Asoka Mehta
Encyclopedia
Asoka Mehta was an Indian freedom fighter and socialist politician. He helped organize the socialist wing of the Indian National Congress
, along with Jaya Prakash Narayan, and was heavily involved in the politics and government of the western
city of Bombay.
Mehta was arrested during the Quit India movement
, and after India's independence, helped organize trade unions in Bombay. He also served as Mayor
of Bombay city from 1946 to 1947. Mehta retired from active politics in the early 1950s, and wrote several books on his experiences, on India's freedom struggle and the importance of socialist reforms.
In September,1952 the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party
and the Socialist Party
merged to form the Praja Socialist Party
(PSP) and Asoka Mehta became its general secretary. In 1963, he agreed to become deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and after the expulsion from the party in 1964, he joined Indian National Congress
.
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, along with Jaya Prakash Narayan, and was heavily involved in the politics and government of the western
West India
West India or the Western region of India consists of the states of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is highly industrialized, with a large urban population. Most of Western India was part of the Maratha Empire before...
city of Bombay.
Mehta was arrested during the Quit India movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
, and after India's independence, helped organize trade unions in Bombay. He also served as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Bombay city from 1946 to 1947. Mehta retired from active politics in the early 1950s, and wrote several books on his experiences, on India's freedom struggle and the importance of socialist reforms.
In September,1952 the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party
Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party
The Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party was a socialist political party of India. Although the party is now defunct and doesn't contest election anymore, it is logged with the Election Commission of India as having contested the very first parliamentary elections in 1951 in India...
and the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (India)
Socialist Party has been the name of several political parties in India, all of which have their roots in the Congress Socialist Party formed during the freedom struggle...
merged to form the Praja Socialist Party
Praja Socialist Party
The Praja Socialist Party was an Indian political party in existence from 1952 to 1972. It was founded when the Socialist Party, led by Jayprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Deva and Basawon Singh , merged with the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party led by J.B. Kripalani...
(PSP) and Asoka Mehta became its general secretary. In 1963, he agreed to become deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and after the expulsion from the party in 1964, he joined Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
.
Major works
- Economic Planning in India