upendranath
Upendranath Bandyopadhyay (Bengali: উপেন্দ্রনাথ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় Upendra Nath Bandyopadhyay) (6 June 1879 – 4 April 1950) was an Indian revolutionary, writer, and teacher from Chandannagar in Hooghly district, West Bengal. A former student of Chandernagore Government College and Calcutta Medical College, he left academia to explore spiritual India. Deeply influenced by nationalist ideas, he joined the Jugantar group and edited its journals Jugantar Patrika and Bande Mataram.[1] He was arrested in 1908 in connection with the Alipore Bomb Case and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Andaman Islands. After his release in 1920, he turned to literature, penning the prison memoir Nirbasiter Atmakatha, a landmark work in Bengali revolutionary literature.[2]
Upendranath Bandhopadhyay | |
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| উপেন্দ্রনাথ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় | |
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| Born | 6 June 1879 |
| Died | 4 April 1950 (aged 71) |
| Other names | Upen Da |
| Alma mater | Chandernagore Government College, Calcutta Medical College, Scottish Church College |
| Known for | involvement in Alipore Bomb Case and participation in Indian independence movement |
| Parents |
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Early life and education
Upendranath Bandyopadhyay was born on 6 June 1879 in Gondalpara, Chandannagar, then a part of French India, in the Hooghly district of Bengal. His father, Ramanath Bandyopadhyay, was a noted scholar, known for co-authoring a French-Bengali dictionary with Shashibhushan Chattopadhyay. In addition to his academic pursuits, Ramanath was also adept in handicrafts and an accomplished sitar player. His mother was Kusumkumari Devi.[1]
Upendranath completed his First Arts (F.A.) examination at Dupleix College, now known as Chandernagore Government College. He subsequently enrolled at Calcutta Medical College for a three-year medical program but later discontinued his studies. He then shifted to Scottish Church College (also in Kolkata) to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1]
During his youth, Bandyopadhyay underwent a period of spiritual introspection. He described experiencing a profound "inner call" that led him to abandon formal education and undertake a pilgrimage across India. Accompanied by his close friend Hrishikesh Kanjilal, he travelled extensively to explore diverse religious and spiritual traditions.[2]
After returning to Chandannagar, he briefly took up teaching positions at two local schools. However, he found it difficult to adapt to a conventional professional life. His engagement with nationalist ideas deepened during this period, particularly under the influence of Charuchandra Roy, a teacher at Dupleix College who had also mentored revolutionary leaders such as Rash Behari Bose.[3]
Following the completion of his academic pursuits, Bandyopadhyay chose to withdraw from worldly life. Along with Hrishikesh Kanjilal, he adopted the lifestyle of an ascetic and travelled across India. The two spent a period at the Mayavati Ashram in Almora, a centre associated with the Advaita Ashrama and the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Finding the spiritual practices there unsatisfactory, Bandyopadhyay eventually returned to Chandannagar.[4]
Back in Bengal, he resumed teaching, working at Garbati and Bhadreswar schools for a time. He possessed considerable fluency in Bengali, English, and Sanskrit, and was noted for his erudition and intellectual versatility.
Revolutionary activities
From an early age, Upendranath Bandyopadhyay demonstrated a strong sense of patriotism. Motivated by the desire to liberate India from colonial rule, he, along with several associates, established an organisation called Bandhab Samiti in Gondalpara, a locality in southern Chandannagar. The group functioned as a socio-political and cultural forum, regularly convening to discuss literature, religion, politics, and physical fitness. Over time, it evolved into a centre for revolutionary activity. Notable figures such as Jyotish Ghosh (professor at Hooghly Mohsin College), Amarendranath Chatterjee of Uttarpara, and Jatin Mukherjee (popularly known as Bagha Jatin) were associated with the Samiti.[5]
The group also took a stand against religious conversion efforts. At one point, Christian missionaries attempted to establish a school for girls in Gondalpara, allegedly aiming to attract local youth to Christianity. Due to the opposition led by Upendranath, along with Narendra Nath and Basanta Kumar Bandyopadhyay, the initiative did not succeed.[6]
During the anti-Partition of Bengal movement in 1905, the youth of Chandannagar actively joined the nationwide protest. Members of the Bandhab Samiti organized meetings and outreach campaigns in the region. The visit of Surendranath Banerjee to one such event generated significant enthusiasm among the townspeople. In support of the Swadeshi movement, the group also distributed locally made garments, traveling by handcart to rural areas to promote indigenous industry.[7][8]
