Who was the first woman to serve as a Governor of a State in independent India, becoming the country's first female State Governor?

Introduction / Context:
Women leaders have played an important role in India's freedom struggle and later in the country's political and constitutional life. Knowing the first woman to hold various constitutional offices, such as Governor, Chief Minister or President, is a common theme in general knowledge questions. This question focuses on the first woman Governor of a State in independent India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The office in question is that of Governor of a State.- The focus is on the first woman to occupy this office after independence.- Options include Kamala Nehru, Madam Bhikaji Cama, Sarojini Naidu and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.

Concept / Approach:
Sarojini Naidu, a prominent poet and freedom fighter, became the first woman Governor of a State when she was appointed the Governor of the State of Uttar Pradesh (then known as the United Provinces). Kamala Nehru and Madam Bhikaji Cama were important figures in the freedom movement but did not serve as State Governors. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit held several distinguished positions, including as a diplomat and as President of the United Nations General Assembly, but she was not the first woman State Governor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sarojini Naidu was appointed Governor of the United Provinces (later Uttar Pradesh) shortly after independence, making her the first female Governor of a State in India.Step 2: Kamala Nehru was a freedom fighter and the wife of Jawaharlal Nehru, but she did not hold constitutional offices after independence.Step 3: Madam Bhikaji Cama was an early Indian revolutionary who worked largely from abroad and is famous for unfurling an early version of the Indian flag, not for holding governor level posts in independent India.Step 4: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was an influential leader and diplomat, serving as India's ambassador to several countries and as President of the UN General Assembly, but she was not the first woman Governor of a State.Step 5: Therefore, among the given options, Sarojini Naidu is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most standard general knowledge books list Sarojini Naidu as the first woman Governor of a State in India. If you memorise a small list of first women in major offices, such as first woman Governor (Sarojini Naidu), first woman Prime Minister (Indira Gandhi) and first woman President (Pratibha Patil), it becomes easier to answer such questions quickly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Kamala Nehru) is wrong because she did not serve as a State Governor; her major role was in the freedom struggle.Option B (Madam Bhikaji Cama) is wrong because she was a revolutionary and nationalist leader but did not hold gubernatorial office in independent India.Option D (Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit) is wrong because, although she was an important diplomat and presided over the UN General Assembly, she was not the first woman Governor of a State.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse different women leaders and their firsts, especially between Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Sarojini Naidu. Another common mistake is to assume that leaders who were related to powerful male politicians automatically held high constitutional posts. To avoid these errors, it is better to memorise a concise chart of first women in key national roles along with the offices they held.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Sarojini Naidu