JRD Tata Award from Ratan Tata for Excellence in Public Service at the Population Foundation of India, New Delhi • Achievement Award in Science Field from Vanita Samaj, Mumbai 2024 • Santokbaa Humanitarian Award

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Rani Bang was born into a family deeply rooted in medicine and public service, a legacy that would shape her illustrious career. In 1972, she embarked on her medical journey at Nagpur University, where her dedication and academic prowess earned her recognition as the top student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Following her graduation, she completed a residency in Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, further honing her skills. Between 1974 and 1975, Rani served as the Registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Government Medical College in Nagpur, and from 1975 to 1976, she took on the role of lecturer at the same institution. Her relentless pursuit of excellence culminated in 1976 when she completed her MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, again being awarded a gold medal for her outstanding performance.

In 1977, Rani made her mark on the national stage by securing first place in the All India Rotary Fellowship Competition. That same year, she married her fellow student, Abhay Bang, an activist and community health researcher. Together, they became founding members and full-time workers of Chetna Vikas, a voluntary organization dedicated to rural development and community health from 1977 to 1983. Rani also served as an honorary consulting gynaecologist at the Civil Hospital in Wardha during this period. Their shared commitment to public health prompted them to further their education with a Master of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University in 1984 before returning to India, where they focused on supporting underserved communities.

Upon their return, Rani and Abhay turned their attention to the tribal and rural areas of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. In December 1985, they established the Society for Education, Action, and Research in Community Health (SEARCH) to address the pressing healthcare needs of local populations. Through their grassroots efforts, they worked closely with communities to create clinics and ultimately build a hospital, providing invaluable healthcare services. Rani has been actively involved as a consulting gynaecologist at SEARCH since 1986, and she also served as a consulting gynaecologist at the Civil Hospital in Gadchiroli until 1990. Their innovative Home-Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) model significantly reduced infant mortality rates, from 121 to just 30 deaths per 1,000 births, drawing global attention and leading to the training of approximately 800,000 village women in India through the ASHA program.

Throughout her career, Rani has played a pivotal role in influencing health policies and practices. In 1989, she conducted the first community-based estimate of gynaecological issues faced by rural women, impacting international policies on women’s reproductive health. She has actively participated in various national and international health initiatives, including the World Health Assembly and committees for organizations like WHO, UNFPA, and USAID. Rani’s contributions extend beyond health research; she has authored several influential books on women’s health, including ‘Goin’ (1999), ‘Putting Women First’ (2010), and ‘Tarunyabhan’ (2020). Her dedication to public health and community wellness has been recognized on many platforms, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 as part of the 1,000 Women for Peace initiative, underscoring her commitment to making a difference in the lives of women and communities across India. As of 2024, Rani and Abhay were featured on the popular television game show “Kaun Banega Crorepati 16,” further amplifying their mission to promote community health and well-being.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.