Satyendra Chandra Mitra
Encyclopedia
Satyendra Chandra Mitra (23 December 1888 – 27 October 1942) was an Indian
freedom fighter, who started his political career as a revolutionary in the Jugantar Party
in 1916, to being elected the Chief Whip of the Swarajya Party in the Central Legislative Assembly
in 1927 and later became the President of the Bengal Legislative Council (of un-divided Bengal
) in 1937.
(now in Bangladesh). Youngest of eight children of lawyer, Uday Chandra Mitra and Udaytara Mitra, he did his Entrance Examination (school leaving) from Zilla School, Noakhali in 1905, graduated from City College, Calcutta in 1910, did his M. A from University of Calcutta
in 1912 and his B. L (law degree) in 1913. He then enrolled as an Advocate of the Calcutta High Court
.
basin in what is now Bangladesh
. He lost both his parents while he was interned. He was released in 1919.
He participated in the Congress Party’s session in 1920 in Calcutta, when the “Non-cooperation” Resolution was passed. In 1921, he became a follower of Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das, along with Subhas Chandra Bose. Deshabandhu chose Satyen to be his Assistant, which he was until Deshabandhu’s death. He was Secretary of the Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee in 1922–23. Subsequently, he organised and joined the Swarajya Party started by Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das.
In 1923, he was arrested along with Subhas Chandra Bose and others, by the British Indian Government under Regulation III of 1818 and detained without trial till 1927 in Mandalay Jail in Burma (now Myanmar).
In 1924, while in prison, he was elected to the Bengal Legislative Council as a Swarajya Party member. In 1926, he was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly
as a Swarajya Party member. It was the Assembly that carried a motion for his release (despite the British Indian Government’s opposition). On being released, he was elected the Chief Whip of the Swarajya Party, when Pandit Motilal Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru’s father and Indira Gandhi’s grandfather) was the Leader of the Party in the Assembly. He organised the defeat of the Government by the Swarajists on many occasions in the Assembly (now the Indian Parliament).
A few years after Deshabandhu’s death, the Swarajya Party merged with the Congress. In 1930, Congress members resigned from the Assembly to organise direct action (Civil disobedience) under Gandhiji. Satyen Mitra disagreed with the policy and after some time resigned from the Congress Party and sought re-election to the Central Legislative Assembly
and won. He was not re-elected in 1935.
In 1937, he was elected by the members of the Assembly to the upper House, the Bengal Legislative Council, and was then elected President of the Legislative Council, a position he held until his death in 1942. He was in close touch with Subhas Chandra Bose till his death on 27 October 1942.
), who later married Birendrasaday, son of Gurusaday Dutt
. She was an eminent social worker in her own right.
Satyen Mitra was a deeply religious man. He became a follower of Sri Sri Ram Thakur. His Guru was very fond of him and did occasionally stay at his residence.
Amongst his many friends was Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the eminent Bengali writer.
As a public figure, he had held various positions in life. He was prominently associated with the National Council of Education in Jadavpur (which is now Jadavpur University), and was Rector and Chairman of the Managing Council of that organisation. He was also a Member of the Board of the Imperial Bank of India
(later known as the State Bank of India) and with various youth organisations. He was active in the labour movement, being associated with the Bengal Trade Union Federation.
He was known for his amiable disposition that made him loved in different circles, while his political intelligence and shrewdness stood him in good stead as a Whip, in the legislative work of his day.
His portrait adorns the walls of the Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata, and the Paschimbanga (West Bengal) Assembly, Kolkata.
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...
freedom fighter, who started his political career as a revolutionary in the Jugantar Party
Jugantar
Jugantar or Yugantar was one of the two main secret revolutionary trends operating in Bengal for Indian independence.This association, like Anushilan Samiti started in the guise of suburban fitness club. Several Jugantar members were arrested, hanged, or deported for life to the Cellular Jail in...
in 1916, to being elected the Chief Whip of the Swarajya Party in the Central Legislative Assembly
Central Legislative Assembly
The Central Legislative Assembly was a legislature for India created by the Government of India Act 1919 from the former Imperial Legislative Council, implementing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms...
in 1927 and later became the President of the Bengal Legislative Council (of un-divided Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
) in 1937.
Background
He was born on 23 December 1888 in Radhapur village in Noakhali DistrictNoakhali District
Noakhali is a district in South-eastern Bangladesh. It is located in the Chittagong Division.-Geography:Noakhali District located in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh...
