Ila Mitra (contd-1)

Mitra, Ila (1925-2002)  an important communist leader who organised resistance movement against British rule in India at the grassroots level. She was born in Kolkata on 18 October 1925. Her forefathers hailed from Bagotia, which is now in the district of jhenaidah.

Her father, Nagendranath Sarker, was the Accountant General of Bengal. Ila Mitra began her political activities when she was a student at Bethun College in Kolkata. She passed IA in 1942 and BA (Honours) in 1944 from the same college and much later, in 1957, she did her MA in Bangla Literature and Culture from Calcutta University as a private student.  From 1958, she became a professor in Bengali in Sibnath Sastri College. She took active politics when she was reading in college. She remained underground   and performed her duties as a political worker during 1942 movement. She became a member of Communist Party in 1943. She was married with Ramen Mitra,  the then Communist Party leader,  in 1945. She devoted herself in the service of riot affected people of Noakhali.  After Independemce she engaged herself in the organisation of farmers of East Pakistan. She also took literacy drive amongst the women of Muslim family. She was a leader of Tebhaga movement in Thachol of Rahsahi district. The East Pakistan  Govt. tortured her like anything. As a result she became ill and bedridden. A strong movement was launched at the demand of her release. The movement took an international shape. The East-Pakistan, being frightened, released her on Parol.She was in jail in East Pakistan for 5 years. She joined the College to do her teaching profession after being recovered in Calcutta. She was elected four times in MLA in Manicktola constituency from 1962. She was arrested several times to participate  in different democratic movements.        She was a member of Calcutta Mohila Atmarakkha Samiti (Association for women's self-defence). She was a member of Calcutta University Senate and Syndicate. At the age of 70 she was an active political person. She received honour from the National Govt.