jyotish gj
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh also known as Master Jyotish Ghosh (Bengali: জ্যোতিষ চন্দ্র ঘোষ) (11 December 1884 – 13 March 1971) was an Indian nationalist, educator, and revolutionary active in the Indian independence movement. Born in Hooghly district, he began his career at Hooghly Mohsin College but resigned due to restrictions on Swadeshi participation.[1] He later joined revolutionary activities, collaborating with figures like Rash Behari Bose and enduring multiple imprisonments, including in Alipore Jail and Mandalay Jail. Known for his association with Subhas Chandra Bose and participation in key nationalist events, Ghosh also played a significant role in education and public discourse. He remained politically active until his death in 1971.[2][3]
Early life and education
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh was born on 11 December 1884 in Duttapara, near Debipur in the Bardhaman district of Bengal. His father was Pramatha Nath Ghosh.[4] He spent his early years at his maternal uncle’s residence in Bankura, before moving to Kolkata during his adolescence.[5]
Ghosh showed strong academic promise from a young age. He passed the Entrance Examination with a scholarship while attending Purulia District School. He then pursued Intermediate studies at Calcutta University, again receiving a scholarship, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Presidency College Calcutta.[6][7]
In 1905, during his M.A. studies, he joined the National Council of Education in response to the Swadeshi movement protesting the Partition of Bengal (1905). He completed his M.A. in 1906, ranking first in English and later in History. In 1907, Ghosh was appointed a professor of English at Hooghly Mohsin College, where he taught both English and History. He was widely respected by his students and considered a mentor and role model.[8][9]
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh | |
|---|---|
 "Master Moshai" Jyotish Chandra Ghosh | |
| Born | 11th December 1884 |
| Died | 13th March 1971 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Master Moshai |
| Alma mater | Presidency College Calcutta |
| Occupation | former English professor at Hooghly Mohsin College |
| Known for | participation in Indian independence movement |
| Movement | Indian independence movement |
| Father | Pramatha Nath Ghosh |
Early life and education
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh was born on 11 December 1884 in Duttapara, near Debipur in the Bardhaman district of Bengal. His father was Pramatha Nath Ghosh.[1] He spent his early years at his maternal uncle’s residence in Bankura, before moving to Kolkata during his adolescence.[2]
Ghosh showed strong academic promise from a young age. He passed the Entrance Examination with a scholarship while attending Purulia District School. He then pursued Intermediate studies at Calcutta University, again receiving a scholarship, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Presidency College Calcutta.[3][4]
In 1905, during his M.A. studies, he joined the National Council of Education in response to the Swadeshi movement protesting the Partition of Bengal (1905). He completed his M.A. in 1906, ranking first in English and later in History. In 1907, Ghosh was appointed a professor of English at Hooghly Mohsin College, where he taught both English and History. He was widely respected by his students and considered a mentor and role model.[5][6]
Involvement in freedom struggle
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh always told his students:
"It is not enough to only study. You must be deeply devoted to your studies, but at the same time, you must also engage in constructive work among the villagers. Because the majority of people live in the villages. Unless the light of knowledge is spread everywhere among them, the country can never be truly free.[7]"
.Jyotish Chandra Ghosh’s involvement in revolutionary activities began in Chuchura. In 1909, he attended a provincial political conference where Sri Aurobindo, leader of the extremist faction, was the chief speaker. Despite official orders prohibiting participation, Ghosh attended and held a private discussion with Aurobindo. As a result, he resigned from his professorship at Hooghly Mohsin College and became headmaster of the Hooghly Training Academy. Notable among Jyotish Chandra Ghosh’s students was revolutionary Gopinath Saha.[8][9]
On 21 February 1911, Nanigopal Mukherjee, a revolutionary from Chuchura and a former student of Jyotish Chandra Ghosh, assassinated the police officer Shrish Chakraborty. On 5 March 1911, Nanigopal attempted to bomb the car of detective Mr. Denham;[10] however, the bomb failed to detonate, and an engineer named Mr. Cowley, who was in the car, was unharmed. Following these incidents, Nanigopal was arrested and sentenced to fourteen years’ imprisonment in the Andaman Cellular Jail. On suspicion of involvement, Jyotish Chandra was also arrested on 5 March 1911 and detained in Alipore Jail for several months before being released.[11][12]
