Jatindra Mohan Sengupta

Jatindra Mohan Sengupta (1885–1933) was an Indian revolutionary against the British rule. Jatindra Mohan was arrested several times by the British police. In 1933, he died in a prison located in Ranchi, India.
As a student, he traveled to England to pursue the study of law. During his stay there, he met and married Edith Ellen Gray (later known as Nellie Sengupta). After returning to India, Jatindra Mohan started a legal practice. He also joined in Indian politics, becoming a member of the Indian National Congress and participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement. Eventually, he gave up his legal practice in favor of his political commitment.

Early life

Jatindra Mohan Sengupta was born on 22 February 1885 to a prominent, land-owner (Zamindar) family of Barama, in Chittagong district of British India (now in Chittagong in Bangladesh). His father, Jatra Mohan Sengupta, was an advocate and a member of the Bengal Legislative Council.

Jatindra Mohan became a student of the Presidency College in Kolkata. After completing his university studies, Jatindra Mohan went to England to acquire a bachelor's degree in Law. While in England, he met his future wife, Edith Ellen Gray (better known as Nellie Sengupta).

Career

After completing his education in England, Jatindra Mohan returned with his wife to India. After reaching India, he began practicing law as a barrister. In 1911, Jatindra Mohan represented Chittagong in the Bengal Provincial Conference at Faridpur. This was the beginning of his political career. Later, he joined the Indian National Congress. He also organized the employees of the Burma Oil Company to form a union.

In 1921, Jatindra Mohan became the Chairman of the Bengal Reception Committees of the Indian National Congress. That same year, during a strike at the Burma Oil Company, he was also serving as the secretary of the employees' union. Jatindra Mohan abandoned the practice of law due to his commitment to political work, particularly related to the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. In 1923, Jatindra Mohan was selected as a member of the Bengal Legislative Council.

In 1925, after the death of Chitta Ranjan Das, Jatindra Mohan was elected president of the Bengal Swaraj Party. He also became president of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee. From 10 April 1929 to 29 April 1930, Jatindra Mohan served as mayor of Calcutta. In March 1930, at a public meeting in Rangoon, he was arrested on charges of provoking people against the Government and opposing the India–Burma separation.

In 1931, Jatindra Mohan went to England to attend the Round Table Conference, supporting the position of the Indian National Congress.

Death

Because of his political activities, Jatindra Mohan was repeatedly arrested by the British police. In January 1932, he was arrested and detained in Poona and then in Darjeeling. Later, he was transferred to Ranchi. There, his health started to decline. On 23 July 1933, Jatindra Mohan Sengupta died while still in the Ranchi prison.

Influence

Because of his popularity and contribution to the Indian freedom movement, Jatindra Mohan Sengupta is affectionately remembered by people of Bengal with the honorific Deshpriya or Deshapriya, meaning "beloved of the country". In 1985, a postal stamp was issued by the Indian Government in memory of Jatindra Mohan and his wife, Nellie.