Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the left atrial (LA) function in severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) patients using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and its correlation with clinical symptoms and echocardiography parameters. Methods: A total of 120 subjects (80 patients with isolated severe MS [mitral valve area (MVA) ≤1.5 cm2] in sinus rhythm and 40 healthy controls) underwent comprehensive echocardiography including STE for assessment of LA strain [reservoir strain (LASr), conduit strain (LAScd) and contractile strain (LASct)]. Results: The mean MVA in cases was 0.93 ± 0.21 cm2. The mean values of LASr (14.73 ± 8.59%), LAScd (-7.61 ± 4.47%) and LASct (-7.16 ± 5.15%) among cases were significantly less (p< 0.001) when compared to controls where the values were 44.11 ± 10.44%, -32.45 ± 7.63%, -11.85 ± 6.77% respectively. Thus the compensatory LA contractile function was also compromised. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III, II and I dyspnea was present in 37 (46.25%), 38 (47.5%) and 5 (6.25%) subjects respectively. All the three LA strain parameters showed a trend towards decline with increase in severity of MS, increase in LA size, increase in mean and peak diastolic transmitral gradients and with higher NYHA functional class. Conclusion: Left atrial dysfunction is common in severe rheumatic MS as suggested by severely reduced LA reservoir, conduit and contractile strain. Early and timely intervention in these patients irrespective of NYHA functional class is advocated as it may likely improve the LA function and avoid clinical deterioration.