Ila Mitra
Encyclopedia
Ila Mitra (1925-2002) was a peasants movement organizer of the Indian subcontinent
, especially in Bengal
(now Bangladesh
). She was born to an upper middleclass Bengal
i family in Kolkata
on 18 October 1925. She became a communist during her youth. In 1945, she married Ramendra Mitra, who was an active member of the Communist Party despite his lineage from a zamindar
(landowner) family of Chapai Nawabganj.
region, and was often referred to by them as RaniMa (Queen mother). She organized a peasant-santhal uprising in Nachole, Rajshahi
on 5 January 1950, but the uprising was thwarted by the police. Mitra was arrested by the police while trying to escape, and was sent to the Rajshahi
Central jail on 21 January 1950, where she was tortured and raped for not accepting her involvement in the rebellion. After a trial for treason, Ila Mitra was sentenced to life imprisonment.
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 Bidhan Shabha (Provincial Assembly) four times between 1962 and 1978. She also participated in mobilizing public opinion and support during the Bangladesh Liberation War
of 1971.
Ila Mitra died in Kolkata
on 13 October 2002.
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, especially in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
(now Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
). She was born to an upper middleclass Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i family in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
on 18 October 1925. She became a communist during her youth. In 1945, she married Ramendra Mitra, who was an active member of the Communist Party despite his lineage from a zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
(landowner) family of Chapai Nawabganj.
Leading role in peasant uprising
Ila Mitra was the leader of peasants and indigenous Santhals in greater RajshahiRajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
region, and was often referred to by them as RaniMa (Queen mother). She organized a peasant-santhal uprising in Nachole, Rajshahi
Rajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
on 5 January 1950, but the uprising was thwarted by the police. Mitra was arrested by the police while trying to escape, and was sent to the Rajshahi
Rajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
Central jail on 21 January 1950, where she was tortured and raped for not accepting her involvement in the rebellion. After a trial for treason, Ila Mitra was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Later life
Partly due to the torture, Ila Mitra fell very sick in jail. In 1954, the United Front government of PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
paroled her and sent her to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
for treatment. To avoid persecution, she did not return to Pakistan and stayed the rest of her life in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She continued to participate in political activities in Kolkata under the banner of the Communist Party of India and was elected member of Bidhan Shabha (Provincial Assembly) four times between 1962 and 1978. She also participated in mobilizing public opinion and support during the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
of 1971.
Ila Mitra died in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
on 13 October 2002.
Awards
- 'Soviet Land Neheru' for literary translation work
- 'Tamra Patra from the government of IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in recognition of her activities as a leader in the struggle against British Raj.