Asoka Mehta

Ashok Mehta (24 October 1911 in Bhavnagar – 1984) was an Indian freedom fighter and socialist politician. He helped organize the socialist wing of the Indian National Congress, along with Jaya Prakash Narayan, and was heavily involved in the politics and government of the city of Bombay.

Ashok Mehta was born in Bhavnagar on 24 October 1911 to Ranjitram Mehta, a Gujarati writer. He completed his primary education from Ahmedabad and Sholapur. He graduated from Bombay University in 1931 where he was introduced to Swadeshi Movement.

He was imprisoned in 1932 for participating in Civil Disobedience Movement. Mehta was active participant during the Quit India movement in 1942 and was arrested by the British. He was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment five times.

After India's independence, he helped organize trade unions in Bombay and was one of the founders of INTUC.

He also served as Mayor of Bombay city from 1946 to 1947. Mehta retired from active politics in the early 1950s, and wrote several books on his experiences, on India's freedom struggle, and on the importance of socialist reforms. In 1950, he was elected as the presidnt of the eighth session of Socialist Party.

Ashoka Mehta was a founder member of Socialist Party and when, in September 1952, the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party and the Socialist Party merged to form the Praja Socialist Party (PSP) in which the major cementing role were played by Ram Manohar Lohia and Mehta, Asoka Mehta became new party's general secretary. He was Praja Socialist Party's president during 1959-1963.

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