Debendra Nath Ghosh: From Revolutionary to People’s Advocate
“আমি মানুষ, আমি ভয়কে করি তুচ্ছ,
আমি মাথা নত করিনি কভু অন্যায়ের কাছে।”
("I am human—I scoff at fear.I have never bowed my head before injustice." — Kazi Nazrul Islam)
In a world that forgets too quickly, the life of Debendra Nath Ghosh, who lived to the age of 108, reminds us of a time when courage was not just a word but a way of life. A revolutionary, political prisoner, and idealist, Ghosh belonged to that defiant generation who stared down the might of the British Empire — and never blinked.
Born at the turn of the 20th century in Barisal, Ghosh joined the Indian freedom struggle as a teenager, facing prison, persecution, and exile. Yet even after independence, his fight continued — against authoritarianism, against Partition injustices, and later, against undemocratic regimes in both India and Bangladesh.
He was not a man of slogans, but of action — one who endured without reward and resisted without bitterness. This post honours the extraordinary journey of a man who didn’t just live through history — he helped shape it.
Debendra Nath Ghosh
Debendra Nath Ghosh
| Born | 22 April 1890 Backergunge District, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Died | 11 January 1999 (aged 108) Barisal, Bangladesh |
| Other names | Abir |
| Alma mater | Presidency College, Calcutta |
| Known for | Participation in Indian independence movement & Bangladesh Liberation War |
| Parents | Nibaran Chandra Ghosh (father) Rajlakshmi Ghosh (mother) |
Over nearly eight decades, Ghosh stood at the frontlines of pivotal political and humanitarian struggles — from the anti-partition movement and protests against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to famine relief, communal harmony initiatives, and steadfast support for Subhas Chandra Bose’s call for total independence. His activism was not without cost: he spent a staggering 26 years behind bars, imprisoned under different regimes — yet his spirit remained indomitable.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he emerged as a key architect of resistance, and later, as a trusted leader under BAKSAL, took charge as the Governor of Barisal District. Even at the age of 85, his voice of dissent landed him in jail once again under a military regime. A guiding force in the Congress Socialist Party and later the Awami League, Debendranath Ghosh is revered as a beacon of integrity, courage, and unshakable revolutionary zeal. When he passed away in 1999 at the age of 108, he left behind not just memories, but a legacy that continues to inspire those who dream of justice, freedom, and a united humanity.
Early life and education
Debendranath Ghosh was born on 22 April 1890 in his ancestral home on Kaunia Club Road in the Backergunge District—a region then under the yoke of the Bengal Presidency in British-ruled India. Born to Nibaran Chandra Ghosh and Rajlakshmi Ghosh, young Debendranath, affectionately called "Abir", displayed a fierce independence and an uncommon compassion from his earliest days. He was the kind of child who would think nothing of giving away his lunch to a hungry stranger or parting with his own clothes to help a less fortunate friend — gestures that foreshadowed his lifelong commitment to justice and humanity.
He began his education at Brojomohan Vidyalaya, an institution shaped by the vision of renowned reformer Ashwini Kumar Dutta. It was under Dutta’s guidance that Ghosh’s social conscience deepened — he would often help in preparing lists of the destitute for relief aid, absorbing the ethos of service to the oppressed. But even as a schoolboy, his rebellious spirit and deep-rooted anti-colonial beliefs brought him into frequent clashes with the authorities. His refusal to yield to the oppressive dictates of British colonial authority led to his expulsion from school before he could even complete Class IX. But such setbacks only steeled his resolve. Debendranath Ghosh did not tread the conventional academic path; instead, he immersed himself in the study of Ayurveda, embracing the indigenous knowledge systems of his land.
Revolutionary and political activities in British India
Debendranath Ghosh’s political awakening began with the clarion call of the 1905 Swadeshi Movement, during which he stood firmly by his mentor Ashwini Kumar Dutta, participating in anti-colonial mobilizations that sparked nationalist consciousness across Bengal. By 1907, Ghosh took a decisive step into the heart of revolutionary action by formally joining the Anushilan Samiti, a secretive yet fiercely committed organization that believed in the necessity of armed resistance to end British rule. Here, he trained in clandestine methods of defiance, blending physical discipline with political fire.
