407.Phanibhusan Dasgupta (1907-1942)

Phanibhusan Dasgupta

Phanibhusan Dasgupta was born on the 27th Dec. 1907 in the village of Khalisakota (P.S. Buckergaunge ), Barisal ( Now Bangladesh). His father Aukhoykumar was a headmaster with very strong personality. Phani joined politics in his school days in secret organizations like 'Vivek Asram' and 'Sankar Math'. Subsequently he joined revolutionary 'Jugantar Party'.

That Phani wouldn't stay in family and would join the call of the country, was the apprehension of his parents. But to prevent it the parents decided to get him married at an early age. Even the daring Phani had no courage to say 'no' to his father. So he was married to a pretty girl named Sudha Sengupta in 1925, Feb. 10th. Phani had appeared I.A. (H.S.) exam. and aged 18, and Sudha read in class VII, aged 13 only at that time. After marriage Phani went to Calcutta , took admission in B.Sc. (Hons) in Scottish Church College. But education was a plea. He joined political activities in Calcutta. 

Phani's first exposure was in publication of a weekly paper named "Swadhinata", the first issue being 5th Dec. 1928. The explosive articles in the paper took immediate attention of the law and order authorities of Calcutta. He was arrested on the 4th June 1928 under sedition charge (u/s 124A). He was convicted for 3 months R.I. It can be mentioned that this "Swadhinata" paper was again published after independence from 5th Nov 1953, as news daily being mouthpiece of the Communist Party under editorship of Bhupesh Gupta.

After release Phani again passed his life in underground. He was again arrested on the 17th March 1931 in Mechuabazar Bomb Case and was kept as detenue (on trial) in Hijli Camp jail of Midnapore. Two revolutionaries, namely Phani and Nalini(Das) escaped from the Hijli detention Camp and an award of Rs.1000 for each was announced for their search. 

Then again they had to live hard life in underground. After this Phani-Nalini were involved in "Singa Dacoity Case". This dacoity took place in Singa village of Barisal, where some 7 or 8 persons raided the house of a rich man on 18th july 1932 with object of looting money. In those days extortion was made by freedom fighters to collect money for movement. This time a member of the family stealthily left the house to call on the village Chowkidar (police). The Chowkidar 'Entajuddin' came to resist the dacoits and threw a spear to kill Phani. But the target was missed. But when Phani retaliated with his revolver the target was a sure success even and Entajuddin died with a bullet shot on his head.

Phani and his accomplices went underground and police had no idea about the accused for months together. At last a traitor named Ramesh Sarkar along with some others caught Phani and his associate Sudhangshu Sengupta. They were caught in the village 'Adhuna' possessing bomb and revolvers.

Phanibhusan was judged for several months under special court of the Judge T.S.Ellis in Buckergaunge. He was then awarded life sentence and transportation to Cellular Jail (u/s366/365 and s.120B) on 8th Dec. 1932. After another two days on the 10th he was further awarded a sentence of 7 years. In Adhuna Arms find Case (u/s 19F and 20 ). And then he was sent from Barisal Jail to Alipore Central Jail for availing ship for Andamans.

But again he attempted to escape from Alipore Jail. He came out of the cell but could not cross the outer wall. He was caught and severely beaten. After this he was sent to Cellular Jail in Andaman. 

Phani possibly joined the first hunger strike for 46 days in Cellular Jail. But owing to physical illness he was not allowed to join the second hunger strike . Actually the routine torture in Cellular Jail, his failure in some actions as well as repentance for killing an innocent village Chowkidar by firing caused temporary mental illness in him. His physique also went down.

Hence Phani was repatriated in the beginning of 1938. He was under prolonged indoor treatment in Calcutta Medical College Hospital. After a short recovery he was sent back to home at Barisal. He died on the 12th Feb. 1943 at an age of 35. After another two years his wife Sudha also died at an age of 31 keeping behind the son of Phani aged 4 years. 

Sudha passed a tragic life. Over long years of marriage, when Phani was in jail or underground, Sudha lived in agony and solitude. Even when she went to take admission in a school she was refused admission, being a wife of a 'Swadesi' prisoner. At last when she got back her husband, he was less than a full man, having lost his memory and physical fitness. Thus the revolutionaries become heroes of the history but their wives' sufferings are never counted and they remain in silence of history. 

