850. Masterda Surya Sen (1894-1934)

Surya Sen
Surya Sen
Born	Suryakumar Sen 22 March 1894 Chittagong, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh)
Died	12 January 1934 (aged 39) Chittagong, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh)
Ethnicity	Bengali
Organization	Indian National Congress
Known for	Chittagong armoury raid
Movement	Indian Independence movement

Surya Sen  (22 March 1894 – 12 January 1934) was a Bengali independence fighter (against British rule) who is noted for leading the 1930 Chittagong armoury raid In Chittagong of Bengal in British India (now in Bangladesh). Sen was a school teacher by profession and was popularly called as Master Da ("da" is a suffix in Bengali language denoting elder brother). He was influenced by the nationalist ideals in 1916, when he was a student of B.A. in Behrampore College. In 1918 he was selected as president of Indian National Congress, Chittagong branch.

Early life

Sen was born on 22 March 1894 at Noapara, under Raozan upazilla in Chittagong. His father Ramaniranjan Sen was a teacher. In 1916 when he was a B.A. student in Behrampore College he learned about Indian freedom movement from one of his teachers, Prof Satish Chandra . Chakrabarty.who initiated him in revolutionary hymn.  He felt attracted towards revolutionary ideals and joined a revolutionary organization Anushilan Samity. After completing his studies he returned to Chittagong in 1918 and joined as a teacher at National school, Nandankanan . At that time, Indian National Congress was the most prominent political party there.
He participated in Non-Cooperation movement launched by Gandhiji and organised youth forum. But due to the failure of Non-Cooperation movement, revolutionary activities were again started. He organised a secret organisation namely "Satyashram". At this time he organised several revolutionary activities. He looted Rupees 23 thousand from Rail company on 20.Dec 1923, his followers forcibly stopped the rail near Kakori station in Aug 1925, attempted for assassination of ferocious police commissioner Tegart in Kolkata in 1924 and failed. He was arrested in 1926 and was released in 1928 and formed a Chittagong Branch of Indian Republican Armyto fight for Independence.Many muslims were in his organisation.   

Chittagong armoury raid

Mainly by the plan of ganesh Ghosh , Surya Sen led a group of 65 revolutionaries with few revolvers and some ordinary Guns on 18 April 1930 to raid the armoury of police and auxiliary forces from the Chittagong armoury. The plan was elaborate and included seizing of arms from the armoury as well as destruction of communication system of the city (including telephone, telegraph and railway), thereby isolating Chittagong from the rest of British India. However, although the group could loot the arms, they failed to get the ammunition. They hoisted the national flag on the premises of the armoury, and then escaped. The senior British army officers fled away to the anchored ship. Chittagong city was freed for 48 hours. A few days later, a large fraction of the revolutionary group was cornered in the nearby Jalalabad hills by the British troops. In the ensuing fight, twelve revolutionaries died, many were arrested, while some managed to flee, including Surya Sen.

Arrest and death

Surya Sen stayed in hiding, and kept moving from one place to another. Sometimes he took up a job as a workman, a farmer, a priest, a house worker or even as a pious Muslim. This is how he avoided being captured by the British. He once hid in the house of a man called Netra Sen. Either because of greed of money, or out of jealousy or maybe both, Netra Sen informed the British that Surya Sen had taken asylum at his house, and the police came and captured him in February 1933. This is how India’s supreme freedom fighting hero was arrested. Before Netra Sen could be rewarded by the British, a revolutionary came into his house and beheaded him with a long knife, called 'daa'. As Netra Sen's wife was a big supporter of Surya Sen, she never disclosed the name of the revolutionary who killed Netra Sen. Before Surya Sen was hanged, he was brutally tortured by the British. The British executioners broke all his teeth with a hammer, and pulled out all his nails. They broke all his limbs and joints. He was dragged to the rope unconscious. His last letter was written to his friends and said: “Death is knocking at my door. My mind is flying away towards eternity ...At such a pleasant, at such a grave, at such a solemn moment, what shall I leave behind you? Only one thing, that is my dream, a golden dream-the dream of Free India.... Never forget the 18th of April,1930, the day of the eastern Rebellion in Chittagong... Write in red letters in the core of your hearts the names of the patriots who have sacrificed their lives at the altar of India’s freedom.

The gallows in Chittagong Central Jail, Bangladesh, where Surya Sen was hanged. The Government of Bangladesh has designated it a historical monument.

In popular media

A film named Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey was made on the life of Surya Sen directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Chittagong (film) made by Bedabrata Pain which released in 2012 was based on the story of the armoury raid.

849. Maharaja, Suryakanta Roychoudhury (1894-1934)

Surya Kanat Acharya was born in Muktagacha, Mymensing. He was Zaminder of Mymensing. He had direct relation in regards to cooperation. in anti-Partition of Bengal Moveent and Swadeshi Movement. 
He contributed 2 and1/2 lac of rupees in the formation of National University and also vcontributed to different universities and Medical Colleges.
Maharaja Suryakanata set up the first public hospital in Mymeninsingh along the river Brahmaputra. This is now a leprosy hospital. Mymensingh Medical College hospital is now serving the local people as well the people of surrounding districts.It is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in Bangladesh.
The Old Town Hall, built by Maharaja Surya Kanta Acharyya had hosted thousands of drama, meeting and cultural functions since 1878. The age old Town Hall was demolished in 2006 and is being rebuilt by the Mymensingh Pourashava.

