Born:16th July 1909
Died: 29 July 1996
Smt. Aruna Asaf Ali was born on 16th July 1909, as Aruna Ganguly, in a liberal Brahmo family. She did her academics at Lahore’s Sacred Heart Convent and later went to All Saints College, Nainital for higher studies. She started her career as a teacher at Gokhale Memorial School, Calcutta. In 1928 she got married to a much older man Asaf Ali, who was a leading member of the INC (Indian National Congress). Her marriage was opposed by her parents (because it was an inter-religion marriage).
She got her first exposure to the political world through her partner, followed the footsteps of her husband, and soon became a progressive member of the Congress party. Due to her active participation in political activities, Aruna Asaf Ali got her first arrest within the two years of her marriage. In 1930, she was arrested for the first time for participating in the Salt Satyagraha, on the charges of being a migrant. She was released in 1931 after the public protested against her arrest. Smt. Aruna’s second arrest was during 1932, for participating in the freedom movement. While in jail she organized a protest against the ill-treatment (that was given to the inmates) by launching a hunger strike. In 1942, the ‘Quit India Movement was launched by Shri Mahatma Gandhi. While all the major leaders had been arrested by the British, she bravely hoisted the Indian Flag at the Gowalia Tank ground to give a much-needed push to the Quit India Movement and went into hiding. Being underground she continued her struggle through pamphlets, magazines like ‘Inquilab’, etc. She came out in public in 1946 when the warrant against her was withdrawn. After Independence Smt. Aruna worked towards uplifting women’s status and encouraged women’s education. She served as the first elected Mayor of Delhi in 1958. In 1992, she was honored by the Padma Vibhushan, and after one year after her demise, in 1997 Bharat Ratna was awarded to her.