Portraits of Phanibhusan are kept in the Cellular Jail and in Mahajati Sadan. The one you see is here can be seen at the Cellular Jail.

This biography was provided by his grandson Sayantan Dasgupta

406. Fakruddin Ali Ahmed (1905-1977)

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
5th President of India
In office 24 August 1974 – 11 February 1977
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Vice President	Basappa Danappa Jatti
Preceded by	V. V. Giri
Succeeded by	Basappa Danappa Jatti (Acting)
Personal details
Born	13 May 1905 Delhi, British India (now in India)
Died	11 February 1977 (aged 71) New Delhi, Delhi, India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	Begum Abida Ahmed
Children	3
Alma mater	St Catharine's College, Cambridge St. Stephen's College, Delhi
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Islam

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed [Assamese:] (13 May 1905 – 11 February 1977) was the fifth President of India from 1974 to 1977.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was born on 13 May 1905, at the Hauz Qazi area of Old Delhi, India.^[2] His father, Col. Zalnur Ali Ahmed, was the first Assamese person to have an M.D. (Master of Doctor) degree and also the first one fromNorth-East India. His mother was a daughter of the Nawab of Loharu.Ahmed's grandfather, Khaliluddin Ali Ahmed, was from Kacharighat nearGolaghat, Assam, and hailed from a well-known Assamese Muslim family.

Ahmed was educated at the Government High School in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh, and matriculated from the Delhi Government High School. He attended St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar from the Inner Temple of London and began legal practice in theLahore High Court in 1928.

Political years

He met Jawaharlal Nehru in England in 1925. He joined the Indian National Congressand actively participated in the Indian freedom movement. In 1942 he was arrested in the Quit India movement and sentenced to 3 1/2 years' imprisonment. He was a member of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from 1936 and of AICC from 1947 to 74, and remained the Minister of Finance, Revenue and labour in the 1938Gopinath Bordoloi Ministry.

After Independence he was elected to the Rajya Sabha (1952–1953) and thereafter became Advocate-General of the Government of Assam. He was elected on Congress ticket to the Assam Legislative Assembly on two terms (1957–1962) and (1962–1967).

Subsequently, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Barpeta constituency, Assam in 1967 and again in 1971. In the Central Cabinet he was given important portfolios relating to Food and Agriculture, Cooperation, Education, Industrial Development and Company Laws.

Picked for the presidency by the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1974, and on 20 August 1974, he became the second Muslim to be elected President. He is known to have issued the proclamation of emergency by signing the papers at midnight after a meeting with Indira Gandhi the same day. He used his constitutional authority as head of state to allow her to rule by decree once Emergency in India was proclaimed in 1975. He is well known among Indian diplomats for his visit to Sudan in 1975 where the whole town showed up to see him. He was the second Indian president to die in office, on 11 February 1977. Today his grave lies right across Parliament of India, next to Sunhari Masjid, at Sansas chowk, in New Delhi.

Honors

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Pristina, in Kosovo, in 1975, during his visit to Yugoslavia.

He was elected President of the Assam Football Association and the Assam Cricket Association for several terms; he was also the Vice-President of the Assam Sports Council.

In April 1967, he was elected President of the All India Cricket Association. He was a member of the Delhi Golf Club and the Delhi Gymkhana Club from 1961. In 1942 he was arrested in the Quit India movement and sentenced to 3 1/2 years' imprisonment. He was a member of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee from 1936 and of AICC from 1947 to 74, and remained the Minister of Finance, Revenue and labour in the 1938 Gopinath Bordoloi Ministry and he is the first president to istablished the industrial act.

405.Pritilata Waddedar ( 1911-1932)

Early life[edit]

Matriculation examination certificate of Pritilata

Pritilata Waddedar (5 May 1911 – 23 September 1932)Bengalirevolutionary nationalist. She was the first Indian woman revolutionary to fight the British. She was very studious. After completing her education in Chittagong, she attended Bethune College in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Pritilata graduated in Philosophy with distinction.

 was a

After a brief stint as a school teacher, Pritilata joined a revolutionary group headed by Surya Sen. She led a 15 man team of revolutionaries in a 1932 attack on the Pahartali European Club,^] which had a sign board that read "Dogs and Indians not allowed".The revolutionaries torched the club and were later caught by the British police. To avoid getting arrested, Pritilata consumed cyanide and died.

