Virendranath Chattopadhyaya Biography 
Virendranath Chattopadhyaya was an Indian revolutionary associated with Indian freedom struggle movement. His activities were outside India, particularly concentrated in France and Germany. The radical American journalist Agnes Smedley was his life partner, though they were not married. Chattopadhyaya remained active in the Indian independence movement until his death in 1941. He has also written many columns in many leading world journals. He formed alliances with the Germans during World War I and was also associated with Berlin Committee which organized Indian students abroad, against British. Noted Indian personalities -Sarojini Naidu and Harindranath Chattopadhyay were his siblings.
He was born in Hyderabad in 1880. He was also known by the names - Binnie and Biren during his childhood. His father Dr. Aghorenath Chattopadhyaya was a scientist, philosopher and educationalist. His mother Barada Sundari Devi was a poetess and singer from Bengal. Noted poet, freedom fighter and congress leader - Sarojini Naidu was his sister. His brother Harindranath Chattopadhyay was a noted writer, actor and politician. Viren was a polyglot fluent in many languages.
Chattopadhyaya moved to UK in 1901 to study law. He established the Indian Sociologist journal in 1907. In 1910 he moved to France to escape from arrest where he joined the French Socialist Party and also wrote articles for journals. He also started a new journal, Talwar. He moved To Germany in 1914 to escape from arrest once again. He married Miss Reynolds in 1912, but got separated. He met Agnes Smedley in 1920 and they set up Berlin's first birth-control clinic. They lived together and remained unmarried. Viren was arrested on 15 July 1937 during the Great Purge of Stalin and his name appeared among the list of deaths.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 21, 2014