After his release, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh joined Bankura Weslley Mission College as a professor. However, under pressure from the British authorities, the college administration was compelled to dismiss him. Subsequently, at the invitation of nationalist leader Surendranath Tagore, Ghosh took a teaching position at Ripon College, Calcutta. Nevertheless, the British government again intervened, warning that continued employment of Ghosh would result in withdrawal of funding and support for the college’s construction projects, leading to his resignation.[13]
Following the pressure at Ripon College, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh voluntarily resigned and joined the Bihar National School in Patna. After some time, he became headmaster of Garbati School in Chandannagar. Known for his generosity, Ghosh retained only a small portion of his salary for personal use and distributed the remainder among impoverished students. He also contributed 30 rupees monthly toward the construction of the school building.[14]
Tortures in jail
On 3 January 1917, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh was arrested under the on Defence of India Act 1915 suspicion of involvement with revolutionary activities in Chandannagar. During a police raid on a house in Gondalpara, authorities recovered several Mauser pistols and a 35-page manuscript authored by Ghosh. The document outlined plans for an armed revolution, including organisational structures, attack strategies, and tactics. While imprisoned in Rajshahi Jail, Ghosh was subjected to severe torture under the orders of Charles Tegart. In response, he took a vow of silence, remaining mute for six days during his confinement.[15]
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh was held in a dark, confined prison cell with minimal ventilation and light. The cell was enclosed on three sides, with a wooden door featuring small barred openings near the bottom and a central hole with a revolving shutter through which guards could observe him. During this period, the district magistrate, known for his harshness, was a Bengali official who was later honoured with the title of "Rai Sahib" by the British government.[16]
As a result of the brutal torture and harsh conditions, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh’s mental health deteriorated, leading to his transfer to a mental asylum in Berhampore. Rather than receiving treatment, he endured further physical abuse, including having mustard oil poured into his eyes and cruel injuries inflicted by a British doctor using a sharp metal needle. The doctor reportedly incentivised violent prisoners to coerce Ghosh into speaking by promising reduced sentences. Despite suffering severe physical and psychological torment, including debilitating injections, Ghosh remained resilient and did not break under the pressure.[17]
After maintaining complete silence three years, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh finally spoke in July 1920. The news drew the attention of the civil officer of Berhampore at the time, Mr. W. S. Andy, who reportedly visited Ghosh and observed him in a state of astonishment.[18][19]
After release
After his release from Rajshahi Jail in 1920, Jyotish Chandra returned to Chuchura and became actively involved in social service alongside local youth. In 1921, he attended the Indian National Congress session in Nagpur, where he met Saifuddin Kitchlew, a prominent leader from Punjab. Impressed by Ghosh, Dr. Kitchlew invited him to Punjab to assist in strengthening the nationalist movement.[20][21]
In Punjab, Ghosh was entrusted with the management of the Swaraj Ashram and played a key role in building an organisational network extending from Punjab to Burma (present-day Myanmar). At Mahatma Gandhi’s request, he returned to Chuchura in 1922 and took refuge at Vidyamandir in Hooghly.[22][23][24]
Ghosh’s influence on revolutionary youth continued. One of his students, Gopinath Saha, attempted to assassinate Police Commissioner Charles Tegart—the officer responsible for Ghosh’s earlier torture—but mistakenly killed Ernest Day of the Kilburn Company. Saha was arrested and executed on 1 March 1924.[25]
In 1923, following a political dacoity on the Shankharitola Post Office, several individuals were arrested. Suspecting Jyotish Chandra Ghosh's involvement, the British authorities detained him under Regulation Act No. 3 and deported him to Mandalay Jail in Burma. During his imprisonment there, Ghosh met Subhas Chandra Bose, who was also incarcerated at the time. A close friendship developed between the two, and they often engaged in discussions on the condition of India under colonial rule and strategies for resistance.
