Who was Chittaranjan Das? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In November

Also Known As: Deshbandhu

Died At Age: 54

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Basanti Devi

father: Bhuban Mohan Das

mother: Nistarini Devi

children: Aparna Devi (1898- 1972), Chiraranjan Das (1899- 1928) and Kalyani Devi

Revolutionaries Political Leaders

political ideology: Self Rule

Died on: June 16, 1925

place of death: Darjiling, India

Notable Alumni: Middle Temple

City: Kolkata, India

More Facts

education: Middle Temple

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1

What were Chittaranjan Das's contributions to the Indian independence movement?

Chittaranjan Das was a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement and played a key role in the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. He was a staunch advocate of Swaraj (self-rule) and fought against British colonial rule.
2

How did Chittaranjan Das influence the political landscape of India during his time?

Chittaranjan Das was known for his strong leadership and oratory skills, which inspired many to join the freedom struggle. He co-founded the Swaraj Party with Motilal Nehru to push for greater self-governance within the British colonial system.
3

What was Chittaranjan Das's vision for India's future?

Chittaranjan Das envisioned a free and independent India where all citizens would have equal rights and opportunities. He believed in social justice, economic development, and a democratic system that serves the interests of the people.
4

How did Chittaranjan Das contribute to the field of law in India?

Chittaranjan Das was a renowned lawyer and advocate for legal reforms in India. He believed in using the law as a tool for social change and justice, and he played a significant role in shaping India's legal system.
5

What was Chittaranjan Das's role in the formation of the Indian National Congress?

Chittaranjan Das was a prominent leader within the Indian National Congress and played a key role in shaping its policies and direction during the struggle for independence. He worked alongside other Congress leaders to mobilize support for the freedom movement.

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Childhood & Early life

Chittaranjan Das was born in 1870 in Bikrampur, Dhaka (now Bangladesh) in to the famous Das family of Telirbagh to Bhuban Mohan Das. His father was a solicitor and journalist who used to edit the English Church Weekly, The Brahmo Public Opinion.

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Career

Das finished his studies from the Presidency College in Kolkata in 1890 and then went to England to pursue higher studies. He wanted to complete his civil service examination from there. Although he flunked in the exams but he joined the Inner Temple and was called to join the bar.

He was engaged in law-practice for a very long time but it was ultimately in 1909 that he rose to prominence for defending Sri Aurobindo Ghose, the famous nationalist leader of that time. Ghose was charged with involvement with the Alipore bomb case.

He was a nationalist from the very beginning and became an active member of the Students’ Association at Presidency College, Kolkata. His was politically was active from 1917-25.

During this time, he chaired the Bengal Provincial Conference and proposed an idea for village reconstruction through the foundation of local self government, cooperative credit societies and the renewal of cottage industries. He also started attending the Indian National Congress sessions.

With his oratory skills, political vision and diplomacy, he soon became an important leader of the Congress and joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation movement in 1920.

For his involvement in Non-Cooperation movement, he was arrested along with his wife and son in 1921 and was sent to prison for 6 months. After that, he was elected as the president of the Ahmedabad Congress. After failure of the Non-Cooperation movement, Das proposed his new strategy to end diarchy.

His proposal was rejected by almost everyone in Congress, which is why he formed the Swarajya Party with Motilal Nehru. The party became a huge success in Bengal and earned majority of seats for itself in the legislative councils in 1924. Das became the first popularly elected mayor of Kolkata.

In the same year, Das jotted down together his popular Communal pact to encourage peace between Hindu and Muslim community India.

Personal Life & Legacy

Das married Basanti Devi in 1879 and the couple had three children together: Aparna Devi, Chiraranjan Das and Kalyani Devi. Basanti was also a freedom fighter in her own right and plunged into the freedom movement.

In 1925, Das started to suffer with poor health and eventually went to stay in his mountain resort in Darjeeling. He passed away due to severe fever. Mahatma Gandhi led his public funeral procession.

Facts About Chittaranjan Das

Chittaranjan Das was known for his sharp wit and sense of humor, often lightening the mood in serious discussions with his witty remarks.

He was a talented poet and writer, with a deep appreciation for literature and the arts, which often reflected in his speeches and writings.

Chittaranjan Das was a passionate advocate for women's rights and actively worked towards promoting gender equality in society.

Despite his busy schedule as a lawyer and politician, he made time to engage in physical exercise and was known for his love of outdoor activities like walking and cycling.

Chittaranjan Das had a fondness for traditional Indian music and was often seen attending classical music concerts and performances in his free time.

Chittaranjan Das Biography

You wanted to know

What were Chittaranjan Das's contributions to the Indian independence movement?

How did Chittaranjan Das influence the political landscape of India during his time?

What was Chittaranjan Das's vision for India's future?

How did Chittaranjan Das contribute to the field of law in India?

What was Chittaranjan Das's role in the formation of the Indian National Congress?