About Aruna Asaf Ali

Aruna Asaf Ali

Aruna Asaf Ali, also known to the Indian populace as Aruna Ganguly, was born in Kalka, Haryana, India, in 1909. She is one of India’s most well-known female political campaigners. Aruna received her education at the Lahore, Pakistan, catholic school Sacred Heart Convent. Her family was furious when she decided to become a nun, so she had to shift to a protestant school. Aruna met her future husband Asaf Ali while working as a teacher at Gokhale Memorial School after completing her studies. Asaf Ali was a congressman in India at the time. During her marriage, Aruna became increasingly interested in the affairs of her husband’s political party, and decided to become an active member of the party. Aruna’s life was filled with various aspects that made her special in terms of the effects she had not only in India, but also around the world.

Aruna Asaf Ali as a Freedom Fighter

Aruna Asaf Ali is interesting and special as she was an ardent soldier of the army of freedom fighters. He became prominent during the days of Salt Satyagraha, when she went around addressing meetings, preparing salt and leading processions. Interestingly, the Chief Commissioner of Delhi was significantly alarmed by the activities of Aruna. Consequently, Aruna was arrested and prosecuted not for sedition but for being vagrant having no ostensible means of her livelihood. She was asked to furnish security for good behavior, but she declined, she was detained for one year. Further, Aruna Asaf disregarded Gandhian principles and used violence to ensure the success of a nationalist movement. Thus the Quit India Movement became violent and destructive. She traveled extensively throughout the country but managed to escape arrest. She toured the famine-stricken areas, helping the poor villagers and encouraged the families of political prisoners. As a result of her activities, innumerable people, businesspeople, industrialists, army officers as well as government officials helped her.

Aruna Asaf Ali’s Global Impact

Aruna had various effects not only in India, but also globally. She was an important member of the Quit India Movement in 1942, and as the first woman to receive the Lenin Peace Award in 1964. Throug her ideals, Aruna influenced the opinions of the members of the Indian National Congress. She organized public processions through the Quit India Movement, and this led to her arrest and detention in 1930. The other effect that she had on the world was to show that love had no boundaries by marrying her husband. Aruna’s husband was Muslim, and was twenty two years older than her, but this did not prevent them from marrying, and working together for the betterment of India. She was disowned by her family due to the marriage. Further, her effect on the world and India was also demonstrated through her contributions to freedom struggles. In her book The Oxford Encylipedia of Women in World History, Bonnie Smith notes that Aruna was best known around the world as “Heroine of 1942” and “Grand Old Lady”. In summary, Aruna had an effect on people by encouraging them to fight for their freedom.

Various Events in Aruna’s Life

Various events shaped and changed Aruna’s life. The turning point of her life was her participation in Quit India movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1942. Following the arrest of all leaders of the Indian National Congress, Aruna presided over the historic Congress session in Bombay and hoisted a flag. Outraged by the trampling of the flag by a British soldier, she renounced nonviolence and went underground to guide the movement moving from city to city to escape arrest. According to Mohapatra and Mohanty, she described her role and that of the A.C.C. with the words, “we did not impose any dogmatic ritual of conduct upon our people. Conversely, we studied their spontaneous improvisations with such powers of discrimination as we possess and strove to inform widely separated storm centers of revolt ... it would be cowardice if we did not assume our share of guidance” (83). Additionally, Aruna’s Asaf Ali’s courage and resourcefulness during the time were greatly admired, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Azad testified the important role played by her in the 1942 movement.

Aruna’s Role in Establishing Azad Hind Army

Aruna suggested the establishment of a new creation Azad Hind Army in India under the banner of Congress to organize a revolutionary movement to overthrow the British rule. In her sentiments, freedom struggle is not the place for mere intellectuals, but rather there is need of practical people who can carry the message of liberation throughout the whole length and breadth of the country. Aruna’s career demonstrates the growing sense of confidence among women, their desire to be liberated and to assert their point of view she had suffered many hardships for a political cause. Gandhi’s disagreement with her choice did not intimidate her. She was proud of her part in the movement and was not afraid to assert her right to his formidable personality.

Obstacles Faced by Aruna

Aruna’s life was also filled with significant obstacles that also shaped her life as a female political activist. During her time in prison, other inmates were released through the Gandhi Irwin Pact in 1931. However, due to effect she had on the Indian people protests were organized to secure her release. A year later, Aruna was arrested again, and while in prison she organized a protest on poor living conditions in the prison. This presented another challenge for her life as she was transferred to a male prison and placed under solitary confinement. Protests were once again organized, and this ensured that all political prisoners were released.

Aruna’s Legacy

Conclusively, the world could have been worse if Aruna had not lived. During her period, women were given neither education nor liberty to work, but Aruna became a graduate, worked and established herself as an independent woman. Asaf Ali actively supported women issues, striving to increase women’s participation in politics and also promote social change about the role of women in the society. Further, Aruna Asaf Ali dedicated her life to public service and humanitarian causes in India and championed social justice. Ultimately she was one of the most important figures in the 20th century in Indian history. As a nationalist who fought to end British imperialism, as a socialist and a member of the communist party of India, as a feminist, she made substantial contributions to Indian political life and the world at large.

Works Cited

Mohapatra, Padmalaya and Bijoyini Mohanty. Elite Women of India. 1st ed., New Delhi, A.P.H. Pub. Corp., 2002.

Smith, Bonnie G. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History: 4 Volume Set. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, 2008.