Bengal’s first chief minister Prafulla Chandra Ghosh was born on this day.
He served as chief minister of the state for three different governments: from August 15, 1947, to August 14, 1948, in the Indian National Congress government, then in the Progressive Democratic Alliance Front government from November 2, 1967, to February 20, 1968, and finally in a coalition government led by the Indian National Congress from April 2, 1971, to June 28, 1971.
He was born in Dhaka and was educated in Dhaka and Kolkata. He was a brilliant student of chemistry and obtained his PhD from Calcutta University. He had taught at Presidency College briefly, after which he joined as deputy assay master of the Kolkata Mint. He was the first Indian to be appointed to that post.
He had been drawn towards the Independence movement from his early youth, but meeting Surendranath Banerjea was a turning point for him.
He later became a follower of Gandhi. He was a founder of Abhay Ashram, which was engaged in social work and rural development activities. It took the lead in providing flood relief.
He wrote several books. His subjects included India’s history and Gandhi.
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