ASHOKA GUPTA AND THE RIOT TORN NOAKHALI: A JOURNEY FOR PEACE, STABILITY AND HUMANITY
ECRTD-UK
2020
Summary:
"Ashoka Gupta was a renowned social worker who dedicated her life to social service.
In 1946 a violent communal riot erupted in Noakhali in erstwhile East Bengal when Hindu life and
property were targeted and conversion was undertaken under the threat of death. Assaults and
molestation of women formed a significant feature of the riots. As soon as the news of the riots reached
outside world, the members of the All India Women’s Conference formed a Relief Committee with
Ashoka as its convenor. Initially they distributed relief materials to the fleeing villagers. But when
Gandhiji arrived in Noakhali he advised the workers to set up their camps in interior villages to restore
confidence among the terrified Hindus. On Gandhiji’s advice, Ashoka set up her base in an interior
village, taking her little daughter with her. Ashoka’s tasks included restoring normalcy and communal
peace between the two communities, urging the Hindus to return back, ensuring that the victims
received their quota of government relief. She was particularly concerned about the fate of the
molested and abducted women. However, she admitted that she could not do much for those helpless
women. Nevertheless, she won many hearts through her self-less service in Noakhali and it remained
the most memorable chapter in her life."
Link - bit.ly/2Zzdj3p
Language:
English