438. Bijaylal Chattopadhyay (1898-1974)

Bijay Lal Chattopadhyay was born in Krishnanagar, Nadia in 1898. He was a renowned holy minstrel and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, a congress man, a constructive worker and a journalist. He joined in non-cooperation when he was student of B.A. in Krishnanagar College.His college teacher, Prof. Nripendra Chandra Badyopadhyay initiated him in revolutionary ideology.He remained in jail for 6 months in 1922 when he was a Secretary of Nadia District Congress Committee. He stayed in Shantiniketan in 1927 for some time at the invitation of Rabindranath. His famous book containing lyrics of "sarbaharar Gaan" was published when he was the editor of "Bangabani" He took the responsibility of the President of Nadia District
Congress Committee in 1930 giving up his service as a Journalist during Salt Satyagraha. He remained in prison for 9 months in 1932 in Calcutta and one year in Andaman in 1942.Once he inspired people moving from villages to villages of Bengal to awaken them and to join in freedom movement. His prose writings also was full of vigour and.enthusiasm  His famous writings on Rabinra nath was Bidrohi Rabindranath, Realist rabindranath, portraits of village scenery in Rabindra Literature, and Rabitirtha. The first book was confiscated   in 1932. He was elected twice in Legislative Assembly after independence. He had reputation as an orator in Assembly.