Mira Datta Gupta - Revision history

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	She was a member of the [[Indian National Congress\|Indian Congress Party]] between 1937 and 1946. She was elected four times (1937, 1942, 1946 and 1951) as Member of the [[State Legislative Assembly (India)\|State Legislative Assembly]] of [[Bengal]], later renamed West Bengal. She was offered the post of Deputy Minister in the Cabinet of 1952 of the then [[Chief Minister]], [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], which she declined.<ref name="keyhighlightsofgeneralelections1951tothelegislativeassemblyofwestbengal">[http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Key Highlights of General Elections 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062737/http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf \|date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>		She was a member of the [[Indian National Congress\|Indian Congress Party]] between 1937 and 1946. She was elected four times (1937, 1942, 1946 and 1951) as Member of the [[State Legislative Assembly (India)\|State Legislative Assembly]] of [[Bengal]], later renamed West Bengal. She was offered the post of Deputy Minister in the Cabinet of 1952 of the then [[Chief Minister]], [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], which she declined.<ref name="keyhighlightsofgeneralelections1951tothelegislativeassemblyofwestbengal">[http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Key Highlights of General Elections 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062737/http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf \|date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

	Mira's reputation grew with her increasing involvement in the revolutionary movement.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}} She was associated with Indian revolutionary groups, such as [[Anushilan]], [[Jugantar]] and [[Bengal Volunteers]]. As a member of [[Bengal Volunteers]] she was the editor of the women's section of its magazine – ''Benu''. While, initially she was put in charge of the organisation's South Calcutta Women's group, she later moved into a low profile role, choosing to work for India's independence secretly. In those days she used to donate her entire salary towards India's freedom movement to her party Bengal Volunteers.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}}		Mira's reputation grew with her increasing involvement in the revolutionary movement. She was implicated in an attack on the Governor of Bengal, Sir John Anderson. {{citation needed\|date= August 2022}} She was associated with Indian revolutionary groups, such as [[Anushilan]], [[Jugantar]] and [[Bengal Volunteers]]. As a member of [[Bengal Volunteers]] she was the editor of the women's section of its magazine – ''Benu''. While, initially she was put in charge of the organisation's South Calcutta Women's group, she later moved into a low profile role, choosing to work for India's independence secretly. In those days she used to donate her entire salary towards India's freedom movement to her party Bengal Volunteers.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}}

	Around this time she also provided a channel for information between the revolutionaries who had to remain under cover and other members of the party. She participated in one of the important meetings of Bengal Volunteers held at [[Baranagar]] near Kolkata to discuss the group's activities in Midnapore and other parts of the state. From 1933, the police grew suspicious of her activities and she was placed under constant surveillance. In 1938, many party members such as Bhavani Bhattacharya and Ujjala Mazumdar were arrested in connection with the shooting of Governor John Anderson in [[Darjeeling]] district. Mira was cross-examined by the police for many hours in connection with this case. At this stage her father sent her away from Calcutta for two years to ensure her personal safety. She was very actively involved in fund raising activities during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1946, she was jailed for her nationalist activities. After her released from prison she became one of the first members of Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]'s [[Forward Bloc]].{{citation needed\|date=December 2022}}		Around this time she also provided a channel for information between the revolutionaries who had to remain under cover and other members of the party. She participated in one of the important meetings of Bengal Volunteers held at [[Baranagar]] near Kolkata to discuss the group's activities in Midnapore and other parts of the state. From 1933, the police grew suspicious of her activities and she was placed under constant surveillance. In 1938, many party members such as Bhavani Bhattacharya and Ujjala Mazumdar were arrested in connection with the shooting of Governor John Anderson in [[Darjeeling]] district. Mira was cross-examined by the police for many hours in connection with this case. At this stage her father sent her away from Calcutta for two years to ensure her personal safety. She was very actively involved in fund raising activities during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1946, she was jailed for her nationalist activities. After her released from prison she became one of the first members of Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]'s [[Forward Bloc]].{{citation needed\|date=December 2022}}

