Prafulla Chandra Ghosh

Prafulla Chandra Ghosh Biography

Prafulla Chandra Ghosh was an Indian politician affiliated to Indian National Congress who served as the first Chief Minister of West Bengal in independent India. He served the term during the period, 15 August 1947 – 22 January 1948, and his first term was then known as Prime Ministers of West Bengal when he formed government with the alliance Progressive Democratic Alliance Front. He served his second term as Chief Minister of West Bengal during 2 November 1967 – 20 February 1968. He was the first Congress CM of West Bengal.

Prafulla Chandra Ghosh was born in the year 1891 in Maliakanda, Dohar, Dhaka. His birthplace, then a part of British India now belongs to Bangladesh. He was born as the son of Purna Chandra Ghosh and Binodini Devi. He was brilliant in academics and won several scholarships for his studies as well. He studied Chemistry, and was awarded doctorate in 1920 in Chemistry by Calcutta University. Prafulla had very rural upbringing and enjoyed cultural festivals and agricultural activities.

He got involved with freedom struggle and Swadesi movement during the British rule in India. Thus he got into politics and became a lifetime member of Indian National Congress. He also formed government twice in independent India as a Congress leader. Initially he was a member of Dhaka Anushilan Samiti before he got involved with politics. He quit Anishilan Samity in 1913 and focused on academics. He was moved by Gandhi's speech at Dhaka in December 1920 which prompted him to join politics once again. He resigned his job at Kolkata to become a part of freedom struggle movement in the early 1920s. Noted model and former Miss. Japan Priyanka Yoshikawa is his great-granddaughter.

Published: January 07, 2019

Updated: January 07, 2019