Upendranath Bandyopadhyay emerged as a prominent revolutionary leader in Chandannagar. His former teacher, the well-known nationalist Charuchandra Roy, played a significant role in nurturing the revolutionary spirit. Roy's residence served as a meeting point for underground activists. It was in this setting that Upendranath came into contact with revolutionaries such as Kanailal Dutta, Rash Behari Bose, and Shrish Chandra Ghosh. He later introduced Kanailal to the secret revolutionary group operating from the garden house at Maniktala in Calcutta, which was led by Barindra Kumar Ghosh.[9][10]
The Maniktala Garden house functioned as a covert revolutionary base, housing a bomb-making unit, a wrestling arena, and a study centre. Members engaged in the recitation of the Bhagavad Gita, and studied religious texts, political theory, and history. Disguised as a hermitage for celibate monks, the house served as a headquarters for revolutionary planning and training.[11]
One of the major episodes that followed was the attempted assassination of Magistrate Douglas Kingsford, whose oppressive administration had provoked widespread resentment among Indian nationalists. After his transfer to Muzaffarpur, two young revolutionaries, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki, were dispatched to execute the mission. However, the operation mistakenly resulted in the deaths of two British women, Mrs. and Miss Kennedy.[12] Prafulla Chaki died by suicide to avoid arrest, while Khudiram Bose was captured, tried, and subsequently hanged.[13]
In May 1908, British authorities, acting on intelligence, raided the Maniktala garden house at dawn. A large cache of arms and explosives was seized, and numerous revolutionaries, including Upendranath Bandyopadhyay, were arrested. Many of the detained individuals were later deported to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands.[14][15]
Imprisonment and literary contributions
On 12 December 1909, Upendranath Bandyopadhyay was deported to the Andaman Islands along with several other political prisoners including Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Ullaskar Dutta, Hemchandra Kanungo, Abhinash Bhattacharya, Indu Bhusan Roy and Bibhutibhusan Sarkar. During his incarceration at the Cellular Jail, he reportedly endured severe physical and psychological hardship. He remained imprisoned for approximately twelve years and was released in 1920, following a general amnesty extended to political prisoners by the British government in the aftermath of the First World War.[16][17]
After returning to Bengal, Bandyopadhyay documented his prison experiences and revolutionary activities in a memoir titled Nirbasiter Atmakatha ("Memoirs of an Exile"). The book offered a firsthand account of the harsh conditions in the Andaman penal colony and the ideological fervour of early 20th-century revolutionaries. The work was met with critical acclaim and received praise from Rabindranath Tagore. It continues to be regarded as an important contribution to Bengali prison literature and nationalist writing.[18]
Following his release, Bandyopadhyay became involved in several literary and journalistic initiatives. At the request of Chittaranjan Das and in collaboration with Barindra Kumar Ghosh, he assumed editorial responsibilities for the journal Narayan. He later joined the editorial team of Bijli after it was launched as a separate publication by Ghosh. Bandyopadhyay also served as editor of Atmashakti, a journal founded by Amarendranath Chatterjee.
In subsequent years, he contributed to the editorial boards of Forward and Amrita Bazar Patrika, two prominent publications of the time. Fluent in both English and Bengali, Bandyopadhyay had earlier written for the revolutionary journal Jugantar, where his impassioned articles were widely read and contributed to the journal's growing circulation, which at one point neared 20,000 copies.[19]
In Nirbasiter Atmakatha, Bandyopadhyay reflected on the power of revolutionary journalism, noting[20]:
"We ourselves would be astonished by our writings—it felt as though the very soul of the nation was speaking its innermost truths through our hands."
He also contributed essays to Bande Mataram, edited by Aurobindo Ghose. Impressed by his contributions, Aurobindo appointed him associate editor of the publication.[21][22]
Bandyopadhyay’s writings were distinguished by their clarity, intellectual depth, and stylistic flair. His prose combined bold ideological conviction with artistic expression, making his work both persuasive and aesthetically engaging. In addition to his political essays, he was known for his wit and humour, and was often compared to Bengali literary humourist Rasaraj Amrita Lal Basu and the legendary figure of Birbal from Emperor Akbar’s court.[23]
Later life and legacy
Political Engagement
Upendranath Bandyopadhyay remained politically active following his release from imprisonment. He was a member of the All India Congress Committee and frequently voiced strong opinions on issues of injustice, which occasionally placed him at odds with senior political figures. On 25 September 1923, he was arrested by the British government under Regulation III of 1818, a preventive detention law used to imprison political activists without trial. He was released in 1926.
