Krishna Mehta

Krishna Mehta
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office 1962–1968
Constituency	Jammu and Kashmir
Personal details
Born	4 June 1913 Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India
Died	20 October 1993 (aged 80) Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Spouse	Duni Chand Mehta
Children	6
Occupation	Social worker, politician
Known for	First woman MP from Jammu and Kashmir

Krishna Mehta (4 June 1913 – 20 October 1993) was an Indian politician, social worker, and the first woman member of parliament from Jammu and Kashmir. She is known for her contributions to social welfare and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the 1947 Partition, as well as for her work in establishing institutions for disadvantaged women and refugees in Jammu and Kashmir.^[1]

Early life and 1947 Partition

Krishna Mehta was born on 4 June 1913 into the prominent Mehta family of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. Her great-grandfather, Colonel Mehta Basti Ram, served in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army and played a role in the annexation of Ladakh.^[2] Mehta married Duni Chand Mehta who would serve as Wazir-e-Wazarat (District Commissioner) of Muzaffarabad in Jammu and Kashmir.^[1]

In October 1947, during the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir from the North-West Frontier Province, Krishna Mehta and her six children fled their home as Muzaffarabad came under attack. Her husband was killed while defending the area. Subsequently, She was later held in refugee camps in Muzaffarabad and other regions, where she witnessed and endured severe hardships. In response to the suffering of displaced women and children, she took on the task of rehabilitating them and providing emotional support.^[2][3]

After returning to India, she met with then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the Kurukshetra refugee camp. Nehru recognized her contributions and encouraged her to pursue social work, which led to her founding two institutions to support refugees and underprivileged women.^[1][4]

Founding of Social Welfare Organizations

In 1948, Mehta founded the Gandhi Seva Sadan and the Khadi Gram Udyog Sangh in Jammu and Kashmir. These organizations focused on providing vocational training and economic support for displaced and disadvantaged women, These organizations focused on providing vocational training and economic support for displaced and disadvantaged women, with the aim of promoting self-reliance. The Over time, the Gandhi Seva Sadan expanded, establishing numerous branches throughout Jammu and Kashmir and continued to assist many families.^[1][4]

Political career

In 1962, Mehta was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament, becoming the first female MP from Jammu and Kashmir. In this role role, she advocated for social development initiatives and worked to bring national attention to issues in her home state. She invited then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Kishtwar to provide a firsthand understanding of the region’s challenges.^[2][3]

Later life and death

Mehta maintained an interest in spirituality, spending time at the ashram of her guru, Magan Baba, in Kishtwar. She continued her work in social welfare and wrote about her experiences, including the challenges faced in Kashmir. Krishna Mehta died on 20 October 1993, in Kishtwar. In accordance with her wishes, her ashes were immersed in the Chenab River.^[1]

References

1. Excelsior, Daily (3 June 2013). "First women MP from J&K". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
2. "Paying tribute to India's freedom fighters – Krishna Mehta". 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
3. "Feminine Fortitude in India's Freedom Struggle: The Overlooked Women Heroes of Jammu Kashmir". Jammu Kashmir Now. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
4. Rohmetra, Ravi (3 June 2019). "First womenMP from J&K". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 2 November 2024.