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	}}		}}

	'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn\|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}; 5 October 1907 – 18 January 1983) was a [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in ~~Bengal and then West~~ Bengal from 1937 to 1945, firstly representing Women's constituency of Calcutta University and then again from 1952 to 1957, representing Bhowanipore. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Mira Datta Gupta \|url=https://twitter.com/ishanidg/status/1381662969990279168?lang=en}}</ref>		'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn\|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}; 5 October 1907 – 18 January 1983) was a [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bengal from 1937 to 1945, firstly representing Women's constituency of Calcutta University and then again in West Bengal from 1952 to 1957, representing Bhowanipore. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Mira Datta Gupta \|url=https://twitter.com/ishanidg/status/1381662969990279168?lang=en}}</ref>

	==Political career==		==Political career==

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	}}		}}

	'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn\|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}; 5 October 1907 – 18 January 1983) was a [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bengal and then West Bengal ~~for twenty years~~ from 1937 to ~~1957~~, firstly representing Women's constituency ~~from 1937 to 1952,~~ and then ~~Bhowanipore~~ from 1952 to 1957. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Mira Datta Gupta \|url=https://twitter.com/ishanidg/status/1381662969990279168?lang=en}}</ref>		'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn\|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}; 5 October 1907 – 18 January 1983) was a [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bengal and then West Bengal from 1937 to 1945, firstly representing Women's constituency of Calcutta University and then again from 1952 to 1957, representing Bhowanipore. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Mira Datta Gupta \|url=https://twitter.com/ishanidg/status/1381662969990279168?lang=en}}</ref>

	==Political career==		==Political career==

Bot at 13:42, 26 September 2022

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	{{Short description\|Indian politician}}		{{Short description\|Indian politician}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=September ~~2014~~}}		{{EngvarB\|date=September 2022}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2021}}
	{{more citations needed\|date=June ~~2012~~}}		{{more citations needed\|date=June 2022}}
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Mira Dutta Gupta		\| name = Mira Dutta Gupta
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = 5 October 1907		\| birth_date = 5 October 1907
	\| birth_place = [[Dhaka]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]		\| birth_place = [[Dhaka\|Decca]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (present-day Dhaka, [[Bangladesh]])
	~~Present~~ day, [[Bangladesh]]
	\| death_date = 18 January 1983 (aged 76)		\| death_date = 18 January 1983 (aged 76)
	\| death_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]		\| death_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
	\| alma mater = ~~[[Bethune College]]~~		\| alma mater =
	\| occupation = Educationist and politician		\| occupation = Educationist and politician
	}}		}}

	'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn\|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}~~) (~~5 October 1907 - 18 January 1983) was a ~~well-known~~ [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bengal and then West Bengal for twenty years from 1937 to 1957, firstly representing Women's constituency from 1937 to 1952, and then Bhowanipore from 1952 to 1957. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.		'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn\|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}; 5 October 1907 – 18 January 1983) was a [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bengal and then West Bengal for twenty years from 1937 to 1957, firstly representing Women's constituency from 1937 to 1952, and then Bhowanipore from 1952 to 1957. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Mira Datta Gupta \|url=https://twitter.com/ishanidg/status/1381662969990279168?lang=en}}</ref>

	~~==Background==~~

	She was the daughter of Sarat Kumar Datta Gupta, [[Indian Audits and Accounts Service\|IAAS]], who retired as the Accountant General of India and later served as Agent (Railway Finance) of Jaipur State and Sarajubala Datta Gupta (née Sen). She was born on 5 October in her maternal grandparents' home in [[Dhaka]]. Her paternal ancestors owned substantial tracts of land on the Tarpasha side of Jainshar village in Dacca, Bikrampur, which the family held until the second partition of Bengal in 1947. Her paternal relatives were however not too significantly affected by the partition since most members of the family had been living and working in Calcutta since the end of the nineteenth century. In Calcutta she lived with her parents for the most part of her life at 41, Hazra Road.

	~~Shanti Dasgupta, MLA, who was an education minister in the Government of West Bengal (1972–77) was her nephew. [[Barun De]], the historian, was a nephew-in-law.~~{{~~citation needed~~\|~~date~~=~~April 2016}} Ardhendu Sen, IAS, a former Chief Secretary of West Bengal, is a grandnephew of hers.~~

	~~==Education and early influences==~~
	~~{{unreferenced section~~\|~~date~~=~~December 2019}}~~
	She was a brilliant student of St. John's Diocesan, Calcutta and [[Bethune College]], Calcutta. She completed her MSc in mathematics at the [[University of Calcutta]], coming first class second in the examination in 1930.

