Ila Mitra

Ila Mitra
Mitra in 1955
Native name ইলা মিত্র
Born Ila Sen
(1925-10-18)18 October 1925
Kolkata, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died 13 October 2002(2002-10-13) (aged 76)
Kolkata, India
Spouse(s) Ramendra Mitra

Ila Mitra (née Sen; 18 October 1925 – 13 October 2002) was a peasants movement organizer of the Indian subcontinent, especially in East Bengal (now Bangladesh).

Early life and education

Young Mitra with her awards in athletics

Mitra's ancestors were from Bagutia village in the present-day Jhenaidah District.[1] She was born on 18 October 1925 in Kolkata.[2] She completed her IA and BA examinations from Bethune College in Calcutta in 1942 and 1944 respectively. She obtained her MA degree in Bangla literature and culture from Calcutta University as a private candidate in 1958.[2] She was a member of Calcutta Mohila Atmarakkha Samiti and of the All India Communist Party. In 1945, she married Ramendra Mitra, an active member of the communist party despite and froma a family of zamindar of Chapai Nawabganj.[2]

Ila Mitra First 2 Student

  1. Late. Mst.Rahima Begam
  2. Mst.Hira Begam

Leading role in peasant uprising

Mitra was the leader of peasants and indigenous Santhals in greater Rajshahi region, currently in the district of Chapai Nawabganj, and was often referred to by them as RaniMa (Queen mother). She organized a peasant-santhal uprising in Nachole Upazila, Chapai Nawabganj on 5 January 1950, but the uprising was thwarted by the police. Mitra was arrested by the police while trying to escape. She was detained at the Nachole police station for four days, and during the detention, she was repeatedly gang-raped and tortured by the policemen.[3] Then she was sent to the Rajshahi Central jail on 21 January 1950, where she was reportedly tortured for not accepting her involvement in the rebellion. After a trial for treason, Mitra was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Later life

Mitra at Dhaka Medical College, 1954

Partly due to the torture, Mitra fell very sick in jail. In 1954, the United Front government of Pakistan paroled her and sent her to Kolkata for treatment. To avoid persecution, she did not return to Pakistan and stayed the rest of her life in India. She continued to participate in political activities in Kolkata under the banner of the Communist Party of India and was elected member of Vidhan Sabha (Provincial Assembly) four times between 1962 and 1978. She also participated in mobilizing public opinion and support during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

Mitra died in Kolkata on 13 October 2002.[1]

Awards

  • Soviet Land Neheru for literary translation work
  • Tamra Patra from the government of India in recognition of her activities as a leader in the struggle against British Raj.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ila Mitra - Revolutionary, Trailblazer". The Daily Star. 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  2. 1 2 3 Mesba Kamal (2012). "Mitra, Ila". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ↑ Panjabi, Kavita (14 August 2010). "Otiter Jed or Times of Revolution: Ila Mitra, the Santals and Tebhaga Movement". Economic & Political Weekly. Mumbai: Sameeksha Trust. XLV (33). ISSN 2349-8846. Retrieved 15 May 2016.

Further reading

  • Ajoy Roy (18 October 2002), "Comrade Ila Mitra: A tribute [Part I]", Mukto-Mona, archived from the original on 10 September 2005, retrieved 12 April 2015
  • Ajoy Roy (18 October 2002), "Comrade Ila Mitra: A tribute [Part II]", Mukto-Mona, retrieved 12 April 2015
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