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.
Her great-grandfather, Colonel Mehta Basti Ram, served in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army and played a role in the annexation of Ladakh.
[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.
Nehru recognized her contributions and encouraged her to pursue social work, which led to her founding two institutions to support refugees and underprivileged women.