Ila Mitra

Ila Mitra (1902-1979) was an Indian politician, social worker, and peasant leader. She is most notably remembered for her role in the Tebhaga movement, a significant peasant uprising in Bengal (then undivided India) in 1946.

Mitra was born in Kolkata into an upper-middle-class family. She received a Master's degree in Bengali Literature from the University of Calcutta. Before becoming involved in peasant movements, she was a known athlete and social worker.

Her political career began in the early 1940s when she joined the Communist Party of India (CPI). She became actively involved in organizing peasants in the Rajshahi district of Bengal. The Tebhaga movement, in which she played a crucial role, demanded that sharecroppers (bargadars) receive two-thirds of the produce they cultivated instead of the existing half.

Mitra travelled extensively throughout the region, mobilizing peasants and organizing resistance against landlords and the government. She faced significant opposition and violence. In 1950, she was arrested and severely tortured by police. Her subsequent ill health was attributed to this mistreatment.

Despite her suffering, Ila Mitra remained active in politics and social work. She was elected to the East Pakistan Legislative Assembly in 1954. After the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, she became a Member of Parliament in independent Bangladesh.

Ila Mitra is considered a legendary figure in the history of peasant movements in India and Bangladesh. Her commitment to social justice and her unwavering dedication to the rights of the underprivileged have made her a lasting symbol of resistance and social change.