Sudhamoy Pramanick

Sudhamoy Pramanick (September 1884 – October 1974) was a Bengali advocate from Shantipur. He was the lifetime secretary of the Tili Samaj, a societal benefit organization. In his time he was one of the fortunate Presidencians - a year senior to Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. He was a social activist - member of the Executive Committee of the Indian National Congress and involved with the Satyagraha movement to campaign for Indian independence.

Early life, education and career

Sudhamoy was the eldest of ten siblings born to the Pramanick / Pramanik family in 1884 in Shantipur. He did his early schooling in Shantipur and went on to the Presidency College, Calcutta to acquire his degree in science in the early 1900s. Later he obtained a degree in law from the University of Calcutta and practiced in Raiganj and the Sealdah courts as an advocate. He was elected as one of the Commissioners of Shantipur Municipality in Dec 1913.

He was literarily inclined. Being well versed in Sanskrit and influenced by the Müllerian wave of exploring the ancient Indian language, he translated and edited papers on Sanskrit literature. As a secretary of the Tili Samaj he was vociferous against social evils like the Pon protha (Dowry) in the Bangiya Tili Samaj Patrika.

In his Presidency days he met many nationalists. He'd supported and joined the Congress and was a senior leader during his tenure at Raigunj Court. In 1930, Raigunj celebrated Independence day (Purna Swaraj) on 26 January against the British Raj - he and Umeshchandra Bhowmik were the Congress leaders enacting the historic Lahore resolution of the CWC. In March 1930, as mass disobedience gathered momentum in Bengal, several Congress leaders (including Netaji - then Bengal Provincial Congress Committee President), were arrested. On 15 April, on the occasion of the Bengali New Year, Sudhamoy presided over public meetings in Raigunj as a part of the Civil Disobedience Movement in blatant violation of the Salt Laws. Braving arrests by the British, volunteers from all over the district, including women, paraded the streets of Raigunj.

Few years later he moved to Calcutta. With his eldest sons completing their education, he started devoting more time in Sealdah Civil Court - fighting to free many an activist - at times risking his career. He was also known for helping poor students.

The Pramanick family