Early life

Pritilata was born to a middle-class family on 5 May 1911 in Dhalghat village in Patiya upazila of Chittagong (now in Bangladesh). Her parents were Jagabandhu Waddedar (father) and Pratibhamayi Devi (mother). Jagabandhu was a clerk in the Chittagong Municipality. Her mother Pratibhamayi Devi was a housewife. The couple had six children– Madhusduan, Pritilata, Kanaklata, Shantilata, Ashalata and Santosh. Pritilata was nicknamed Rani. Waddedar was a title conferred to an ancestor of the family who originally had the surname Dasgupta.

Jagabandhu tried to arrange best possible education for their children. He got Pritilata admitted in Dr. Khastagir Government Girls' School of Chittagong. Pritilata was a meritorious student. A teacher in the school, whom students affectionately used called Usha Di, used stories of Rani Lakshmibai to inspire nationalism in her students.Kalpana Datta, a classmate of Pritilata, writes in the biography Chittagong Armoury raiders– "We had no clear idea in our school days about our future. Then the Rani of Jhansi fired our imagination with her example. Sometimes we used to think of ourselves as fearless...". Arts and literature were Pritilata's favourite subjects.She passed out of Dr. Khastagir Government Girls' School in 1928 and in 1929, got admitted to the Eden College, Dhaka. In the Intermediate examinations, she stood first among all students who appeared in that year's examination from the Dhaka Board. As a student in Eden College, she participated in various social activities. She joined the group Sree Sangha, headed by Leela Nag, under the banner Dipali Sangha.

In Calcutta

To pursue higher education, Pritilata went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and got admitted to the Bethune College. Two years later, she graduated in Philosophy from the college with a distinction. However, her degree was withheld by British authorities atCalcutta University. In 2012, she (and Bina Das) were conferred their certificates of merit posthumously.

As a school teacher

After completing her education in Calcutta, Pritilata returned to Chittagong. In Chittagong, she took up the job of a school teacher at a local English medium secondary school called Nandankanan Aparnacharan School. She was appointed as the first Headmistress of the school.

Revolutionary activities

Joining Surya Sen's revolutionary group

"Pritilata was young and courageous. She would work with a lot of zeal and was determined to drive the British away."

Binod Bihari Chowdhury, a contemporary revolutionary^[18]

Pritilata decided to join the Indian freedom movement. Surya Sen had heard about her and wanted her to join their revolutionary group. On 13 June 1932, Pritilata met Surya Sen and Nirmal Sen in their Dhalghat camp. A contemporary revolutionary, Binod Bihari Chowdhury, objected that they did not allow women to join their group. However, Pritalata was allowed to join the group because the revolutionaries reasoned that women transporting weapons would not attract as much suspicion as men.

Inspiration from Ramkrishna Biswas

Surya Sen and his revolutionary group decided to kill Mr. Craig, Inspector General of Chittagong. Ramakrishna Biswas and Kalipada Chakravarty were assigned for this task. But they mistakenly killed SP of Chandpur and Traini Mukherjee instead of Craig. Ramakrishna Biswas and Kalipada Chakravarty were arrested on 2 December 1931. After the trial Biswas was ordered to be hanged till death and Chakravarty to be exiled to Cellular Jail.

The family and friends lacked the amount of money required to travel to Chittagong to Alipore Jail of Calcutta. Since at that time Pritilata was staying in Kolkata, she was asked to go to Alipore Jail and meet Ramkrishna Biswas.

Activities in Surya Sen's group

Along with the revolutionary group of Surya Sen, Pritilata took part in many raids like attacks on the Telephone & Telegraph offices and the capture of the reserve police line. In the Jalalabad battle, she took the responsibility to supply explosives to the revolutionaries.

Pahartali European Club attack (1932)

Pahartali European Club (current image), which was torched by the group of revolutionaries

In 1932, Surya Sen planned to attack the Pahartali European Club which had a signboard that read "Dogs and Indians not allowed". Surya Sen decided to appoint a woman leader for this mission. Kapana Datta was arrested seven days before the event. Because of this, Pritilata was assigned the leadership of the attack. Pritilata went to Kotowali Sea Side for arms training and made the plan of their attack there.

They decided to attack the club on 23 September 1932. The members of the group were given potassium cyanide and were told to swallow it if they were caught.

