Q. With reference to Hansa Jivraj Mehta, a prominent Indian freedom fighter, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
1.She was the first woman vice-chancellor in India.
2.She argued for equality and justice for women without special privileges in the Indian Constitution.
3.She led armed rebellions against British rule.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanations –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Hansa Mehta was the first woman Vice-Chancellor in India, serving at SNDT Women’s University from 1946 to 1948. She later became the Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (1949–1958), making her the first woman to lead a co-educational university in India. In the Constituent Assembly, Hansa Mehta strongly advocated for gender equality and opposed reserved seats or quotas for women, emphasizing equality on merit. She believed in social, economic, and political justice for women without special privileges. She presented India’s National Flag to the Constituent Assembly on behalf of Indian women on August 15, 1947. As President of the All-India Women’s Conference (1945–46), she drafted the Indian Women’s Charter of Rights and Duties, demanding equal rights for women in education, property, suffrage, and pay.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Hansa Mehta was a Gandhian who participated in non-violent movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement and Salt Satyagraha. She was arrested during these protests but did not lead armed rebellions. She actively participated in movements like picketing foreign goods and liquor shops. She founded the Desh Sevika Dal (a group of female freedom fighters) in 1930. She played a key role during the campaign against the Simon Commission. She oppposed religious-based personal laws and pushed for a Uniform Civil Code, emphasizing secularism in governance.
Source: The Hindu