(Alexandar Castle (where Russian Grand Duke Boris stayed for a few days; later Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, )
The Old Town Hall, built by Maharaja Surya Kanta Acharyya had hosted thousands of drama, meeting and cultural functions since 1878
The "Alexandar Castle" or "Lohar Kutir" as it is locally known, is where Maharaja Surya Kanta Acharya invited Grand Duke Boris of Russia and General Sir George White, and built it for his stay and a same Russian styled also built by the Ponni of Tangail. Rabindra nath Thakur also was in Alexandra castle for participating a citizen gathering. This earthquake-proof steel and timber building was built after his much vaunted "Crystal Palace" or "Rang Mahal" as it was locally known, was totally and completely destroyed by the "Great Bengal Earthquake" of 12 June 1897. Subsequently, "Soshi Lodge" or "Mymensingh Palace" was built at the site of "Rang Mahal". However Maharaja Surya Kanta died before "Soshi Lodge" could be completed. It was completed by Maharaja Soshi Kanta Acharyya. Both the buildings had once contained innumerable works of art, artifacts, sculptures and antiques collected from all over the world. Both these buildings have been declared as National Heritage Monuments. But unplanned development already damaged the scenario of rare Russian architecture in this country.
Maharaja Suryakanata set up the first public hospital in Mymeninsingh along the river Brahmaputra. This is now a leprosy hospital. Mymensingh Medical College hospital is now serving the local people as well the people of surrounding districts.It is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in Bangladesh.

846. Sushama Mukhopadhyay (1910-1984), 847. Sushama Roy, Chakrabarty.848. Suhasini Ganguli (Putudi) (1900-1965)

Sushama Mukhopadhyay was a freedom fighter. She courted arrest several times for participating in freedom struggle.She was a member of Bengal flying Club and became first woman pilot.



 Sushama Roy, Chakrabarty was born in Faridpur. She came to Kolkata for studies and came in contact with Students' Federation. She joined Federation Conferences in Rajshahi, Khulna, and Patna. At this time she came in contact with RSP and began to work in slums. She remained in Presidency Jail under DI rule in 1942. Later she remained as intern in her own house and was released in 1945. She participated in all the movements in 1945-46 .She married Poet Nirendranath Chakrabarty in 1946.



Suhasini Ganguli held from Dhaka but born in paternal working place Khulna. A member of Yugantar Dal, Kamala Dasgupta introduced her with a leader of the Dal Rasik lal Das. After the incidence of Chittagong Armoury Raid in May 1930, at the instruction of the "Dal" She and Sashadhar Acharya in a disguise of husband and wife gave shelter to Ananta Sing and loknath Bal etc in Chandannagar. On 1.9.30 police surrounded the house and she along with others were arrested.She was released at this case but again arrested in another case and was held for 1932-38 in Hijli jail. After release she became supporter of Communist Party. Though she was not a supporter of 1942 movement she gave shelter to Hemanta Tarafdar in her own house andwas arrested and detained as state prisoner for 1942-45. When Communist party was declared illegal she was a prisoner for one year. She died in a hospital out iof a minor accident.

843. Sushil Datta, 844. Sushil Dasgupta, 845. Sushil Dhara (1911-2011)

Sushil Datta was a member of Revolutionary Dal. He died in gighting directly with the police in North Bengal.


Sushil Dasgupta was a member of revolutionary Organisation. He fled away from Midnapore Jail but was caught by treachery of someone. While he was conducting peace rally in Kolkata for communal harmony he was attacked and died on 10th Sept.

Sushil Kumar Dhara 

 (2 March 1911 – 28 January 2011) was a revolutionary in British India and a political leader after Indian independence in 1947.

Dhara was born on 2 March 1911 in Tikarampur (near Tamluk) in Mahisadal in the present Purba Midnapur district. He was a political and social activist. He was involved in political activities from his school days. Dhara was entrusted the portfolios of war and home in Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar(Tamralipta National Government) formed during the `42 movement. He also commanded Vidyut Bahini (the lightning brigade) of the parallel Government in Tamluk. In 1944 the government of British India declared a reward of ten thousand Rupees for Dhara's apprehension, dead or alive. He spent 12 years 4 months in jails in British India. The British Govt. declared Rs 10,000/- as gift to a person able to help areste of his person. He worked 36 years with Congress, 6 yrs with Bangla Congress and 4 years in Janata Dal. 

He won several elections after independence of India, including the Mahisadal seat to West Bengal state assembly in 1962, 1967, 1969 and 1971. He had served as minister in the state government

Dhara was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977 from Tamluk constituency. In the 1980s he moved away from active politics and involved himself in social work. He is the founder of Tajpur High school(Year1960), Rajarampur Nimno Buniyadi Prathomick vidyalaya, Matri Sadan(Hospital) and Khadi Gramodoyak etc. All these Institutions are located near Mahishadal.