On the day of the attack, Pritilata dressed herself as a Punjabi male. Her associates Kalishankar Dey, Bireshwar Roy, Prafulla Das, Shanti Chakraborty wore dhoti and shirt. Mahendra Chowdhury, Sushil Dey and Panna Sen wore lungi and shirt.

They reached the club at around 10:45 PM and attacked the club. There were around 40 people inside the club then. The revolutionaries divided themselves into three separate groups for the attack. In the club, a few police officers who had revolvers started shooting. Pritilata incurred a single bullet wound. According to the police report, in this attack, one woman with a surname of Sullivan died and four men and seven women were injured.

Death

In this place Pritilata committed suicide. Now there is a plaque there in her memory

An injured Pritilata was trapped by the British police. In order to avoid arrest, she swallowed cyanide and committed suicide. On the next day police found her body and identified her. On searching her dead body police found a few leaflets, photograph of Ramkrishna Biswas, bullets, whistle and the draft of their plan of attack. After the post-mortemit was found that the bullet injury was not very serious and cyanide was the reason of her death.

The chief secretary of Bengal sent a report to British authorities in London. In the report it was written–

Pritilata had been closely associated with, if not actually the mistress of, the terrorist Biswas who was hanged for the murder of Inspector Tarini Mukherjee, and some reports indicate that she was the wife of Nirmal Sen who was killed while attempting to evade arrest of Dhalghat, where Captain Cameron fell.

Influence

A bust of Waddedar Pritilata Waddedar primary school, Chittagong

Bangladeshi writer Selina Hossain calls Pritilata an ideal for every woman. A trust named Birkannya Pritilata Trust (Brave lady Pritilata Trust) has been founded in her memory. Pritilata's birthday is celebrated by the trust in different places of Bangladesh and India every year. The trust considers her to be "a beacon of light for women". The last end of Sahid Abdus Sabur Road to Mukunda Ram Hat of Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong has been named as Pritilata Waddedar Road In 2012, a bronze sculpture of Pritilata Waddedar and Suya Sen has been planned to be installed in front of Pahartali Railway School, adjacent to the historical European Club.

In popular media

• 2010 Bollywood movie Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey was based on Chittagong Uprising where Vishakha Singh played the character of Pritilata.
• In 2012, the Hindi film Chittagong was released based on the uprising. Vega Tamotia played the role of Waddedar.1811-1932).

403. Pranab Kumar Sen (1901-1962), 404. Priyaranjan Sen (1893-1967)

Pranab Kumar Sen was born in Barisal in 1901. He passed M.A. in Benagali and took the responsibility of editing "Bhotranga " patrika.He was a devotee aqnd educationist. He started his active life in 1921 by joining in Non-Cooperation and Boycott of Foreign goods.he along with Satindranath Sen  did relief works to the flood victims of Bhola.He was Secretary of Barisal Congress for long period and also secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee. He remained in jail for joining  Quit India movement in 1942. He remained intern in his own room in 1944. He suffered imprisonment in students movement in 1945.After partition he and Satindranath decided to serve the country without leaving his own  country.He was in jail in 1950 in East Pakistan during riot. he was in jail in Laguage Movement in 1952, in the reign of Muslim League in 1954 and in Ayub Khan Regime in 1958.He was elected in the Assembly of East Pakistan in 1954.Moreovwer, he was member of Jail Reform Committee of East Pakistan and Inquiry Commission of the death of Satin Sen. The Pakistan Military destroyed all his  belonging during Swadhinata Andilan of Bangla Desh.  

Priya Ranjan Sen passed M.A. in English and Bengali in 1st class.He got Premchand Roychand Scholarship in 1925. He was a Professor of Rangpur Carmichel College and Calcutta University. He became inspired during Non-Cooperation movement in 1921 by Gandhiji. He was jailed in 1942 movement. He was  honorary secretary from 1944-64 in Harijan Sangha, West bengal Committee. He became a member in General Assembly of India in 1946 and also elected in Bidhan Sabha of West Bengal duing 1952-57. He got Padmasree in 1967.  

