Bhulabhai Desai Biography 
Bhulabhai Desai was a great freedom fighter, independence activist and acclaimed lawyer from Valsad, Gujarat. His defense of the 3 accused soldiers of the Indian National Army during Second World War for treachery makes Desai a popular person. His attempt for negotiation of a secret power-sharing agreement with Liaquat Ali Khan of the Muslim League is regarded as another praiseworthy contribution of Desai. He was also a member of Central Legislative Assembly from Gujarat in the mid-1930s. He has been arrested and jailed for his participation in Salt Satyagraha in 1930. He was one among the free members of Indian National Congress, when most of its leaders were arrested and jailed during Quit India Movement.
Bhulabhai Desai was born in Valsad on 13 October 1877. After initial education he studied at Mumbai. He completed matriculation in the year 1985 from Bharda High School, Mumbai. He was married to Ichchhaben while at school and the couple had one son. But his wife died at a younger age in 1923. Excellent in academics, he won Wordsworth Prize and a scholarship during his studies and after post-graduation he started his career as a lecturer. In parallel he completed law as well and enrolled as an advocate at the Bombay High Court in 1905. He soon became one of the leading lawyers of the state.
He started his political journey with Indian Liberal Party, supportive of British influences. But later he left the party to join Indian National Congress following Simon’s commission in 1928. Started off as the representative of the farmers of Gujarat against British policies in Satyagraha in 1928, he soon joined National freedom struggle movement. He formally joined the Congress in 1930 and actively participated in all forms of non-violent struggles against British. Bhulabhai Desai died on 6th May 1946, one year before Indian independence. Bhulabhai Memorial Institute was constructed in Mumbai in his memory.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 27, 2016