	Her parents were greatly inspired by patriotic feelings and she too absorbed these ideas as she was growing up. Since her father was a senior government official, the police did not suspect her of being a revolutionary worker for a long time. She secretly kept documents and even arms and ammunition for revolutionary party workers at her family home in Hazra Road. During the Calcutta Riots of 1946 she gave shelter to both Muslim and Hindu riot victims. In this endeavour she had the active backing of her family members, including her parents. In the initial years of her political career, she was a member of the [[Indian National Congress]], but later disillusioned by the INC, she joined the Forward Bloc.

	~~==Academic and social work=~~=
	~~{{unreferenced section\|date=December 2019~~}}
	The last decades of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth century saw the dawn of awakening of Indian women across India. Born in early twentieth century, Mira, like some of her contemporaries contributed towards the education and advancement of women in her province. As the vice principal of [[Vidyasagar College]], Calcutta and the founder-principal of the women's section of [[Surendranath College]], Calcutta, (appointed in 1931) she was very well known and also popular for her strong sense of discipline and academic standards. She retired from Surendranath Women's College in 1972.

	She was the founder of many prominent women's organisations and educational institutions in [[West Bengal]], India. She was among the founder members of the [[All India Women's Conference]] and [[All Bengal Women's Union]].

	==Political career==		==Political career==
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	She was a member of the [[Indian National Congress\|Indian Congress Party]] between 1937 and 1946. She was elected four times (1937, 1942, 1946 and 1951) as Member of the [[State Legislative Assembly (India)\|State Legislative Assembly]] of [[Bengal]], later renamed West Bengal. She was offered the post of Deputy Minister in the Cabinet of 1952 of the then [[Chief Minister]], [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], which she declined.<ref name="keyhighlightsofgeneralelections1951tothelegislativeassemblyofwestbengal">[http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Key Highlights of General Elections 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062737/http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf \|date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>		She was a member of the [[Indian National Congress\|Indian Congress Party]] between 1937 and 1946. She was elected four times (1937, 1942, 1946 and 1951) as Member of the [[State Legislative Assembly (India)\|State Legislative Assembly]] of [[Bengal]], later renamed West Bengal. She was offered the post of Deputy Minister in the Cabinet of 1952 of the then [[Chief Minister]], [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], which she declined.<ref name="keyhighlightsofgeneralelections1951tothelegislativeassemblyofwestbengal">[http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Key Highlights of General Elections 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062737/http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf \|date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

	Mira's reputation grew with her increasing involvement in the revolutionary movement. She was associated with Indian revolutionary groups, such as [[Anushilan]], [[Jugantar]] and [[Bengal Volunteers]]. As a member of [[Bengal Volunteers]] she was the editor of the women's section of its magazine – ''Benu''. While, initially she was put in charge of the organisation's South Calcutta Women's group, she later moved into a low profile role, choosing to work for India's independence secretly. In those days she used to donate her entire salary towards India's freedom movement to her party Bengal Volunteers. Around this time she also provided a channel for information between the revolutionaries who had to remain under cover and other members of the party. She participated in one of the important meetings of Bengal Volunteers held at [[Baranagar]] near Kolkata to discuss the group's activities in Midnapore and other parts of the state. From 1933, the police grew suspicious of her activities and she was placed under constant surveillance. In 1938, many party members such as Bhavani Bhattacharya and Ujjala Mazumdar were arrested in connection with the shooting of Governor John Anderson in [[Darjeeling]] district. Mira was cross-examined by the police for many hours in connection with this case. At this stage her father sent her away from Calcutta for two years to ensure her personal safety. She was very actively involved in fund raising activities during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1946, she was jailed for her nationalist activities. After her released from prison she became one of the first members of Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]'s [[Forward Bloc]].{{citation needed\|date=December ~~2019~~}}		Mira's reputation grew with her increasing involvement in the revolutionary movement.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}} She was associated with Indian revolutionary groups, such as [[Anushilan]], [[Jugantar]] and [[Bengal Volunteers]]. As a member of [[Bengal Volunteers]] she was the editor of the women's section of its magazine – ''Benu''. While, initially she was put in charge of the organisation's South Calcutta Women's group, she later moved into a low profile role, choosing to work for India's independence secretly. In those days she used to donate her entire salary towards India's freedom movement to her party Bengal Volunteers.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}}