In 1913, Ghosh’s revolutionary activities brought him into the spotlight of colonial paranoia when he was implicated as a key figure in the Barisal Conspiracy Case—accused of plotting against the British Raj. Although the authorities found no weapons in his home, thanks to their prior concealment, the absence of evidence did not spare him. He was imprisoned without trial until 1916, a cruel injustice that only strengthened his convictions. Behind bars, he came into contact with some of the era’s most resolute revolutionaries, deepening his ideological commitment to India’s liberation.
Upon his release, Ghosh wasted no time. In 1919, outraged by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he helped organize mass protests in Kolkata, channeling public grief into a movement for justice. By 1925, he founded the Suryakanta Vyayam Vidyalaya in Barisal—seemingly a physical training school, but in truth, a veiled hub for revolutionary preparation, where young patriots were nurtured under the guise of athletics.
Through the 1920s and 1930s, Ghosh broadened his engagement from revolutionary militancy to organized socialist politics. He joined the Congress Socialist Party in 1934, and later the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), working closely with his nephew Deb Kumar Ghosh. Together, they shaped the political consciousness of Barisal’s emerging intelligentsia, drawing committed youth like Mozammel Haque, Abdul Khaleq, and Shamsuddin Abul Kalam into the fold of resistance.
In 1930, his revolutionary loyalty once again led to arrest—this time for sheltering participants of the Chittagong Armoury Raid, an audacious strike led by Surya Sen’s group. His arrest triggered a long stretch of incarceration across various prisons, including Barasat, Bankura, Buxar Detention Camp, Presidency Jail, and Deoli. In 1934, he presented a fiery testimony before the Floud Commission, passionately advocating for the dismantling of the exploitative zamindari system.
In 1940, Ghosh rose again—organizing a volunteer defense unit to protect Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during his visit to Barisal, a move that cost him another five years in prison. But even the bars of colonial jails could not imprison his spirit. With India’s independence on the horizon, he joined Jayaprakash Narayan’s Congress Socialist Party, and by 1948, he was appointed General Secretary of the Socialist Party of India, carrying forward the ideals of freedom into the complex realities of a new nation.
Political activities under pre-1971 Pakistan
Debendranath Ghosh remained steadfast in his political struggle during the oppressive Pakistan era, a time when voices of dissent were ruthlessly silenced. Despite advancing age, he was repeatedly arrested for his uncompromising commitment to justice and communal harmony. During the communal violence of 1950, Ghosh risked his safety to mediate peace between warring factions—a courageous act that led to his detention as a security prisoner.
In 1951, ever the architect of unity, he played a crucial role in forming the United Front, bringing together multiple parties at a pivotal conference in Comilla. The alliance struck a powerful chord with the people, and in 1954, Ghosh was elected to the East Bengal Provincial Assembly as a United Front candidate—an electoral victory that reaffirmed his enduring influence and popular support.
Throughout this period, Ghosh maintained active links with Bengali language movement activists, standing shoulder to shoulder with those who fought to defend their mother tongue. His participation led to another arrest, a price he was always ready to pay for the sake of cultural identity and democratic rights. He later became a vocal participant in the mass movements against Ayub Khan’s autocratic regime, and once again faced detention during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
As the political tide shifted, Ghosh was deeply moved by the democratic aspirations embodied in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Six Point Movement. In 1970, he formally joined the Awami League, aligning himself with the people’s call for autonomy and justice—a decision that set the stage for his pivotal role in the coming struggle for Bangladesh’s liberation.
Later life in Bangladesh
During the historic Liberation War of 1971, Debendranath Ghosh crossed into India, not to retreat, but to regroup. Even in exile, he remained at the heart of the struggle—playing a vital organizational role in mobilizing support for the Mukti Bahini, the brave freedom fighters who battled for the soul of Bangladesh. His unwavering dedication to the cause of liberation, even in his eighties, exemplified a lifetime of service to oppressed peoples.