401. Pramodranjan Choudhury (1904-1926), 402.Pramodranjan Sengupta (1907-1974)

Pramod Ranjan Choudhury was born at Kelishar, Chttagong (now in Bangladesh) in 1904. His father name was Ishan Chndra Chaudhury.While he was a student he joined Anusheelan Samity in 1920. He participated in non-Cooperation Movement in 1921. He was arrested in connection with Dakshineshwar Bomb Case and was jailed for five years. Deputy Superintendent of Jail Bhupendranath Chattopadhyay happened to visit jail for damaging the mental strength of the revolutionaries. Some revolutionary decided to assassinate Bhupen. On 28.5.1926 Bhupendranath was found dead on the floor of the prison.Being unable to ascertain who was the actual murderer the convicted two persons as the main culprit and the other three as their assistants. In trial Pramoderanjan and Anantahari was hanged on 28 Sept 1928 and the other three got Dwipantar.  


Pramodranjan Sengupta came in contact with the revolutionaries like Ananta Hari Mitra, Mahadev Sarkar, Hemanta kumar Sarkar when was reading Krishnanagar  College in 1925. He remained intern in a village of Faridpur after being arrested in connection with Dakineshwar Bomb Case.He went to U.K. after release in 1927.while studying  there, he joined himself in "India League" and trade union movement of Dock workers.He went to Germany in 1928 at the invitation of Soumendra Nath Thakur and was introduced with the members of the Berlin Committee. In U.K. he had close connection with the Communist Leader like Sapurji Sakatwala, Harry polit, Rajani Pam Dutta etc.During WWII Netaji Subhas chandra bose formed INA in Berlin and he became its Programme Director. He also edited the magazine Ajad hind for some time. After the war he was arrested by the British military Mission and was imprisoned for 10 monthsw. He came back  to India in 1946 and join in direct politics. He was agian imprisoned in Presidency jail in 1950. After release he joined Communist Party Of India. He was an important leader of International Peace Movement and preservation of Democratic Rights. His important works  are "Bhartiya mahabidrha", "Nilbidroha o Tatkalin Bangali samaj", Kalatarer Pathik "Roma Roland."  

400. Promode Dasgupta (1910-1982)

Those path finders who have guided us through..some short portraits of International and National Communist Stalwarts. And links to sites relating to study on them. The archive is under developement and in no way complete.International Karl Marx, visit Internet Marx Archive Friedrich Angels, visit Angels Documents V I Lenin, visit Lenin Internet archive J Stalin, visit Internet Archive Mao Zedong  Mao Documentation Project Ho Chi Minh Che Guevara Cyber Che Links National EMS Nambooridabad BT Ranadive MV Basavpunnaiah P Sundarayya AK Gopalan Muzaffar Ahmad Pramod Dasgupta Saroj Mukherjee Harekrishna Konar

Comrade Promode Dasgupta was born on July 7, 1910, in Faridupur district now in Bangladesh. While a student in the Brajmohan College in Barisal (now in Bangladesh) he joined the revolutionary group Anusheelan Samity to fight against British imperialism. Those were the days when the revolutionary youth of Bengal believed that with their individual heroism they can defeat the imperialist rulers and win the country's freedom.

After joining Anusheelan Samity, Comrade Promode shifted his political activities to Calcutta. He was arrested in connection with the famous Machua Bazzar Bomb Case in 1929 along with a number of others like Satish Pakrashi, Sudhansu Dasgupta and Satyabrata Sen. Some of them were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, while there was not enough evidence to convict Comrade Promode. But he was detained under the Bengal Criminal Law Amendent Act. He was for eight years in various jails in Bengal and in the Deoli detention camp. He was released in 1937.

Comrade Promode earned his membership in the CPI on May 1, 1938, and began working among the dock labour in Calcutta. He worked as the Secretary of the Calcutta District Committee of the Party and was underground for some time during the period of the Second World War. Later he was arrested and was released after the legalisation of the Party in 1942.

It was then that Comrade Promode organised the press of the Bengal Committee of the Party and the publication of its first Bengali Weekly Jan Yudh and later Swadhinata daily. During the attack on the Party in 1948-51 immediately after India attained Independence, Comrade Promode worked underground for some time and was arrested and detained in jail for the rest of the period.

After he came out of jail in 1951, he took a leading part in reorganising the Party in West Bengal and resuming the publication of Swadhinata daily.

Comrade Promode was elected Secretary of the West Bengal State Committee of the Party at the Burdwan State Conference prior to the Sixth Party Congress in Vijayawada in 1961. He remained in that post till his death. He was elected to the National Council of the CPI at the Fifth Amritsar Congress of the Party in 1958 and to its Central Executive Committee in 1961.