(now in Bangladesh). Youngest of eight children of lawyer, Uday Chandra Mitra and Udaytara Mitra, he did his Entrance Examination (school leaving) from Zilla School, Noakhali in 1905, graduated from City College, Calcutta in 1910, did his M. A from 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...
in 1912 and his B. L (law degree) in 1913. He then enrolled as an Advocate of the Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court...
.
Politics and career
Satyen Mitra, as he was popularly known as, was drawn into the revolutionary politics of the Jugantar Party trying to throw off the British yoke during the First World War. These activities led to his arrest in 1916, and he was interned at Janjira, an island (“char”) in the Padma RiverPadma River
The Padma is a major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges , which originates in the Himalayas. The Padma enters Bangladesh from India near Chapai Nababganj...
basin in what is now 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 lost both his parents while he was interned. He was released in 1919.
He participated in the Congress Party’s session in 1920 in Calcutta, when the “Non-cooperation” Resolution was passed. In 1921, he became a follower of Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das, along with Subhas Chandra Bose. Deshabandhu chose Satyen to be his Assistant, which he was until Deshabandhu’s death. He was Secretary of the Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee in 1922–23. Subsequently, he organised and joined the Swarajya Party started by Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das.
In 1923, he was arrested along with Subhas Chandra Bose and others, by the British Indian Government under Regulation III of 1818 and detained without trial till 1927 in Mandalay Jail in Burma (now Myanmar).
In 1924, while in prison, he was elected to the Bengal Legislative Council as a Swarajya Party member. In 1926, he was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly
Central Legislative Assembly
The Central Legislative Assembly was a legislature for India created by the Government of India Act 1919 from the former Imperial Legislative Council, implementing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms...
as a Swarajya Party member. It was the Assembly that carried a motion for his release (despite the British Indian Government’s opposition). On being released, he was elected the Chief Whip of the Swarajya Party, when Pandit Motilal Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru’s father and Indira Gandhi’s grandfather) was the Leader of the Party in the Assembly. He organised the defeat of the Government by the Swarajists on many occasions in the Assembly (now the Indian Parliament).
A few years after Deshabandhu’s death, the Swarajya Party merged with the Congress. In 1930, Congress members resigned from the Assembly to organise direct action (Civil disobedience) under Gandhiji. Satyen Mitra disagreed with the policy and after some time resigned from the Congress Party and sought re-election to the Central Legislative Assembly
Central Legislative Assembly
The Central Legislative Assembly was a legislature for India created by the Government of India Act 1919 from the former Imperial Legislative Council, implementing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms...
and won. He was not re-elected in 1935.
In 1937, he was elected by the members of the Assembly to the upper House, the Bengal Legislative Council, and was then elected President of the Legislative Council, a position he held until his death in 1942. He was in close touch with Subhas Chandra Bose till his death on 27 October 1942.
Personal
He was progressive in his views, and married a child-widow, Uma Mitra, a Congress worker, in 1922. They had one daughter, Aroti (later Aroti DuttAroti Dutt
Aroti Dutt was a Social Worker from India of International repute. She was the World President of the Associated Countrywomen of the World for two terms, from 1965 to 1971, and subsequently their Member of Honour. She was also the International Vice President of International Alliance of Women...
), who later married Birendrasaday, son of Gurusaday Dutt
Gurusaday Dutt
Gurusaday Dutt was a civil servant, politician, folklorist, and writer.-Early Life and education:He was the son of the Ramkrishna Dutt Chaudhuri and Anandamayee Debi...
. She was an eminent social worker in her own right.
Satyen Mitra was a deeply religious man. He became a follower of Sri Sri Ram Thakur. His Guru was very fond of him and did occasionally stay at his residence.
Amongst his many friends was Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the eminent Bengali writer.
As a public figure, he had held various positions in life. He was prominently associated with the National Council of Education in Jadavpur (which is now Jadavpur University), and was Rector and Chairman of the Managing Council of that organisation. He was also a Member of the Board of the Imperial Bank of India
Imperial Bank of India
The Imperial Bank of India was the oldest and the largest commercial bank of the Indian subcontinent, and was subsequently transformed into State Bank of India in 1955.-Origin:...
(later known as the State Bank of India) and with various youth organisations. He was active in the labour movement, being associated with the Bengal Trade Union Federation.
He was known for his amiable disposition that made him loved in different circles, while his political intelligence and shrewdness stood him in good stead as a Whip, in the legislative work of his day.
His portrait adorns the walls of the Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata, and the Paschimbanga (West Bengal) Assembly, Kolkata.