Sushil Kumar Dahra died on 28 January 2011 in Mahishadal, only 5 weeks before he was to turn 100..

He retired from politics in 1980 and devoted himself in in social work. Hecould move in cycle in 81 years of age.

840. Sushil Kumar Khastagir, 841. Sushil Kumar Mukhopadhyay (1921-1943), 842. Sushil Chamdra Sengupta (1892-1915)e bombs in 1908 from the revuolutionary organnisation.

Sushil Kumar Khastagir was born in Chittagong. He joined Anushilan Samity in 1926. at the instruction of the leader Charubikash Datta he was engaged in revolutionary works in Chittagong and in Kolkata. He was arrested in Sept. in connection with the Titagarh conspiracy case and was detained indifferent jails upto 1938. During WWII being informed that he was going to be arrested , he  escaped to Rangoon from Kharagpur by Ship and joined in INA  formed, for the first time, He was posted as Captain after completing his training period. He was given the charge of India independence League and INA in 1943.  by the great leader Rashbihari Bose. For the first time he was giventhe responsibility of body guard of Netaji subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 while visiting Burma. He was appointed group leader of battalion of INA in 1944 and he started for Imphal.He was in charge of this group till rurrendor of INA in 1945.He was in the prison of Rangoon jail and was sent to India in 1946. He remained inter for two years and then was released. At present he is the vice-president of Ex-INA association.  



Sushil Kumar Mukhopadhyay was  an employee in army.He was arrested in connection of the conspiracy of destroying 4th Madras coastal battery on 18.4.1943.  As per court marshal he along with  eight other.


Sushil Chandra Sengupta was born in Shylet. During the trial of Aurobindo in Kingsford Court in 1907,  a surge ant, being excited,  began to cane the mob  in which he got a strike and in return he gave a blow to the surgeant. For this offence an order was issued yto cane him 15 times.He got trained  how to prepare bombs. He was arrested in connection with Alipore bomb case in 1908 and was released for want of prove. In view of assassination of Police Inspector Suresh Banerjee and the political dacoity at Pragpur of Nadiaon 30.4.1915 he while returning by boat in Padma river was attacked by police and died in exchange firing.  

838. Suresh Chandra Dasgupta (1881-1960), 539. Sulata Mitra , Kar (1907-1965)

Sureshchandra Dasgupta was born in Khulna. He began his career  and  political life in Bagurah.He was respected by all in Bagurah. He was out and out a follower of Gandhiji. He was a lawyer. But he gave up his career at the call of Gandhiji. Many among them joined again to their profession but he did not. He participated in Non-Cooperation movement in 1920, Civil Disobedience omovement in 1930 and Quit india Movement in 1942. He courted arrests many times. He was convicted as a rebellion. He was inspired by Gandhiji and put on dress made up of Khadi and shoe made up of palm leaves. He never put on dress made up od machine. He was known by "gandhiji of Bagurah" for his simple living. He was president of Bagurah Dt. congress committee for long. He was elected twice in Legislative Assembly of East pakistan. He took initiativse  to remove malpractices in Bagurah municipality. he editorin "desher karha' for long time. He donated all his private property to Rajsahi University as he had no children.Though he had opportunity of going in 1st Class without fare, he travelled in Class III . But he was jailed for six years in false charges of malpractices.  He was a good orator.


Sulata Mitra Kar was born in Kolkata. Their orinal house was at Chandannagar.She joined in national movement in 1932 at the inspiration of the then leader Sovarani Datta and Kalyani Das. She participated in picketing in front of foreign shops and  joined in political meetings. She was jailed for six months for participating in a unlawful meeting. She began participating in revolutionary works in 1933 under the leadership of Dinesh Majumdar, Revolutionary leader of Jugantar dal.Without informing the members of her family she allowed to hold meetings in her bed room, helped the revolutionary financially and kept secretly the revolver and other secret papers. In order to help in escaping Dinesh Majumdar from the hands of the police she in disguise in the form of a bridegroom and helped him to reach Chandannagar. In connection with the theft of Money in Grndlays Bank , police searched her house and kept her for 14 days in 1934 in a secret room in Bhawanipur Thana.  Inspite of continuous attempts the police could not gather any information from her. Thenshe was kept in Presidency jail for one month but had to release her without anyprove. Then she was sent toPurulia for two years. She was bedridden for about twelve years. She wrote afew books for children. She was married in 1926 with Kulehs Chandra Kar, Professor of Presidency College

837.Surendra Mohan Ghosh (22.4.1893—7.9.1976)

Surendra Mohan Ghosh (22.4.1893—7.9.1976) was an active member of the Jugantar, the noted revolutionary organization from 1907 to 1938. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1920 and also played a pivotal role in the Swaraj Party founded by Chittaranjan Das. As a political worker he had spent a total number of twenty-three years in prison. He was a leader in Calcutta Congress in 1928.He stood in support of Subhas Chandra Bose in the election of Congress President against Jatindramohan Sengupta.From in 1939. In 1939 he became president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee (adhoc). In 1946 he became a member of the Constituent Assembly which was charged with drafting India’s constitution. In 1952 he was elected to the Lok Sabha. In 1956 and 1962 he was elected as the member of the Raj Sabha. From 1962 to 1967 he was the Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Parliament. He had close contact with the  Revolutionary Jatindranath Bandyopadhyay and Dr. Jadugopal Mukhopadhyay. Revolutionary surya Sen and Subhas Chandra Bose was his co-prisoner. His associate of revolution was Maharaja Trailakyanath Chakrabarty. 