The inner-Party struggle against revisionism which had begun on the eve of the Fourth Congress of the Party reached a climax at the Vijayawada Congress. Comrade Promode was one of the leading comrades who paticipated in this struggle against revisionism since the Sixth Congress. Later when Naxalite Left-adventurism came on the scene and the Naxalites began their annihilation campaign with the CPI(M) as their main enemy, the Party in West Bengal under the leadership of Comrade Promode fought a bitter political battle to expose the Naxalite ideology and isolate and defeat the Left -adventurists and to defend the Programme of the Party and its organisation.

At the time of the India-China war in October 1962, a section of the leadership of the CPI was arrested and detained. Comrade Promode was one of them. From inside jail, Comrade Promode and other leading comrades guided the party members in West Bengal in the struggle for Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationlism. He was among the last to be released in West Bengal in 1964. He was in the leadership which organised the Tenali Convention which gave the call for the Seventh Congress Party. Just a few days before the Seventh Congress, Comrade Promode and other West Bengal leaders of the party were arrested and detained. After the Congress, the Party in the rest of the country was also attacked by the Congress rulers and most of the Central, State and district leaders were detained. From inside jail, Comrade Promode and others again gave guidance to consolidate the achievements of the Seventh Congress and strenghthen the Party. He was elected to the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) at the Seventh Congress, a post which he held till his death.

Comrade Promode Dasgupta was a dedicated Communist who lived the life of a revolutionary facing all difficulties, sufferings and sacrifices for more than five decades. He led the Party in West Bengal through various vicissitudes, defending it in periods of direct attacks as during the years of the semi-fascist terror, while at the same time utilising all the legal opportunities that were available. He played a major role in forging and strengthening the Left Front in West Bengal. He died in Beijing on November 29, 1982.
There is nothing in the history of international electoral democracy to match this Communist marathon. Its founding architects-Promode Dasgupta, Harekrishna Konar, Benoy Choudhury, Jyoti Basu, all dead-were imperturbable men. The cheroot-chomping Dasgupta ran his cadres as a parallel authority from the party office while the charismatic Basu governed from Writers' Building. Politics, they believed, was more important than growth, since the creation of wealth had to be subservient to its distribution.

The party that Dasgupta built and led in Bengal negated almost everything that Joshi, the first general secretary of the undivided Communist Party of India, stood for. Many of the problems Bengal has to grapple with today are a result of Dasgupta’s emphasis on mass action. The CPI(M) alone may not be responsible for the decline of the educated gentleman in Bengal politics. But the Dasgupta line that banished “intellectualism” from mass politics institutionalized the trend.

In Bengal, Dasgupta was the prime mover of the hardline faction, led by B.T. Ranadive and P. Sundaraya, that tormented and eventually hounded Joshi out of the leadership. Although Jyoti Basu became the public face of the party in Bengal, it was Dasgupta who laid down the rules of the party games, chose the players and assigned them their roles. This was so even after Basu became the chief minister. And also after Dasgupta died in Beijing in the winter of 1982: because the party in Bengal continued to be controlled by the PDG boys.

Forcing ministers to appoint party nominees as their personal staff at Writers’ Buildings had for long been the CPM’s practice, which was started by then party secretary Promode Dasgupta (PDG) after the Left Front came to power in 1977.

“PDG’s idea was to have party control over the actions of ministers. Not that our ministers routed every move through their party-nominated confidential assistants. But the confidential assistants were in a position to access most of the information contained in files that the ministers handled or signed. The information was passed onto Alimuddin Street,” a former confidential assistant to a CPM minister said.

398. Pramila Gupta (1912 - ?), 399. Pramodkumar Ghosal (1905 - 1961)

Pramila Gupta was born in Assam in 1912. While reading B.A. in Scottish Churcg College she was arrested in 1932.She was released i n 1937 after moving her to different jails as a deteneu. The torture and harassment she had from the British authority made her a revolutionary.She became a member of "Sri Sngha", a revolutionary organisation. She kept secretly some pistols in Eden Garden Hostel and handed over safely to the specified place..

Promodkumar Ghosal was born in Calcutta in 1905. He became secretary of Students' Union in Presidency college while reading in M.A. He was a good student. He was one of the leader of Bengal during the students movement occurred in Bengal. He was President of the Reception Committe of the Students' Conference held in Calcutta where Jawaharlal Naehru was the main speaker.All Bengal Students' Association (A.B.S.A.) was formed in that conference.He was elected as the first President. ABSA organised huge students in Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and 1932-33. He was also the editor of " India Tomorrow" the mouth piece of the organisation. He was imprisoned for one year for being an active member of .Civil Disobedience Movement. He came in contact with Netaji Subhas Chandra bose.  

