Rani Bang Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Other Name	Dr. Rani Bang
Profession(s)	• Activist • Community Health Researcher
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)	5' 5" (165 cm)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Gray
Career
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
Personal Life
Date of Birth	17 September 1951 (Monday)
Age (as of 2024)	73 Years
Birthplace	Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India
Zodiac sign	Virgo
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Chandrapur
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)
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	Year, 1977
Family
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)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Rani Bang

• Rani Bang hails from a family with a strong background in medicine and public service.

• Rani pursued MBBS at Nagpur University in 1972, where she was the top student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

• She completed a residency in Medicine for six months and in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for one year in 1973.

• She served as the Registrar of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Government Medical College, Nagpur from 1974 to 1975.

• Rani worked as a lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Government Medical College, Nagpur from 1975 to 1976, and in the same department at the college in Sevagram from 1977 to 1978.

• In 1976, Rani completed her MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Nagpur University, where she earned a gold medal for being the top student.

• Rani Bang secured first place in the All India Rotary Fellowship Competition in 1977. The same year, she married her fellow student Abhay Bang, an activist and community health researcher.

• Rani and Abhay were founder members and full-time workers of the voluntary organisation Chetna Vikas, where they worked on rural development and community health for six years, i.e., from 1977 to 1983.

• Rani served as an honorary consulting gynaecologist at the Civil Hospital in Wardha from 1979 to 1983.

• Rani and Abhay completed their MPH at Johns Hopkins University in 1984 and later returned to India to focus on supporting underserved communities.

• After returning to India, they began working in tribal and rural areas of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

• In December 1985, Rani and her husband Abhay established SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health) in Gadchiroli to address local healthcare needs. They worked with local communities to create clinics and build a hospital for them.

• Rani has been working as a consulting gynaecologist at SEARCH since 1986.

• Rani joined the Civil Hospital in Gadchiroli as a consulting gynaecologist in 1986. She served in this position till 1990.

• Their Home-Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) model, developed in Gadchiroli, led to a significant drop in infant mortality and sparked global interest in similar approaches. Despite initial doubts, his method gained acceptance over time, which led to the training of about 8,00,000 village women in India through the ASHA program.

• In 1988, they tackled high infant mortality in Gadchiroli by training local women in neonatal care using the HBNC model, which lowered the rate from 121 to 30 deaths per 1,000 births.

• The duo’s HBNC model was later adopted by India in its 12th National Fiver-Year Plan to help reduce infant mortality. It was also adopted by WHO, UNICEF, and USAID to reduce infant mortality in developing countries.

• They conducted participatory action research against alcohol from 1988 to 1993, which raised awareness about its ill effects. This led to a public demand for an alcohol ban, and in 1993, Gadchiroli became the first district in Maharashtra to implement this ban.

• Rani was a member of the Task Force on Health for the National Commission on Women, Government of India, in 1987.

• In 1989, the duo carried out the first community-based estimate of gynaecological problems in rural women, which influenced international policy on women’s reproductive health.

• In 1989, she became a member of the Governing Body of a non-profit organisation named The Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI).

• Rani was one of the principal speakers at the Tietze International Symposium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1990.

• In 1992, Rani was a panellist speaker in the Technical Discussion on Women and Health at the World Health Assembly.

• She has worked as a consultant on women’s health for organisations like WHO, UNFPA, USAID, and the Population Council, as well as various other national and international bodies.

• Rani has authored several books on women’s health, including ‘Goin’ (1999), ‘Putting Women First’ (2010), and ‘Tarunyabhan’ (2020).

• Rani and Abhay served as a member of the Government of India’s National Population Commission from 2000 to 2005.

• They have contributed to relief and research efforts for populations affected by the Bhopal gas tragedy.

• In 2003, Rani Bang was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the 1,000 Women for Peace initiative.

• Rani has served as a member of the Vidarbha Development Board, appointed by the Governor of Maharashtra. She has also been a Nagpur University Senate Member.

• She was a member of the Maharashtra Health and Nutrition Committee for the 10th Five-Year Plan.

• Rani has served as a member of the Expert Committee on High Dose EP Combination and Norplant at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi and has also served on ICMR’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

• Rani has served as a member of the Planning Commission’s task Force on Panchayati Raj in Health.

• She was once a member of the WHO’s Review Committees on Measuring Reproductivity Morbidity and Antifertility Vaccines. She was also a member of its Human Reproductive Division’s Task Force on Dialogue Between Scientists and Women’s Health Advocates.

• She once served as a member of the Governing Body of the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) and International Women’s Health Advocates on Microbicides (IWHAM).

• On 2 October 2013, Rani served as the President of the 2nd National DE-addiction Literature Conference held in Nagpur, organised by the Government of Maharashtra.

• In 2024, Abhay and Rani appeared on the television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
  

  Rani Bang and Abhay Bang on the television show Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 (2024)