			Around this time she also provided a channel for information between the revolutionaries who had to remain under cover and other members of the party. She participated in one of the important meetings of Bengal Volunteers held at [[Baranagar]] near Kolkata to discuss the group's activities in Midnapore and other parts of the state. From 1933, the police grew suspicious of her activities and she was placed under constant surveillance. In 1938, many party members such as Bhavani Bhattacharya and Ujjala Mazumdar were arrested in connection with the shooting of Governor John Anderson in [[Darjeeling]] district. Mira was cross-examined by the police for many hours in connection with this case. At this stage her father sent her away from Calcutta for two years to ensure her personal safety. She was very actively involved in fund raising activities during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1946, she was jailed for her nationalist activities. After her released from prison she became one of the first members of Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]'s [[Forward Bloc]].{{citation needed\|date=December 2022}}

	She had a devoted following in the [[Ballygunge]] [[Constituency]], all along the southeastern environs of the city, and was known for her social commitment. During the devastating [[Bengal Famine of 1943]], she, along with co-Congress workers played a leading role in organising [[relief]] for famine victims.{{citation needed\|date=December ~~2019~~}}		She had a devoted following in the [[Ballygunge]] [[Constituency]], all along the southeastern environs of the city, and was known for her social commitment. During the devastating [[Bengal Famine of 1943]], she, along with co-Congress workers played a leading role in organising [[relief]] for famine victims.{{citation needed\|date=December 2022}}

	Later, after independence, her many activities included relief activities for those affected by famines, floods, and also the rehabilitation of the homeless and economically weaker women.		Later, after independence, her many activities included relief activities for those affected by famines, floods, and also the rehabilitation of the homeless and economically weaker women.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}}

	==Post-retirement==		==Post-retirement==

	In her post-retirement years, she served as an honorary justice of peace in the juvenile court in Kolkata and was a member of the [[Board of Film Censors]] in West Bengal. In 1958 she joined the Indian goodwill mission to China and later visited [[Berlin]], Copenhagen and Moscow to attend developmental, educational and women's conferences. She was also a member of the Calcutta University Senate and the [[West Bengal Board of Secondary Education]]. She also contributed to the setting up of [[Patha Bhavan, Kolkata]], a school named after the university school in [[Santiniketan]].{{citation needed\|date=April ~~2016~~}}		In her post-retirement years, she served as an honorary justice of peace in the juvenile court in Kolkata and was a member of the [[Board of Film Censors]] in West Bengal.{{citation needed\|date= August 2022}} In 1958 she joined the Indian goodwill mission to China and later visited [[Berlin]], Copenhagen and Moscow to attend developmental, educational and women's conferences. She was also a member of the Calcutta University Senate and the [[West Bengal Board of Secondary Education]]. She also contributed to the setting up of [[Patha Bhavan, Kolkata]], a school named after the university school in [[Santiniketan]].{{citation needed\|date=April 2022}}

	==Death==		==Death==
	She died of [[pneumonia]] on 18 January 1983, at the age of 76.{{citation needed\|date=December ~~2019~~}}		She died of [[pneumonia]] on 18 January 1983, at the age of 76.{{citation needed\|date=December 2022}}

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist\|colwidth=30em}}		{{reflist\|colwidth=30em}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:~~Dattagupta~~, Mira}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Datta Gupta, Mira}}
	[[Category:1907 births]]		[[Category:1907 births]]
	[[Category:1983 deaths]]		[[Category:1983 deaths]]

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Background

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	==Background==		==Background==