Surendra Mohan Ghosh was also a devoted follower of Sri Aurobindo. During the 1940s, he had a number of private meetings with Sri Aurobindo, during which the two spoke of political and yogic matters.

Two talks of Surendra Mohan Ghosh on Sri Aurobindo which he had given to the students of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education have been published in the online forum of Overman Foundation. We are immensely thankful to Shri Narayan Bhatt, archivist at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives and Research Department, Pondicherry, for sharing these two priceless talks with us.

836. Rashtraguru Surendranath Banerjee (1848-1925)

Surendranath Banerjee
Surendranath Banerjee
Born	10 November 1848 Calcutta, Bengal, British India
Died	6 August 1925 (aged 76) Barrackpore, Bengal, British India
Nationality	Indian
Ethnicity	Bengali Hindu
Occupation	Professor
Religion	Hinduism

Sir Surendranath Banerjee  (10 November 1848 – 6 August 1925) was one of the earliest Indian political leaders during the British Raj. He founded the Indian National Association, one of the earliest Indian political organizations, and later became a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He was also known by the sobriquet,Rashtraguru (the teacher of the nation).

Early life

Surendranath Banerjee was born in Kolkata (Calcutta), in the province of Bengal to a Bengali Brahmin family. He was deeply influenced in liberal, progressive thinking by his father Durga Charan Banerjee, a doctor. Banerjee was educated at the Parental Academic Institution and at the Hindu College. After graduating from the University of Calcutta, he traveled to England in 1868, along with Romesh Chunder Dutt and Behari Lal Gupta, to compete in the Indian Civil Service examinations. He cleared the competitive examination in 1869, but was barred owing to a dispute over his exact age. After clearing the matter in the courts, Banerjee cleared the exam again in 1871 and was posted as assistant magistrate in Sylhet. However, Banerjee was dismissed soon from his job owing to racial discrimination. Banerjee went to England to protest this decision, but was unsuccessful. During his stay in England (1874–1875), he studied the works of Edmund Burke and other liberal philosophers. These works guided him in his protests against the British. He was known as the Indian Burke.

Political career

Upon his return to India in June, 1875, Banerjee became an English professor at the Metropolitan Institution, the Free Church Institution and at the Ripon College, founded by him in 1882. He began delivering public speeches on nationalist and liberal political subjects, as well as Indian history. He founded the Indian National Association withAnandamohan Bose, one of the earliest Indian political organizations of its kind, on 26 July 1876. He used the organization to tackle the issue of the age-limit for Indian students appearing for ICS examinations. He condemned the racial discrimination perpetrated by British officials in India through speeches all over the country, which made him very popular.

In 1879, he founded the newspaper, The Bengalee. In 1883, when Banerjee was arrested for publishing remarks in his paper, in contempt of court, protests and hartals erupted across Bengal, and in Indian cities such as Agra, Faizabad, Amritsar, Lahore and Pune. The INA expanded considerably, and hundreds of delegates from across India came to attend its annual conference in Calcutta. After the founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885 in Bombay, Banerjee merged his organization with it owing to their common objectives and memberships. He was elected the Congress President in 1895 at Poona and in 1902 at Ahmedabad.

Surendranath was one of the most important public leaders who protested the partition of the Bengal province in 1905. Banerjee was in the forefront of the movement and organized protests, petitions and extensive public support across Bengal and India, which finally compelled the British to reverse the bifurcation in 1912. Banerjee became the patron of rising Indian leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Sarojini Naidu. Banerjee was also one of the senior-most leaders of the moderate Congress — those who favoured accommodation and dialogue with the British — after the "extremists" - those who advocated revolution and political independence — led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak left the party in 1906. Banerjee was an important figure in the Swadeshi movement - advocating goods manufactured in India against foreign products — and his popularity at its apex made him, in words of admirers, the uncrowned king of Bengal.

Later career

The declining popularity of moderate Indian politicians affected Banerjee's role in Indian politics. Banerjee supported the Morley-Minto reforms 1909 – which were resented and ridiculed as insufficient and meaningless by the vast majority of the Indian public and nationalist politicians. Banerjee was a critic of the proposed method of civil disobedienceadvocated by Mahatma Gandhi, the rising popular leader of Indian nationalists and the Congress Party. Accepting the portfolio of minister in the Bengal government earned him the ire of nationalists and much of the public, and he lost the election to the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1923 to Bidhan Chandra Roy, the candidate of the Swarajya Party – ending his political career for all practical purposes. He was knighted for his political support of the British Empire. Banerjee made the Calcutta Municipal Corporation a more democratic body while serving as a minister in the Bengal government.

