Bipin Bihari Bose
Bipin Bihari Bose (Bengali: বিপিনবিহারী বসু; alternative spelling: Bepin Behari Bose) (1852 – 1902) was an educator, advocate, political activist, social reformer and a poet. By profession a lawyer, he was known for his activism and his campaigns for social reform.[1] He was also an early member of Indian National Congress.[2] In 2021, Government of India officially recognized Bipin Bihari Bose as one of the Unsung Heroes[3] of India's Freedom Struggle in its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav program to celebrate 75 years of the Republic of India.
Early Life & Education
Bipin Bihari Bose was born in 1852 in the village of Maheswarpur, Bengal. His parents were Braja Kishore Bose, who hailed from Konnagar (Hooghly district) and Bimala Dasi, of Maheswarpur (now in the district of 24 Parganas, West Bengal). Bipin's father died when he was very young, and he was raised by his mother in the homes of his relatives on his mother's side.[4]
Bose completed his final schooling in Kanpur at Christ Church School (formerly SPG Mission School, currently Christ Church College). He completed his higher education from Agra College. Later, when he switched to the legal profession, he completed the BL Exam in Allahabad in 1881.
Lucknow (1881 – 1902)
It is in Lucknow that Bipin Bihari spent most of his adult life, from 1881 when he arrived there to pursue a career in Law, until 1902, when he left for Calcutta to get medical treatment for his illness.
Over nearly two decades of residence in Lucknow, Bipin Bihari also played an active role in creating political awareness through local organizations like the Rifa-e-Aam (which he headed as the secretary at one point) or the Bengali Club & Youngmen's Association. During his time, Rifa-e-Aam became one of the more important think-tanks of the North-West Provinces, holding lively debates and discussions, organising important events and becoming a vital part of some major nation-wide campaigns for social reform.[5] Bipin Bihari Bose also helped build libraries,[6] founded or co-founded schools for children (Lucknow Bengali Girls School), as well as clubs for the youth (Bengali Young Men's Association).[6]
In Lucknow, he also developed a close friendship with fellow-Bengali advocate and popular songwriter Atul Prasad Sen.[7] According to some accounts, Bipin Bihari helped Atul Prasad settle down in Lucknow, and it was at Bipin Bihari's residence that Sen stayed when he first arrived in the city.[6]
Political Activities
Bipin Bihari was a member of the Indian National Congress from its earliest days.[8] He attended many sessions of Congress, and he played a key role as the local organising secretary when the Congress was held in Lucknow in 1899. He had also published a book of poetry called Congress Songs for the occasion, and donated all the royalties from his book to the organisation.[9]
Social Reform & Welfare Activities
Bipin Bihari Bose played an active role in the reformation of Indian society in various capacities, be it as an individual, as a lawyer or a political activist. He campaigned to amend child and infant marriage laws in the country to save helpless children thrown into conjugal misery before reaching adulthood.[10] He petitioned for the abolishment of public consumption of opium, a common debilitating addiction of the time eroding the social fabric of certain parts of the nation.[11][12] There are stories of him rescuing widows from oppressive conditions, helping them rehabilitate. In those days, especially in Bengal, widows were forced to live in cruel conditions. Bipin Bihari believed widows should be given a second chance in life to live like normal people. A child widow he had rescued and helped rehabilitate later grew up to live a normal life and ended up marrying the famous Indian freedom fighter Bipin Chandra Pal (of the famous triumvirate Lal-Bal-Pal).
In his autobiography, Memories of My Life & Times: In the Days of My Youth (1857–1884), Bipin Chandra Pal later acknowledged Bipin Bihari Bose's role in rescuing his wife when she was barely a child.[13]
Last Days
Towards the end of his life, Bipin Bihari Bose had been suffering from some chronic illness, and he travelled to Calcutta for treatment, but on 15th December 1902, he died surrounded by his wife, children and relatives.[13]
References
- ↑ "Unsung Heroes". amritmahotsav.nic.in.
- ↑ Besant, Annie. "How India Wrought for Freedom: The Story of the National Congress Told from Official Records". Indian culture.
- ↑ "Unsung Heroes". amritmahotsav.nic.in.
- ↑ Purushothaman, Venka. "The Art of Sukumar Bose".
- ↑ Lala, Baij Nath. "Social Reform for the NW Provinces". Social Reform for the NW Provinces.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mukhopadhyay, Manashi. "Atul Prasad" (PDF). Archieve.org.
- ↑ Ghosh, Sunilmoy. "Atulprasad". books.google.
- ↑ "Unsung Heroes". amritmahotsav.nic.in.
- ↑ Reddy, Sheshalatha. Mapping The Nation. Search this book on
- ↑ Gidumal, Dayaram (1888). The life and life-work of Behramji M[aharbanji] Malabari: Being a biographical sketch, with selections from his writings [Teils.] and speeches on infant marriage, and enforced widowhood and his 'Rambles of a pilgrim reformer'. The Life and Life Work. Search this book on
- ↑ Bauer, Rolf. "The Peasant Production of Opium". Google.
- ↑ First Report of the Royal Commission. Search this book on
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Pal, Bipin Chandra. Memories of Life. Search this book on
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