	She was the daughter of Sarat Datta Gupta, [[Indian Audits and Accounts Service\|IAAS]], Accountant General of India ~~(''retd.'')~~ and Agent, Railway Finance of Jaipur State and Sarajubala Datta Gupta (née Sen). She was born on 5 October at her maternal grandparents' ~~house~~ in [[Dhaka]]. Her paternal ancestors owned substantial tracts of land in the Tarpasha side of Jainshar village in ~~Dhaka district~~, which the family held until the second partition of Bengal in 1947. Her paternal relatives were however not significantly affected by the partition since most members of the family had been living and working in Calcutta since the end of the nineteenth century. In Calcutta she lived with her parents for the most part of her life at 41, Hazra Road.		She was the daughter of Sarat Kumar Datta Gupta, [[Indian Audits and Accounts Service\|IAAS]], who retired as the Accountant General of India and later served as Agent (Railway Finance) of Jaipur State and Sarajubala Datta Gupta (née Sen). She was born on 5 October in her maternal grandparents' home in [[Dhaka]]. Her paternal ancestors owned substantial tracts of land on the Tarpasha side of Jainshar village in Dacca, Bikrampur, which the family held until the second partition of Bengal in 1947. Her paternal relatives were however not too significantly affected by the partition since most members of the family had been living and working in Calcutta since the end of the nineteenth century. In Calcutta she lived with her parents for the most part of her life at 41, Hazra Road.

	Shanti Dasgupta, MLA, who was an education minister in the Government of West Bengal (1972–77) was her nephew. [[Barun De]], the historian, was a nephew-in-law.{{citation needed\|date=April 2016}} Ardhendu Sen, IAS, a former Chief Secretary of West Bengal, is a grandnephew of hers.		Shanti Dasgupta, MLA, who was an education minister in the Government of West Bengal (1972–77) was her nephew. [[Barun De]], the historian, was a nephew-in-law.{{citation needed\|date=April 2016}} Ardhendu Sen, IAS, a former Chief Secretary of West Bengal, is a grandnephew of hers.

imported>Ebbedlila: short description

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short description

New page

{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mira Dutta Gupta
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = 5 October 1907
| birth_place = [[Dhaka]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
Present day, [[Bangladesh]]
| death_date = 18 January 1983 (aged 76)
| death_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| alma mater = [[Bethune College]]
| occupation = Educationist and politician
}}

'''Mira Datta Gupta''' ({{lang-bn|মীরা দত্ত গুপ্ত}}) (5 October 1907 - 18 January 1983) was a well-known [[freedom fighter]], [[social worker]], [[educationist]], politician and activist on women's issues in [[Calcutta]], India. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bengal and then West Bengal for twenty years from 1937 to 1957, firstly representing Women's constituency from 1937 to 1952, and then Bhowanipore from 1952 to 1957. She was the first MLA from Bhowanipore.

==Background==

She was the daughter of Sarat Datta Gupta, [[Indian Audits and Accounts Service|IAAS]], Accountant General of India (''retd.'') and Agent, Railway Finance of Jaipur State and Sarajubala Datta Gupta (née Sen). She was born on 5 October at her maternal grandparents' house in [[Dhaka]]. Her paternal ancestors owned substantial tracts of land in the Tarpasha side of Jainshar village in Dhaka district, which the family held until the second partition of Bengal in 1947. Her paternal relatives were however not significantly affected by the partition since most members of the family had been living and working in Calcutta since the end of the nineteenth century. In Calcutta she lived with her parents for the most part of her life at 41, Hazra Road.

Shanti Dasgupta, MLA, who was an education minister in the Government of West Bengal (1972–77) was her nephew. [[Barun De]], the historian, was a nephew-in-law.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} Ardhendu Sen, IAS, a former Chief Secretary of West Bengal, is a grandnephew of hers.

==Education and early influences==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2019}}
She was a brilliant student of St. John's Diocesan, Calcutta and [[Bethune College]], Calcutta. She completed her MSc in mathematics at the [[University of Calcutta]], coming first class second in the examination in 1930.