With the birth of independent Bangladesh, Ghosh emerged as a trusted statesman. He joined the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) and was entrusted with leadership as the President of the Barisal District Unit, later rising to the post of District Governor. In these roles, he sought to guide the new nation with the same spirit of sacrifice and justice that had defined his revolutionary years.
But the road to freedom was not without tragedy. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 1975, the nation plunged into turmoil. Ghosh, ever a symbol of resistance and truth, was once again arrested by the military regime and detained for nearly a year. Even in the face of fresh persecution, his resolve never wavered—a testament to a soul forged in the fires of revolution and guided by unshakeable ideals.
In the later years of his remarkable life, Debendranath Ghosh, alongside his devoted nephew Deb Kumar Ghosh, became a steadfast guardian of Shankar Math in Barisal—a place that was far more than a spiritual center. The Math served as both a sanctuary for Vedantic study and a discreet refuge for revolutionaries, echoing the spirit of India’s sacred and freedom-loving traditions. Ghosh worked closely with Swami Prajnanananda Saraswati, supporting the Math’s mission of blending spiritual awakening with national service.
Family members recall how, even in his twilight years, Ghosh showed extraordinary resolve when the Math’s land came under threat from encroachment. Rather than retire quietly, he took up the legal fight with the same tenacity that had defined his revolutionary days—attending court almost daily throughout the year, returning only by nightfall. His tireless advocacy led to the partial recovery of the Math’s property, a victory for both justice and heritage.
After his passing, a portion of the Math’s land was donated to ISKCON, an act meant to ensure the site's spiritual continuity and protection. Today, Shankar Math stands as a living testament to Ghosh’s enduring legacy—not only as a revolutionary and political warrior, but also as a custodian of culture, dharma, and spiritual resilience.
Death, legacy and public recognition
Debendranath Ghosh passed away on 11 January 1999, at the extraordinary age of 108. In his final years, he was more than a freedom fighter—he had become a living legend, a guiding light for generations of activists. Fellow revolutionaries and journalists hailed him as a "political institution" in his own right. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman himself is said to have remarked, “Deben da is himself a political institution.” His death was met with widespread mourning, a moment of solemn reflection on a century-long journey of courage, sacrifice, and idealism.
Over the course of his life, Ghosh endured imprisonment under British colonial rule, Pakistani autocracy, and Bangladeshi military regimes—a rare and sobering distinction. He spent a staggering 26 years behind bars, making him one of the longest-incarcerated political activists in South Asian history. He remained unmarried by choice, dedicating his entire life to the service of his people, the fight for freedom, and the preservation of social and cultural institutions.
Renowned writers such as Abdul Gaffar Choudhury and Kamal Mashudur Rahman paid heartfelt tributes to his life and legacy. In Bhorer Kagoj, Rahman captured the essence of Ghosh’s unbreakable spirit and lifelong commitment to public service. Choudhury, recalling his youthful interactions with Ghosh and the iconic Monada, described him as a "charismatic personality"—a man whose memory ought to inspire future generations to stand tall against injustice.
Each year, on his death anniversary, family members and admirers gather at the Barisal Mahashmashan to offer floral tributes at his tomb. The event, organized by the Debendranath Ghosh Memorial Committee, stands as a testament to the enduring power of his life—a flame of resistance that continues to burn brightly in the collective memory of the nation.
References
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বিপ্লবী দেবেন্দ্রনাথ ঘোষের ১৬তম মৃত্যুবার্ষিকী আজ. Samakal (in Bengali). 11 January 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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Bibliography
- Hemendranath Dasgupta, Bharater Biplab Kahini, II & III, Calcutta, 1948;
- Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, III, Calcutta 1963;
- Dainik Bangla (Interview by Shawkat Anwar)
- Abishmaraniya by Ganganarayan Chandra
- Articles and memoirs by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury
- Bhorer Kagoj, article by Kamal Mashudur Rahman
Very informative and nice work..... salute to freedom fighters of indian independence struggle......still their dreams are unfulfilled
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