396. Pramathanath Mitra (P.Mitra) (1853-1910), 397.Pramathanath Mukhopadhyay (Shanti) [ ? -1937]

Pramathanath Mitra (30 October 1853-3 Sep.1910,  known widely as P. Mitra ) was a Bengali Indian barrister and Indian nationalist who was among the earliest founding members of the Indian revolutionary organisation Anushilan Samiti..
He was good orator. He came back to India being a barrister from London.He became director of Anushilan Samity founded by Satish Chandra Basu. Anushilan Samity was established in a house near Madan Mitra Lane.on 21 March 1902.He was the President of the Samity. Under his leadership a well connected relation was established between the members of East and West Bengal. They were preparing for armed revolution in  secret places. He was the President in the Conference held at the house of Subodh Mallik at Calcutta of "All Bengal Revolutionary Samity" in 1906. He initiated the leader Pulin Das of Anushilan Samity of Dakha. 



Pramathanath Mukhopadhyay (Shanti) [ ? -1937] became famous for the Dacoity in Dakha on 2.6.1908. He was confined to Jail for 7 years in Dhaka Conspiracy Case in 1910. After release he went Burma,China,America and Europe for organising revolution. Lastly he took Sannyas . He died in Dhaka..

394. Pramathanath Bandyopadhyay (1878-1960), 395. Pramathanath Boumik (1901-1977)

Pramathanath Bandyopadhyay was born in UP. He was a renowned educationist.He was a D.Sc. from London University.He joined in direct politics under the influence of Rashtraguru Surendranath Bandyopadhyay. He was a member of Byabasthapak Sava during 1923-30 and a member of Central Legislative Body during 1935-1946. He, along with Madan Mohan Malavya,(Jatiya Dal)In 1942-45  formed a Nationalist Party. He was the leader of Central Legislative Body during 1942-45. He was one among the founder of Rammohan Library in Calcutta.

Pramathanath Bhowmik was born in Khulna. He joined in Anushilan samity in 1924 for which he was imprisoned. Then he conducted social service to the famine victims of Satkshira Mahakuma under the direction of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy.He was volunteer under Subhas Chandra bose in 1922  among the flood victims  of  North Bengal.He joined in th Satuagraha at the demand of entry to the Mandir of Kapil Muni by the untouchables.Hr was imprisoned for long time in the conspiracy case of 1927 and 1929.He joined in Civil Disobedience of Congress in 1930 and imprisoned for 8 years under Bengal Ordinance Act. He became a follower of Marxism in his jail life.After release he joined Communist Party. He initiated the movement of the peasants which took a vigorous shape throughout India under the leadership of Bishnu Chattopadhyay of the south of Khulna..He was a editor, throughout  his life in "Kalantar" the mouth piece of Communist Party. He went to Soviet Russia  at the invitation of Soviet Govt.

391.Pravas Roy (1907-1991,)392. Pravas Himmat Sinka (1889-1991), 393. Pramatha Nath Datta

Pravas Roy was born in South 24-Parganas.He was connected with Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement.He got im[prisoned for several years for participating in Freedom Struggle. He joined Communist Party of India in 1937. Later he joined CPI (M) after division of Communist Party. He became a leader and minister in LF ministry for several years.

Pravas  Himmat Sinka (1889-1991) was born in Dumka in Behar. He was a famous freedom Fighter and a Solicitor. He was a member from 1952 to 1970, 18 years, either in Bidhan Sabha or in Loksabha.Hindu Satkar Samity was formed by his intiative

.Pramatha Nath Datta went  to foreign before the beginning of WWI at the instruction of the revolutionary Party. He took the name as "Daud Ali" while living in Turkey and tried to infuse revolutionary ideas among the the India War Prisoners. He also tried to form revolutionary organisation there.He came to Bagdad with the expectation of publishing revolutionary ideals for attacking India with the help of the members of the Gadhar Party formed in assistance with the Turkey Govt in USA.But they became arrested and wounded by the British soldiers while they were trying to find the passage at the border of Baluchisthan.In 1921 his party men rescued him from Prsia with the help of the foreign dept. of Russia. Later he became a professor in the dept. of Oriental Seminary in Leningrad University.

