MUMBAI

Homage Paid to Captain Lakshmi Sehgal

P R Krishnan

THE textile city of Mumbai, which played a major role in the freedom struggle, naval uprising and Quit India movement, paid homage to Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, the INA heroine, who passed away recently. On August 14, the Mumbai committee of the CPI(M) organised a public meeting in her honour, in the Vanamali Hall in central Mumbai. The main speaker on the occasion was Brinda Karat, a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau.

It is to be noted that the Mumbaikars have participated in many meetings in this city and heard several speeches delivered by Captain Lakshmi Sehgal there during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Many of those who have heard Captain Lakshmi Sehgal speaking were also

present in the audience; they recollected that it was as if she was addressing them in a battlefield.

The audience in the Vanamali Hall meeting comprised a cross section of society. Among them were progressive writers, authors, actors and producers apart from workers and ordinary people from slums. Famous cine actress Sabana Azmi and documentary film maker Anant Patwardhan too were among the speakers. They paid glowing tributes to Captain Lakshmi Sehgal.

CPI(M) Central Committee member K L Bajaj presided over the meeting. Besides Brinda Karat, Sabana Azmi and Anant Patwardhan, others who spoke on the occasion in memory of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal were Mahendra Singh (secretary of the CPI(M)’s Mumbai committee), Sonya Gill (AIDWA), Ram Sagar Pande (Janawadi Lekhak Sangh), Preethi Shekhar (DYFI), Pravin Manjalkar (SFI) and Sayeed Ahmad (CITU).

Brinda Karat, in her speech, referred to different features of the freedom struggle and the role played by Captain Lakshmi Sehgal in the INA under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. She also referred to the active participation of Captain Lakshmi in the post-independence period of Indian people’s struggle in different fields.  

An inspiring documentary made by Captain Lakshmi Sehgal’s grandson, Shaad Ali, was screened before the start of the meeting, showing the important stages in the life of this battlefield fighter. The meeting ended with the screening of a recorded interview of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal.