Chitta Basu
Encyclopedia
Chitta Basu (1926 – October 5, 1997) was an India
n politician and a leader of the All India Forward Bloc
. He was born in Dhaka
, now the capital of Bangladesh
, in 1926. In his obituary, The Indian Express
described Basu as belonging to the rare tribe of politicians who did politics for a cause and practiced what they preached. Barasat
was his Indian Parliamentary constituency for over two decades.
College in Khulna district (British India). He later did his masters from the University of Calcutta
.
After Partition
, Basu immersed himself in refugee rehabilitation work. In 1972, he became the party's central committee member and then the general secretary in 1977, a post that he held till his death.
He was first elected to the West Bengal state legislative assembly from Barasat
constituency of the then undivided 24 Pargana
s district in 1957. In 1966, he became a Rajya Sabha
member. He was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha
from Barasat
constituency in 1977. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha
in 1980, 1989, 1991 and 1996 from the same constituency. In 1996, he became a member of the United Front steering committee.
Basu was one of the AIFB (All India Forward Bloc
) leaders who struggled for the party's survival immediately after Independence; other political parties (particularly Left and a section of Indian socialists) abused the Forward Bloc over Bose's alliance with the Axis.
and Jasidih stations in Bihar
on Sunday morning, October 5, 1997. He was returning to Calcutta after attending an anti-Laloo rally organised by a 17-party left and democratic front in Patna
. He died a bachelor at the age of 72.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician and a leader of the All India Forward Bloc
All India Forward Bloc
The All India Forward Bloc is a leftwing nationalist political party in India. It emerged as a faction within the Indian National Congress in 1939, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The party re-established as an independent political party after the independence of India...
. He was born in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, now the capital of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, in 1926. In his obituary, The Indian Express
The Indian Express
The Indian Express is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. It is published in Mumbai by Indian Express Group. After Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split in 1999 among his family members into two with the southern editions taking the name The New Indian Express, while the old...
described Basu as belonging to the rare tribe of politicians who did politics for a cause and practiced what they preached. Barasat
Barasat
Barasat is a city in the outskirts of Kolkata, West Bengal India and is the district head quarter of the district North 24 Parganas. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. The town is an important railway and roadway junction...
was his Indian Parliamentary constituency for over two decades.
Education
Basu graduated from DaulatpurDaulatpur
Daulatpur may refer to:*Daulatpur, Manikganj, a town in Manikganj District, Bangladesh, well known for being the site of the world's deadliest tornado*Daulatpur, Punjab, a census town in Punjab, India...
College in Khulna district (British India). He later did his masters from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
.
Political life
Chitta Basu, who joined the Forward Bloc formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939, after Bose resigned from the National Congress the same year, worked for the party since he joined it way back in 1945 as a promising student leader. He rose to became the party's youth wing, All-India Yuba League's general secretary in 1947-48.After Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, Basu immersed himself in refugee rehabilitation work. In 1972, he became the party's central committee member and then the general secretary in 1977, a post that he held till his death.
He was first elected to the West Bengal state legislative assembly from Barasat
Barasat
Barasat is a city in the outskirts of Kolkata, West Bengal India and is the district head quarter of the district North 24 Parganas. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. The town is an important railway and roadway junction...
constituency of the then undivided 24 Pargana
Pargana
A pargana is a former administrative unit of the Indian subcontinent, used primarily, but not exclusively, by the Muslim kingdoms.Parganas were introduced by the Delhi Sultanate, and the word is of Persian origin. As a revenue unit, a pargana consists of several mouzas, which are the smallest...
s district in 1957. In 1966, he became a Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
member. He was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha
6th Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India. The 6th Lok Sabha, which ran from 23 March 1977 - 22 August 1979 was elected in February and March 1977.-Important members:* Speaker:...
from Barasat
Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency)
Barasat is one of the 543 parliamentary constituencies in India. The constituency centres on Barasatin West Bengal.-Assembly segments:...
constituency in 1977. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
in 1980, 1989, 1991 and 1996 from the same constituency. In 1996, he became a member of the United Front steering committee.
Basu was one of the AIFB (All India Forward Bloc
All India Forward Bloc
The All India Forward Bloc is a leftwing nationalist political party in India. It emerged as a faction within the Indian National Congress in 1939, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The party re-established as an independent political party after the independence of India...
) leaders who struggled for the party's survival immediately after Independence; other political parties (particularly Left and a section of Indian socialists) abused the Forward Bloc over Bose's alliance with the Axis.
Died
Chitta Basu died of a heart attack on the Howrah-bound Danapur Express between MadhupurMadhupur
Madhupur is a city and a municipality in Deoghar district in the Indian state of JharkhandIt has a crockery factory named La Opala.Ltd which is only one of it's own types in India .-Geography:Madhupur is located at . It has an average elevation of...
and Jasidih stations in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
on Sunday morning, October 5, 1997. He was returning to Calcutta after attending an anti-Laloo rally organised by a 17-party left and democratic front in Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
. He died a bachelor at the age of 72.