389. Pravas Chandra Bal (( ? - 1930) 390.Pravas Chandra Lahiri (1893-1974)

Pravas Chandra Bal was born in Chittagong. He joined revolutionary organisation in his student life and Participated in Chittagong Armoury Raid on 18.4.1930.On 22 April he died being  wounded  while fighting against the British Military from Jalalabad Hill.

Pravas Chandra Lahiri (1893-1974)was born in Rajshahi in 1893. He won  Gold Medal while reading in Rajshahi College.He became a membe of Anushilan Samity being influenced by the leader Maharaja Trailokyanath and became a `organiser in North Benagal. He participated in the famous Dharail Dacoity. He went underground in Guwahati when police attacked the house of the Samity. He participated along with other revolutionaries in the "Guwahati Struggle" and became wounded. Inspite of his wound he successfully escaped.But he was arrested in1918 and had to suffer 3 years RI. He remained either in  Jail or bin underground for 22 years.He w2as released in 1946 and became a member of Constituent Assembly.He stayed in East Pakistan after partition. He was elected as a member of Lok Sabha and became Minister in the dept. of Finance and Jail for two terms.He stayed in India from 1954. His important works are "India Partitioned and Minorities in Pakistan ", "Pak-Bharater Ruprekha", "Mukti Sainiker Diary" etc.

387. Pravebati Dsgupta (1892-1976), 388. Pravas Chandra Dey (1885-1954)

Pravabati Dasgupta was born in Calcutta in 1892.  Their ancestral house were at Dhaka.Her mother was a famous congress worker Mohini Devi.She was ban M.A. in Pshychology from Calcutta University. She also got M.A. from Columbbia University and Doctorate degree from Frankfurt University in 1923. She was not connected with any Political Party but organised the  class IV staff of Calcutta Corporation.She took successfully the historical Jute Workers Strike in 1929.She the President of Scavangers Workers Union and Bengal Jute Workers Union. She was with her husband at the end her life in Hyderabad.

Pravas Chandra Dey was born in Calcutta in 1885. He was class mate of the revolutionary  Jyotish Ghosh. He joined in anti Bangal  Participation. in 1905. He was forced resign his Lawyer profession under duress by the police.  for being connected with the revolutionary organisation "Atmannoti". Later he served for teaching in  different colleges. He was suspected as a person participating in the loot of armoury of Calcutta Manatan Company and was arrested from Coochbehar under DI rule.He was released in 1920 and joined in the magazine Servant of Shyamsundar Chakrabarty and was editor for some years.  

385. Prava Chattopadhyay ((1897 - ?)

Prava Chattopadhyay was born in Bikrampur Dhaka in 1897. She was married with Sureshranjan, a famous Congress leader of Balurghat, Dinajpur. She took par in Freedom Movement at the inspiration of her husband.. Salt Satyagraha was started in 1930 and a Congress flag was hoisted by the President, Pramadasundari Devi,  of Balurghat Mahila Samity at the ground of Congress office.In that meeting about thousand ladies were present and they took oath of winning Freedom for the country. On 13 April Prava devi along with 500 female volunteers break the law in favour of Salt Satyagraha.After this incident large scale arrests was in progress and she and Secretary Bela Devi were arrested.They got 13 months imprisonment.The workers of Mahila Samity were arrested when they went to occupy the Congress office in a organised rally.  They were jailed for some time.When Bengal Mahila Samity was organised, Balurghat Mahila Samity was amalgamated with that.The most of the youths of Balurghat were arrested in 1942. She took the leadership in this movement of 1942 but they were not arrested.

Praanalini Bhandari (1909 - ?) was born in 24-Parganas. She was married at an early age with the ex-secetary of Bangiya Congress Committee and leader Bhudan Sacrifice.She got inspiration in patriotism from her huesband.She was first arrested for participating in Salt Satyagraha in 1930.But she not jailed.She suffered 3 months imprisonment in1932 for participating in Salt Satyagraha.also for another 3 months in participating picketing in Sept 1931. She had to udergo 3 months rigorous imprisonment for conducting Day of Freedom in the court of Diamond Harbour on 26th Jan 1934. She was in Presidency jail for 3 months for Participating Quit india movement in 1942.