Prasanna Kumar Roy
Encyclopedia
Prasanna Kumar Ray (1849–1932), better known as Dr. P. K. Ray, was a well-known educationist and the first Indian to be principal of Presidency College, Kolkata
.
, now in Bangladesh
. He was a student of Pogose School in Dhaka. As he was attracted towards the Brahmo Samaj early in life he was turned out of his home. However, he won the Gilchrist Scholarship to go to England
. He graduated from the University of London
in 1873. He was awarded the D.Sc. degree in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh
and the University of London
in 1876. He and Ananda Mohan Bose got together to establish a Brahmo Samaj, Indian Association and a library in UK.
and Presidency College, Kolkata
. He was the first Indian to serve as principal of Presidency College from 1902 to 1905. Thereafter, he became Registrar of the University of Calcutta
and on retirement served as Inspector of Colleges under the University. He was posted to England for two years as education assistant to the Secretary for India.
. Renuka Ray, a central government minister, Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee
and Prasanta Mukherjee, a General Manager of the Bengal Nagpur Railways were his grandchildren. His other grandchildren, from his daughter Swarnalata (Mrs P.K.Bose), include three daughters, Kamala (married to B.C. Dutt, Accountant General of Bombay), Manorama and Anila (married to Satis Ranjan Khastgir, Khaira Professor of Physics, Calcutta University), and two sons, Akshay Kumar Bose and Jagat Kishore Bose. Manorama Bose was Chief Inspectress of Women's Education with the Government of West Bengal, and long-time principal of Rani Birla College for Girls, Calcutta.
He was active in the affairs of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. He was secretary of the Dhaka Brahmo Samaj, and secretary and president of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Kolkata, for some time. He and his wife used to stay or visit regularly Hazaribagh, which had a small Brahmo community.
Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
.
Early life
The son of Shyam Sundar Ray, he belonged to a family that hailed from Subhaddya in Keraniganj, DhakaDhaka
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 in 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...
. He was a student of Pogose School in Dhaka. As he was attracted towards the Brahmo Samaj early in life he was turned out of his home. However, he won the Gilchrist Scholarship to go to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He graduated from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1873. He was awarded the D.Sc. degree in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1876. He and Ananda Mohan Bose got together to establish a Brahmo Samaj, Indian Association and a library in UK.
Teaching career
On return to the country he taught in Patna College, Dhaka CollegeDhaka College
, located in Dhaka, is one of Bangladesh's earliest and most prestigious higher educational institutions. It offers both four years bachelor's and one years masters course in various majors, but it is best known for HSC...
and Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
. He was the first Indian to serve as principal of Presidency College from 1902 to 1905. Thereafter, he became Registrar of 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...
and on retirement served as Inspector of Colleges under the University. He was posted to England for two years as education assistant to the Secretary for India.
Family
He was married to Sarala, daughter of Durga Mohan DasDurga Mohan Das
Durgamohan Das was a Brahmo Samaj leader and a social reformer with notable contribution in the field of widow remarriage and women’s emancipation.- Early life :...
. Renuka Ray, a central government minister, Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee
Subroto Mukerjee
Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, OBE was the first Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force . Born in a Bengali family of repute, he was educated in India as well as England. He joined the Royal Air Force and later was one of the first recruits of the Indian Air Force...
and Prasanta Mukherjee, a General Manager of the Bengal Nagpur Railways were his grandchildren. His other grandchildren, from his daughter Swarnalata (Mrs P.K.Bose), include three daughters, Kamala (married to B.C. Dutt, Accountant General of Bombay), Manorama and Anila (married to Satis Ranjan Khastgir, Khaira Professor of Physics, Calcutta University), and two sons, Akshay Kumar Bose and Jagat Kishore Bose. Manorama Bose was Chief Inspectress of Women's Education with the Government of West Bengal, and long-time principal of Rani Birla College for Girls, Calcutta.
He was active in the affairs of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. He was secretary of the Dhaka Brahmo Samaj, and secretary and president of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Kolkata, for some time. He and his wife used to stay or visit regularly Hazaribagh, which had a small Brahmo community.