Ashoka Gupta (November 1912 – 8 July 2008) was an Indian freedom fighter and social worker. She was the founder of Mahila Seva Samity, member of the All India Women's Conference and president of Indian Society for Sponsorship and Adoption. She took part in rescue and relief operation during the

Noakhali riots The Noakhali riots were a series of semi-organized massacres, rapes and abductions of Hindus, combined with looting and arson of Hindu properties, perpetrated by Muslim mobs in the districts of Noakhali in the Chittagong Division of the eas ...

Early life

Gupta was born the fourth of six children and second daughter to Kiran Chandra Sen and Jyotirmoyee Devi. Her father died at the age of six, and she was brought up by her mother, who struggled to bring her up along with five other siblings. She attended St. Margaret's school in

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

. She stood first among the girls in the matriculation examination. She graduated from

Bethune College Bethune College is a women's college located on Bidhan Sarani in Kolkata, India, and affiliated to the University of Calcutta. It is the oldest women's college in India. It was established as a girls' school in 1849, and as a college in 1879. ...

with honours in Mathematics. At the age of 20, she was married to Saibal Gupta, an I.C.S. officer.

Career

In 1936, Gupta became a member of the All India Women's Conference, founded in 1927. She actively participated in setting up branches of AIWC and various welfare organizations. During the Bengal famine of 1943, she took part in relief work in Bankura. In 1945, she moved to

Chittagong Chittagong ( ), officially Chattogram, (, ) (, or ) is the second-largest city in Bangladesh. Home to the Port of Chittagong, it is the busiest port in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. The city is also the business capital of Bangladesh. It ...

where her husband was transferred. In 1946, during the Noakhali genocide, she led a team of relief workers on behalf of the Chittagong branch of the AIWC, for rescue and relief operations in Noakhali. After the Partition, she moved to

along with her husband. After the Partition, she engaged herself in refugee rehabilitation, child literacy and uplift of rural women and tribals. She was the chairperson of the West Bengal State Social Welfare Advisory Board from 1955 to 1959. In 1959, Gupta became a member of the Central Social Welfare Board, at the suggestion of

Bidhan Chandra Roy Bidhan Chandra Roy (1 July 1882 – 1 July 1962) was an Indian physician and politician who served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1950 until his death in 1962. He played a key role in the founding of several institutions and cities like ...

and Durgabai Deshmukh. In 1964, he took part in relief work among the

Bengali Hindu Bengali Hindus () are adherents of Hinduism who ethnically, linguistically and genealogically identify as Bengalis. They make up the majority in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Assam's Barak Valley ...

refugees Mana and other camps in the Dandakaranya. She was the State Commissioner (Guides) from 1956 to 1967 and the State Chief Commissioner of

The Bharat Scouts and Guides The Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG) is the national Scouting and Girl Guides, Guiding association of India. The national headquarters of BSG is recognised by the Government of India. Scouting was founded in India in 1909 as an overseas branch of ...

from 1968 to 1974. She was a fellow of the senate of the University of Calcutta from 1948 to 1953. She was associated with the Palli Sangathan Vibhag of Vishwabharati University from 1956. In 1965, she became a member of the executive council of the university and remained there till 1973.

Honours

In 2007, Gupta was bestowed upon an honorary D.Litt. in recognition of her work for the cause of women and children. She was also awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2007.

Publications

* ''Noakhalir Durjoger Dine''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gupta, Ashoka 1912 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Bengalis Bengali Hindus Bethune College alumni University of Calcutta alumni Politicians from Kolkata Social workers from West Bengal Indian independence activists from Bengal Women in West Bengal politics 20th-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian politicians 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian writers Indian activists Indian women activists Indian women's rights activists Indian feminists Indian social workers 20th-century Indian women educational theorists 20th-century Indian educational theorists