After his release in 1928, Jyotish Chandra returned to his hometown and became the headmaster of Chinsurah Deshbandhu Memorial High School in Chuchura.[26][27]
In December 1928, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh played a prominent role in the Indian National Congress session held at Park Circus in Kolkata. He led a large, organised rally of workers from Liluah to the session, where he presented their demands to national leaders. His leadership highlighted the growing intersection of the labour movement and the freedom struggle.[28]
During his imprisonment, Ghosh had studied Marxist philosophy and became a staunch advocate for the rights of workers and peasants. He believed that true national progress could not be achieved without uplifting these communities. He shared his views through articles in Swadeshi Bazar and spoke regularly at grassroots meetings across villages, emphasising the need for education and awareness among labourers and farmers.[29][30][31][32]
Political life
At the Tripuri Congress session, Jyotish Chandra was deeply hurt by the disrespectful behaviour shown toward Subhas Chandra Bose. When Subhas Chandra formed the Forward Bloc party, Jyotish Chandra joined it and remained associated with the party until the end of his life.[33]
On August 18, 1928, Durgadas Seth published the Swadeshi Bazar newspaper. Its office was located at Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata. This office served as a meeting place for prominent political figures, and Jyotish Chandra was the central figure there.[34][35]
In 1936, Jyotish Chandra’s name appeared on the Swadeshi Bazar masthead as editor. He wrote an editorial titled "Words of revolution" and published a detailed article on "Our National Problems" in the same issue. This article created widespread discussion among readers.[36]
In May 1929, he was invited to preside over the Youth Conference in Chittagong, where his speech deeply inspired the attendees to dedicate themselves to India’s independence. This period marked the rise of revolutionary activity in Chittagong under the leadership of Masterda Surya Sen.[37]
Following his return from Chittagong, Ghosh was arrested by the British government in 1930 on charges of sedition. He was imprisoned for eight years and released in 1938. In May 1939, he presided over the Bengal Provincial Conference held in Dhaka, where his written speech conveyed a passionate and fervent call for freedom.[38]
On 18 March 1940, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh played a key role in the anti-Appeasement conference held at Ramgarh district, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. During a large public meeting at Albert Hall in Kolkata, aimed at the removal of the Holwell Monument ,Bose appointed Ghosh as the president of the gathering.[39]
During the Quit India Movement in 1942, Ghosh was arrested by the British authorities and imprisoned as a political prisoner for three years in Dum Dum Central Jail.[40]
In 1945, he was elected unopposed to the Bengal Legislative Council representing the Kolkata North-East constituency. However, following the Forward Bloc’s Ara Conference decision in 1946, he resigned from his legislative position.[41]
Aftermath
Jyotish Chandra Ghosh was a fearless patriot and steadfast revolutionary, unwavering in his dedication to India’s independence. Deeply moved by the injustices of colonial rule, he committed his life selflessly to the nation’s service. Despite enduring severe torture and imprisonment by British authorities, he remained resolute in his principles and never wavered from his cause.[42]
Rejecting the doctrine of non-violence, Ghosh inspired and mentored numerous revolutionaries, including Kanailal Dutta, Nanigopal Mukhopadhyay, Bhupati Majumdar, and Gopinath Saha. His life was deeply influenced by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, which he encouraged his students to study as a foundation for building strong character and national service.
Known affectionately as “Mastermoshai” (Respected Teacher), he was admired for his ideal blend of strict discipline and compassion. Beneath his revolutionary fervor lay a gentle and spiritually wise soul, whose simple lifestyle and selflessness endeared him to many. He often quoted, “Do your work without desire for the fruits, and your spiritual practice will be accomplished,” drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda.[43]
Ghosh authored several works, including Life Work of Aurobindo, Victory Over Nature, Translation of the Gita, and On the Path of Progress. He spent his final years at the Chandannagar Srish trust home and passed away on 13 March 1971, at the age of 87.[44]
See also
- Gopinath Saha, Indian revolutionary hero
- Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian nationalist
- Kanailal Dutta, Indian revolutionary and nationalist
- Rash Behari Bose, Indian revolutionary and nationalist
References
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চক্রবর্তী, রজত (2024-06-07). "Jyotishchandra Ghosh forgotten hero মাস্টারমশাই জ্যোতিষ ঘোষ". Retrieved 2025-05-29.
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Bose, Subhas Chandra. Subhas-rachanavali Vol. 2.
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Rakshit, Bhupendrakishor (1960). Bharater Sashastra-biplab.
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চক্রবর্তী, রজত (2024-07-05). "Jyotishchandra Ghosh a Forgotten Hero episode 2". Retrieved 2025-05-29.
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চক্রবর্তী, রজত (2024-08-09). "Jyotishchandra Ghosh a Forgotten Hero episode 3". Retrieved 2025-05-29.
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Ray, Bhupendrakishore Rakshit (1960). Bharate Shashastra Biplab.
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Dasgupta, Sri Hemendranath (1946). Bharater Biplab Kahini Vol. 1.
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Kanungo, Hemchandra (1929). Banglay Biplab Prachesta Ed. 1st (in other). NA.
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Majumdar, Satyendranarayan (1971). Aamar Biplab-jigyasa Parbo.1(1927-1985).
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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;
- Biplabi Master Jyotish Ghosh Kahini by Anil Kumar Ghosh.
- Abishmaraniya by Ganganarayan Chandra
- Amar dekhe biplab o biplabi by Motilal Roy
- Swarane Barane Biplabacharya Master Jyotish Ghosh by Meghnath Chandra
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