He is remembered and widely respected today as a pioneer leader of Indian politics — first treading the path for Indian political empowerment. He published an important work, A Nation in the Making which was widely acclaimed. The British respected him and referred to him during his later years as Surrender Not Banerjee. But nationalist politics in India meant opposition, and increasingly there were others whose opposition was more vigorous and who came to center stage. Banerjee could accept neither the extremist view of political action nor the noncooperation of Gandhi, then emerging as a major factor in the nationalist movement. Banerjee saw the Montague-Chelmsford reforms of 1919 as substantially fulfilling Congress's demands, a position which further isolated him. He was elected to the reformed Legislative Council of Bengal in 1921, knighted in the same year, and held office as minister for local self-government from 1921 to 1924. He was defeated at the polls in 1923. Surendranath died at Barrackpore on August 6, 1925.

Commemoration

His name is commemorated in the names of the following institutions: Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, Raiganj Surendranath Mahavidyalaya, Surendranath College, Surendranath College for Women, Surendranath Evening College, and the Surendranath Law College.

833. Surendra Dhara, 834. Surendranath Kar (1889-1923), 835. Surendranath Kar(2) [ 1914-1942]

Surendra dhara was born in Midnapore. He was jailed for participating in Quit India movement and died in Kanthi Jail.



Surendranath Kar was born in Sylet. He went to America in the name of higher studies and joined Gaddar Party founded by the peasants of Punjab. He became one of the leader. He was arrested by US govt. for planning import arms from Germany in WWI for revolution . He was editor of Swadhin Hindustan.After the war he came to Berlin and joined Communist Party.



Surendranath Kar(2) was born in Midnapore. He died by police bullet while attacking Makishadal Thana in Quit India Movement.

831. Surabala Sengupta (1881-1973), 832. Surendra Dhar Choudhury (1906-1970)

Surabala Sengupta was born in Dinajpur. She was an exceptional one in the revolution era. During civil disobedience movement in 1930 and 1932 she had to bear inhuman torture and jailed for no. of times. She became Chair Person in Thakur Gna ongress Committee and founder of Mahila Samity.



Surendra Dhar Choudhury was born in Coomillah. Ge joined in Non- Cooperation movement in 1921 in Student's life. He was a member of revolutionary Dal, Anushilan Samity. He was jailed in the movement of boycott of Simon Commission in 1929. He was transported to Andaman in the Inter Provincial Conspiracy case. He was released after 14 years and was brought to India. He became a follower of Communism and joined in the party. After the division of Communist Party he took the side of CPI and became secretary of 24 District Committee. From the very beginning he was associated with Kalantar, the mouthpiece of CPI.  

830. Raja Subodh Chandra Mallik (1879-1920),

Subodh Chandra Basu Mallik

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Subodh Chandra Basu Mallik (son of Probodhchandra Basu Mallik and Kumundini). He married (1) Prokashini. He married (2) Kamalprova.

 Notes for Subodh Chandra Basu Mallik:
RAJA SUBODH CHANDRA

The only son of Probodh Chandra, 28th decedent of Dasharath Basu, Subodhchandra was born on 9th February 1879 at 3 P.M. in the Pataldanga Basu Mallik House.

Thereafter his father purchased the land in the east of Wellington Square and constructed the palace at 12, Willington Square. Subodhchandra lived in that house throughout his life.

Subodh lost his father at the age of 9 years only and was brought up by beloved uncle Hemchandra. Hemchandra's son Nirode and Subodh were living like real brothers.

Subodh had his secondary education at City School and St. Xaviers School. He studied intermediate in Presidency College. While he was a fourth year B.A. student, he went to England and got admitted in Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1903, on return from England, he came in contact with all renowned freedom. . In 1905 Subodh Chandra started a society under the banner of "Field and Academy" in the house of Mahendra Narain Das in Shibnanrain Das Lane. Patriots, Barrister, Govt. Officials and respectable persons of the society were member of the "Field and Academy". Subodh was founder, secretary and all powerful person of the organisation. Deshbandhu Chittaranjan, Rabindranath, A. Choudhri, Mr. Rasul were members of the society.

On 7th Kartik 1312, a big meeting was held under the banner of Field & Academy. Barrister A. Rasul presided over the meeting while speakers included Bipin Chandra Pal and Shyam Sunder Chakraborty. Thereafter on 10th Kartik students had a big rally and a meeting at 22, Radhanath Mallik Lane. The courtyard of the house accommodated 1000 students. This belonged to Kshetra Chandra Basu Mallik, uncle of Subodhchandra. This meeting was presided over by Rabindranath Tagore.

Sachindra Nath Basu, a student of City College proposed a resolution which meant that students were ready to leave Government schools and colleges but not to allow the British Rulers to divide the province. This proposal was supported by Satish Chandra Sinha and Mohammed Siddiqui. Rabindranath in his presidential address encouraged students to join the anti-government movement.

As a result Government Schools did not allow agitators to continue their studies. They were harassed, beaten and arrested.