Her parents were greatly inspired by patriotic feelings and she too absorbed these ideas as she was growing up. Since her father was a senior government official, the police did not suspect her of being a revolutionary worker for a long time. She secretly kept documents and even arms and ammunition for revolutionary party workers at her family home in Hazra Road. During the Calcutta Riots of 1946 she gave shelter to both Muslim and Hindu riot victims. In this endeavour she had the active backing of her family members, including her parents. In the initial years of her political career, she was a member of the [[Indian National Congress]], but later disillusioned by the INC, she joined the Forward Bloc.

==Academic and social work==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2019}}
The last decades of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth century saw the dawn of awakening of Indian women across India. Born in early twentieth century, Mira, like some of her contemporaries contributed towards the education and advancement of women in her province. As the vice principal of [[Vidyasagar College]], Calcutta and the founder-principal of the women's section of [[Surendranath College]], Calcutta, (appointed in 1931) she was very well known and also popular for her strong sense of discipline and academic standards. She retired from Surendranath Women's College in 1972.

She was the founder of many prominent women's organisations and educational institutions in [[West Bengal]], India. She was among the founder members of the [[All India Women's Conference]] and [[All Bengal Women's Union]].

==Political career==

She was a member of the [[Indian National Congress|Indian Congress Party]] between 1937 and 1946. She was elected four times (1937, 1942, 1946 and 1951) as Member of the [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Legislative Assembly]] of [[Bengal]], later renamed West Bengal. She was offered the post of Deputy Minister in the Cabinet of 1952 of the then [[Chief Minister]], [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], which she declined.<ref name="keyhighlightsofgeneralelections1951tothelegislativeassemblyofwestbengal">[http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Key Highlights of General Elections 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062737/http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

Mira's reputation grew with her increasing involvement in the revolutionary movement. She was associated with Indian revolutionary groups, such as [[Anushilan]], [[Jugantar]] and [[Bengal Volunteers]]. As a member of [[Bengal Volunteers]] she was the editor of the women's section of its magazine – ''Benu''. While, initially she was put in charge of the organisation's South Calcutta Women's group, she later moved into a low profile role, choosing to work for India's independence secretly. In those days she used to donate her entire salary towards India's freedom movement to her party Bengal Volunteers. Around this time she also provided a channel for information between the revolutionaries who had to remain under cover and other members of the party. She participated in one of the important meetings of Bengal Volunteers held at [[Baranagar]] near Kolkata to discuss the group's activities in Midnapore and other parts of the state. From 1933, the police grew suspicious of her activities and she was placed under constant surveillance. In 1938, many party members such as Bhavani Bhattacharya and Ujjala Mazumdar were arrested in connection with the shooting of Governor John Anderson in [[Darjeeling]] district. Mira was cross-examined by the police for many hours in connection with this case. At this stage her father sent her away from Calcutta for two years to ensure her personal safety. She was very actively involved in fund raising activities during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1946, she was jailed for her nationalist activities. After her released from prison she became one of the first members of Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]'s [[Forward Bloc]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

She had a devoted following in the [[Ballygunge]] [[Constituency]], all along the southeastern environs of the city, and was known for her social commitment. During the devastating [[Bengal Famine of 1943]], she, along with co-Congress workers played a leading role in organising [[relief]] for famine victims.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Later, after independence, her many activities included relief activities for those affected by famines, floods, and also the rehabilitation of the homeless and economically weaker women.

==Post-retirement==

In her post-retirement years, she served as an honorary justice of peace in the juvenile court in Kolkata and was a member of the [[Board of Film Censors]] in West Bengal. In 1958 she joined the Indian goodwill mission to China and later visited [[Berlin]], Copenhagen and Moscow to attend developmental, educational and women's conferences. She was also a member of the Calcutta University Senate and the [[West Bengal Board of Secondary Education]]. She also contributed to the setting up of [[Patha Bhavan, Kolkata]], a school named after the university school in [[Santiniketan]].{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

==Death==
She died of [[pneumonia]] on 18 January 1983, at the age of 76.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

==References==
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[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:All India Forward Bloc politicians]]
[[Category:Indian feminists]]
[[Category:Members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Bethune College alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta faculty]]
[[Category:Social workers]]
[[Category:Women in West Bengal politics]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]
[[Category:Indian women educational theorists]]
[[Category:Women scientists from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Women Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Women educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social workers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:20th-century women educators]]