2018-07-16 Mon

Aruna Asaf Ali born as Aruna Ganguly was an Indian independence activist and social worker. She was born on 16th July 1909 in Kalka, Haryana into a Bengali Brahmo family. Aruna was educated at Sacred Heart Convent in Lahore and then at All Saints' College in Nainital. After her graduation, she worked as a teacher at the Gokhale Memorial School in Calcutta.

Her strong collaboration with the Indian National Congress and the inclination to work for the country’s independence began when she first met Asaf Ali, who was a leader in the Congress party, in Allahabad.

She is widely remembered for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement, 1942. After Independence, she remained active in politics, becoming Delhi's first mayor in 1958.

Aruna received India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1997. She was also awarded the Lenin prize for peace in 1975 and Jawahar Lal Nehru Award in 1991.

India post has issued commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Anniversary of Aruna Asaf Ali.

Image Source: Mintage World