Subodhchandra seeing the condition of students and the education systems was completely upset. He proposed at a meeting of the Field & Academy to start schools & colleges without waiting for help from Government. He promised to donate Rs. 1 lakh for the initial expenditure of a new college. Next Day, on 9th November 1905, a meeting was held in the Panther Ground to discuss the issue of national college. At the request of all present, Subodhchandra presided over the meeting. Chittaranjan Das proposed the establishment of national university. Hirendra Nath Dutta supported the proposal. Ramendra Sunder Trivedi, Bipin Chander Pal, Shyam Sunder Chakraborty, Moulavi Abul Hussan, renowned educationists and orators of those days narrated the necessity of having national educational institutions. This led to the foundation of Jadhavpur University.
In a meeting of massive attendance in 1906 when he was presiding he declared contribution of 1 lac of Rupee for the formation of National University. This in due Course converted to Jadavpur University
SWADESHI MOVEMENT & SHIVAJI FESTIVAL

In 1905 the general assembly of Indian National Congress was held in Varanashi, Lala Lajpat Rai in his speech made special mention about the brave protest of Bengalis against partition of Bengal. On 3rd December there was a lecture on self-defence at Field & Academy. Those who worked as Volunteer at the festival were given a grand party by Subodh Chandra at his residence.

BANDEMATARAM NEWSPAPER:-

From 1st August 1906, Brahma Bandhab Upadhyay took initiative to publish a national newspaper in English. But without funds no such dreams can be materialised. His friend Shri Haridas Halder started publishing a newspaper from his "Sandhya" press under the style of "Bandemataram."

He approached Subodhchandra for financial help. Subodh agreed to help him. In October 1906, at a meeting in his house, an Editorial Board was formed with Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh, Shyamsunder Chakraborty and Hemendra Prasad Ghosh. Bipin Chandra Pal became the Chief Editor. From 1st week of October 1906, Subodhchandra allowed the press, office of Bandemataram to operate from his 2/1, Creek Row residence.

Jugantar, Bandematram, Navshakti, Sandhya provided inspiration to youths for freedom movement. For Bandemataram, Subodhchandra, Aurobindo and Chittaranjan worked together and became very close friends. Slowly, the newspaper came in the bad note of the British Government. On 27th June 1907 an article styled as "Policies for Indians" and 27th July 1907 "Judgement Case" about case against Jugantar Group of freedom fighters were published. Further, articles published in Bengali newspapers about freedom movement were translated and printed in Bandemataram.

On 6th August Government issued an arrest warrant in the name of Aurobindo Ghosh, Editor of the paper. On 11th August Aurobindo surrendered to the police. Shri Girish Chandra Basu, Principal Bangabashi College and Shri Nirode Chandra Basu Mallik were sureties for release of Aurobindo Ghosh on bail.

In May 1908, British Government searched houses of Raja at Calcutta & Varanashi. Bandemataram press & office was also under investigation. On 4th June, again they had a search at the Wellington Square residence. In October 1908, Police Commissioner issued a show cause notice to the Press asking for the reasons why the publication of the newspaper should not be stopped for publishing the article "Death of Narendra Goswami in Jail."

Raja became member of Indian National Congress in 1904. In 1905 at the Calcutta congress he was a prominent worker. In 1906 he went to Surat as one of the delegates from Bengal. In April 1906, the Bengal Provincial conference was held at Barisal. Abdul Rasul was president of the Conference. Subodhchandra went to Barisal to attend the Conference alongwith S.N. Banerjee, Aurobindo Ghosh etc. Police did not allow the Conference to take place and insulted all great people present there. Even they were beaten up by Police. S.N. Banerjee was arrested and fined. Immediately after this incidence Bhupendra Nath Basu proclaimed that British rule in India would be finished shortly. Subodhchandra thereafter traveled widely in East Bengal and advised students to fight for independence of motherland.

He observed that There was no bank or Insurance Company owned by Indians. Subodhchandra remembered the name of Mr. Reed. He was partner of Radhanath Mallik and was responsible for the fortunes of Basu Mallik family. He started a company styled as Reid & Co. Ltd. in 1912. Dalhousie Square. He used to attend his office regularly. He was working as agent of some Foreign banks and Indian banks. However, the business was not in his blood. He started giving loan to friends and relatives who never repaid the same. In 1916, he repaid all depositors from his own fund and closed the banking business. He started life insurance business in 1912. The Board of Directors consisted of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Bhup, Prince Victor Narain of Cooch Bihar, Priyanath Ghosh, Subodhchandra Mallik, Atal Kumar Sen and Nirode Chandra Mallik.

Reid & Co. Ltd. were managing agents of the Insurance Company. It was the first company registered as life Insurance Company under the Insurance Cos. Act, 1912. The Company had to keep deposited a huge amount with the Government. This company is still in existence with its office at No. 5 and 6 Stephens House.

Advertisement in the newspaper in 1340

"Light of Asia Insurance Co. Ltd. Is an example of dedication to the country and fellow countrymen. Raja Subodhchandra, on one hand, has donated for "College of Engineering & Technology" while on the other hand has established the Insurance Co. for employment and business potential of Bengalis. 23 years back which was dream to us has become reality now. The insurance company of Raja Subodhchandra has drawn all our attention. In future Bengalis will remember this great man and worship him.

