Great Personalities of West Bengal - 2 | WBCS Preparation: All Subjects - WBCS (West Bengal) PDF Download

Freedom Fighters of West Bengal

• Bipin Chandra Pal
  Born on 7th November, 1858, in Habiganj (now Bangladesh), Bipin Chandra Pal, a key member of the Lal, Bal, Pal trio, earned the moniker "Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India." As one of India's freedom fighters, he advocated for Swadeshi, the boycott of foreign goods, and national education. Pal founded the nationalist journal Bande Mataram and authored a substantial body of nationalist literature. Opposing the caste system and rigid rules, he passed away on 20th May, 1932.
• Chittaranjan Das 
  Born on 5th November, 1869, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Chittaranjan Das, affectionately known as Deshbandhu or "Friend of the country," was a prominent Indian politician and leader of the Swaraj Party in Bengal during British rule. He played a significant role in the Non-Cooperation Movement and initiated the ban on British clothes, burning his own European garments in support of khadi. Das defended Aurobindo Ghosh in the Alipore bomb case, founded newspapers like 'Forward' (later renamed 'Liberty') to oppose British rule, and served as the first mayor when the Calcutta Municipal Corporation was formed. He passed away on 16th June, 1925.
• Matangini Hazra 
  Born on 19th October, 1870, in East Midnapore district, Matangini Hazra, affectionately called Gandhi Buri, actively participated in the Indian Independence Movement. Joining Gandhi post-1905, she played a role in various nonviolent movements, including the Non-Cooperation Movement and Quit India Movement. Hazra was tragically shot dead by a policeman in front of Tamluk Police Station on 29th September, 1942.
• Jatindranath Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin)
  Born on 8th December, 1879, in Kushtia district (now Bangladesh), Jatindranath Mukherjee, renowned as 'Bagha Jatin' for his courage, was a formidable freedom fighter and revolutionary. As the principal founder of the Yugantar Party, he was considered one of the bravest freedom fighters, even by British officers. He passed away on 10th September, 1915.
• Surya Sen 
  Born on 22nd March, 1894, Surya Sen, a prominent Bengali Freedom Fighter, played a pivotal role in the anti-British movement centered in Chittagong, Bengal. He orchestrated the Chittagong Armoury Raid on 18th April, 1930, and subsequently marched to Jalalabad hills with fellow revolutionaries. His contributions were significant in the struggle for independence.
• Sarat Chandra Bose
  Born on 6th September, 1889, in Howrah, Sarat Chandra Bose, a barrister and Indian freedom fighter, was the son of Janakinath Bose and elder brother of Subhash Chandra Bose. He played a crucial role in the Indian National Congress, serving as the President of the Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee and actively supporting the formation of the Indian National Army (INA). After India's independence, he led the Forward Bloc Party and later formed the Socialist Republican Party, passing away in 1950.  
• Khudiram Bose
  Born on 3rd December, 1889, in Habibpur village in West Midnapore district, Khudiram Bose, one of the youngest revolutionaries, was a member of the Jugantar, a revolutionary group. He planted bombs to assassinate Kingsford, the magistrate of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and was caught and hanged by the British on 11th August, 1908.
• Bina Das
  Born on 24th August, 1911, in Nadia district, Bina Das, an activist and member of Chhatri Sangha of Bengal, is remembered for her courage. She attempted to assassinate Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson in the University of Calcutta's Convocation Hall. Active in the Quit India Movement in 1942, she later served as a Member of the Bengal Provincial Legislative Assembly and the West Bengal Legislative Assembly until her death on 26th December, 1986.
• Kalpana Datta
  Born on 27th July, 1913, in Bangladesh, Kalpana Datta was a renowned revolutionary of Bengal and a member of the revolutionary secret organization led by Surya Sen during the Chittagong Armoury Raid. Sentenced to transportation for life in the case, she later joined the Communist Party of India, married Puran Chand Joshi (the General Secretary of the Communist Party), and worked at the Indian Statistical Institute until her retirement. She passed away on 8th February, 1995.