By October 1908, he went to Varanashi with family for a change. On 13th October, Police Superintendent of Varanashi, arrested him under Regulation 3 of 1818, first he was placed in Bareily Jail and thereafter in Almora Jail. He was imprisoned for 14 months. Thereafter he was released on February 10, 1910.

During those days he spent millions of rupees in charity. He donated for the education of many freedom fighters. His name is recognised till today as one of the biggest donor for education.

Our young men to-day might not fully know what and who Subodh Chandra was. The title of "Raja" was conferred on him by his admiring countrymen not because of the wealth and social position he had but because of the many qualities of head and heart which made him easily win the hearts of all who came in contact with him. Though born with affluence, his heart bled for his poor and suffering country men.

More About Subodh Chandra Basu Mallik:
Alias: Raja.

Children of Subodh Chandra Basu Mallik and Prokashini are:

1. +Suchandra Vasu Mallik.
2. +Suparna Vasu Mallik.
3. +Surama Vasu Mallik.
4. Sushma Vasu Mallik.

Children of Subodh Chandra Basu Mallik and Kamalprova are:

1. +Probir Basu Mallik.
2. +Madhuri Basu Mallik.
3. +Samir Basu Mallik, b. August 10, 1914.
4. +Mihir Basu Mallik, b. June 23, 1916.
5. +Sujata Basu Mallik.

829. Subodh Banerjee (1918-1974)

Subodh Banarjee
PWD Minister of West Bengal (1967), Labour Minister of West Bengal (1969), MLA(1952–1974)
Constituency	Kultali, Joynagar
Personal details
Born	1918
Died	16 September 1974 (aged 55–56) Calcutta
Political party	Socialist Unity Centre of India

To write about a politician, one runs the risk of being either a self-seeker trying to get some material advantage if one spoke good of him, or a run-of-the mill faultfinder who failed to get his desired benefits if one wrote against him. But being neither, I do not hesitate to record an incident of great moral magnitude regarding the late Subodh Banerjee.

Subodh Banjerjee was a firebrand labour leader with such incendiary oratorical skill that both his friends and detractors used to say that he could set fire to the sluggish currents of the river Hooghly. Unlike many of his ilk, he was not a purchasable commodity available to the highest bidder. Employers used to be afraid of him so much that they would always prop up another trade union with a pliable leadership to subvert his union. They would concede more to the other union than come to any understanding with Banjerjee’s union. He would fight hard to get his demands met. But once an agreement was made, he would ensure that it was strictly implemented both by his followers and the employer. He would not allow any under-the-table adjustment which would be personally beneficial to the union leaders and, of course, to the management leaving the workers high and dry. All his dealings in labour matters were open and above board leaving no scope for future manipulation by the twist of a phrase or turn of a punctuation. Employers always thought him to be an uncompromisingly obstinate and dangerous leader.

He belonged to the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI). Its leadership believed in the Brahminical tradition of pollution free purity of socialist thoughts and principles. In the rainbow spectrum of Socialist-Marxist parties of West Bengal, it represented an extreme position. Though small in size, it had the reputation of being aggressively combative which could make its followers suffer untold police torture without any demur.

The late sixties of the last century witnessed tumultuous political upheavals in West Bengal. In 1967 the ruling Congress party was unseated from power by a hotch-potch combination of Right and Left parties who made a post-electoral alliance. Subodh Banerjee became the PWD Minister. Being scrupulously honest, the Department—which even in the British days had earned the sobriquet “plunder without detection”—felt the sizzling heat of a firebrand honest Minister. His lasting contribution was the removal of all statutes of “guardians and rulers” of the Indian empire from public places in Kolkata. But he did not destroy them. He appreciated the artistic value of many of them and stored them in some other public places not in the public view. The first United Front Government only lasted for seven months. The Ministry was dismissed and President’s Rule was promulgated.

After the election in 1969, the UF again came to power. Subodh Banerjee got the portfolio of his choice, Labour. In little over a year that this government lasted, he left a permanent imprint on the industrial scene by introducing “gherao” as an instrument of industrial action by militant workers. So much was the intensity of this new method of labour action that the word “gherao” got inducted into the English languge. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, 2004, on page 598 has the following entry: “Gherao: n (pl. gheraos). Indian; a protest in which workers prevent employers leaving a place of work until demands are met. Origin: From Hindi.”

So the English language was enriched by his gherao policy. Though as an incidental side-effect, the investment climate in West Bengal collapsed and a long process of de-industrialisation started. The second UF Government imploded because of its own internal contradictions. After a spell of another President’s Rule during the Bangladesh war, the Congress came back to power in 1972. He was always elected in the West Bengal Legilative Assembly from 1952 onwards  ( excepting 1962 and 1972). He died in 1974.

826. Sudhin Kumar (1918-1984), 827. Suniti Choudhury, Ghosh (1917-1988)

Sudhin Kumar was born inCalcutta. Being a son of an ICS be became a revolurionary and participated in freedom movement of India. He joined in RCPI founded by Soumendranath Thakur during student life in 1937. He took active participation from 1940-44 in trade Union of Bombay and Peasants movement of Gujrath.In 1948 the party was divided and he joined in Pannalal Dasgupta Group.  He became Minister -in-charge of food in Govt of West Bengal in 1969 and 1977.

Choudhury (Ghosh),Suniti ( 1917 - 1988 )

Suniti (Ghosh) Choudhary, destined to play an extraordinary role in the freedom struggle, was born on 22 May 1917, in Ibrahimpur village of Tripura district, in East Bengal, in an ordinary Hindu middle-class family. Her father Umacharan Choudhury was in Government services. Her mother was Surasundari Choudhury, a quiet, pious lady who left a deep sustaining influence on the stormy career of Suniti. When she was a tiny girl in school, her two elder brothers in the College were already in the vortex of the revolutionary movement. Suniti, a rather precocious child, was silently imbued with the political atmosphere at home and in the district. The stories of the exploits of Ullaskar Dutta, a veteran revolutionary ten living in Comilla, impressed her young mind considerably. She was recruited to the Jugantar Party by one of her classmates, Prafullanalini Brahma. A students’ conference held at that time in Comilla gave a fillip to the activities of this young batch of girls. Suniti was the captain of a Volunteer Corps of girl students. Her majestic bearing and attention of many, specially of the revolutionary leaders of her district. Suniti was picked up for training in the play of dagger and stick and also in rifle-shooting in secret in the hills nearby. Soon after she along with Santi Ghose, her classmate, was chosen for a direct action. So long women revolutionaries worked in the background. Now it was decided that they should also come to the fore. One day (on 14 December 1931) the two girls approached the District Magistrate of Coomilla, Mr. Stevens, in his bungalow with a petition for permission for a swimming club. When face to face with him, they fired at the Magistrate. The first bullet from Suniti’s revolver shot him dead. In the midst of panic and confusion

that followed the two girls were apprehended and mercilessly beaten. Their unusual calm, serenity and cheerfulness seen all through their undertrial days in the prison and in the court struck one and all with wonder. All the time they sang and laughed. They expected to die a martyr’s death. But in view of their tender age (only 14) they were given the sentence of life-imprisonment. Though a bit disappointed, they took the judgement cheerfully and bravely and entered the portals of the prison house, singing aloud Poet Nazrul’s famous song-“Oh break down those iron bars! Burn away all these prison houses!” Suniti’s prison-life was one long saga of sufferings. The vindictive alien Government tried to make it as cruel and intolerable as possible. She was made a Division III convict and kept segregated from all other political prisoners. Her old father’s pension was stopped. Her two elder brothers were detained without trial. The family was for years on the brink of starvation. And, as if to crown it all, her younger brother died of consumption caused by long years of malnutrition. These sufferings only tempered the steel of her personality. After seven years she got an early release with many other political prisoners. With undaunted spirit she again faced life full of struggle awaiting her in the outside world. She resumed her studies and took the medical degree of M. B. B. S. she is now carrying on an extensive private practice. In 1947 she married Pradyot Kumar Ghose, a well-known trade unionist. With an only daughter her home is now a heaven of peace. But her heart still bleeds at the sufferings of millions of her dear countrymen, and she is always ill at ease for not being able to all that she wants to do for them.

Author : Bina das Bhowmick

825. Sucheta Kripalani (1908-1974)

Sucheta Kriplani (Bengali: সুচেতা কৃপলানী, Hindi: सुचेता कृपलानी) (25 June 1908^] – 1 December 1974), born Sucheta Mazumdar, was an Indian freedom fighter and politician in Uttar Pradesh, India. She became the first woman to be elected Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and in an Indian state.

Early life

She was born in Ambala, Haryana to a Bengali family. 25 June 1908 – 1 December 1974. She became the first woman to be elected Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and in an Indian state. Educated at Indraprastha College and St.Stephen's College, Delhi, she became a Professor of Constitutional History at Banaras Hindu University. In 1936, she married socialist, Acharya Kriplani and became involved with the Indian National Congress.

Freedom Movement and Independence

she participated in Indian independence movement. She later worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi during the Partition riots. She was elected to the Constituent Assembly and was part of the subcommittee that drafted the Indian Constitution. She became a part of the subcommittee that was handed over the task of laying down the charter for the constitution of India. On 15 August 1947 she sang Vande Mataram in the Constituent Assembly.

Post Independence

After independence she involved with politics in Uttar Pradesh. She was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1952 and 1957 from New Delhi constituency and served as a Minister of State for Small Scale Industries. In 1962, she was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from Kanpur and served in the Cabinet in 1962. In 1963, she became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the first woman to hold that position in any Indian state. The highlight of her tenure was the firm handling of a state employees strike. The first-ever strike by the state employees which continued for 62 days took place during her regime. She relented only when the employees' leaders agreed for compromise. Kriplani kept her reputation as a firm administrator by refusing their demand for pay hike. In 1967, she was elected to the 4th Lok Sabha from Gonda constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

She retired from politics in 1971 and remained in seclusion till her death in 1974.