In the final phase of his life, Bandyopadhyay became associated with Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee and served as president of the Provincial Hindu Mahasabha. He also briefly served as a member of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. Throughout his political career, he maintained relationships with key national figures, including Subhas Chandra Bose and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[24]
Journalism and Editorial Work
After his release from detention, Bandyopadhyay returned to journalism. From 1945 until his death in 1950, he served as the editor of the Bengali daily Basumati. Under his stewardship, the newspaper gained a substantial readership and became a respected platform for nationalist and social commentary. Known for his eloquence and moral clarity, his editorials combined wit, ideological conviction, and literary finesse.
Earlier, he had served as editor for journals such as Narayan, Bijli, and Atmashakti, and was also affiliated with Forward and Amrita Bazar Patrika. Before his imprisonment, he had contributed to revolutionary publications including Jugantar and Bande Mataram, earning praise from contemporaries such as Aurobindo Ghosh.
Philosophy and Public Life
Strongly influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Bandyopadhyay believed in service to the nation as the highest form of spiritual practice. He frequently articulated the view that social service and national duty were inseparable from religious devotion. In his writings and public speeches, he emphasised action over ritual, often quoting the idea that "one must feed the hungry first, only then speak of religion."
During his student years, he often clashed with Christian missionaries at public forums in Calcutta, defending Hindu philosophy and engaging in debates on religious and cultural identity. As a schoolteacher, he used storytelling to educate and inspire students, drawing on revolutionary histories from India and abroad.
Literary Contributions
Upendranath Bandyopadhyay authored several notable works including Unoponchashi, Swadhin Manush ("The Free Man"), Pother Sandhan ("In Search of the Path"), Shin Fin and Dharmo o Kormo ("Religion and Action"). His writings were characterised by clarity, philosophical depth, and an engaging narrative style. A posthumous collection of his essays and correspondence titled Bhaboghurey Chithi ("Letters of a Wanderer") was later published.
His memoir Nirbasiter Atma katha ("Memoirs of Exile"), written after his release from the Cellular Jail, remains one of the most significant literary accounts of political imprisonment during the colonial period. The book received acclaim from Rabindranath Tagore and continues to be regarded as a classic of Bengali prison literature.
Personal Traits and Legacy
Known for his forthright nature and fearless speech, Bandyopadhyay was affectionately called "Upen-da" by peers and admirers. He had a reputation for sharp wit and a natural talent for oratory and storytelling, which made him a beloved figure in both intellectual and grassroots circles.
He is remembered as a central figure in the revolutionary and journalistic movements of early 20th-century Bengal. His life embodied a commitment to nation-building through both activism and literature.
Death
Upendranath Bandyopadhyay passed away on 4 April 1950 at the age of 71, at his residence on South Sinthee Road in North Kolkata. He is remembered as a leading voice of the nationalist movement, a literary figure of repute, and one of Bengal's foremost political journalists of the independence era.
Works
The following are books by Upendranath Bandhopadhyay:
- Nirbasiter Atmakatha
- Unoponchashi
- Pother Sandhan
- Dharma O Karma
- Swadhin Manush
- Jatir Birambona
- Bhoboghurer Chithi
- Anantanander Patra
- Bortoman Jagat
See also
- Barindra Kumar Ghosh
- Amarendranath Chatterjee
- Hemchandra Kanungo
- Indu Bhusan Roy (independence activist)
- Ullaskar Dutta
Other books
- Barindrakumar Ghosh, Pather Ingit, Calcutta, 1337 (Bengali year).
- Upendra Nath Bandyopadhyaya, Nirbasiter Atmakatha, Calcutta, 1352 (Bengali year).
- RC Majumdar, History of the Freedom Movement in India, II, Calcutta, 1963.
References
- ↑
"উপেন্দ্রনাথ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় | সববাংলায়". 6 June 2018.
- ↑
Mahotsav, Amrit. "Upendranath Bandyopadhyay". Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
- ↑
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- ↑
Upendra Nath Banerjee: Memoirs of a Revolutionary. Vitasta Publishing Pvt. 2023. ISBN 978-81-963329-5-2.
- ↑
"Alipore Bomb Outrages. The Straits Times, 3 December 1909, Page 3". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
- ↑
"Indian Bomb Makers. The Straits Times, 2 June 1909, Page 7". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
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"Bharater Sashastra-biplab". 1960.
- ↑
Ghosh, Kalicharan (June 5, 1962). "Jagaran O Bishforan Vol. 1 Ed. 1st" – via Internet Archive.
- ↑
"Untitled The Straits Times, 10 September 1908, Page 6". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
- ↑
"ANARCHISM IN INDIA. Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, 15 June 1908, Page 5". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
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"dli.scoerat.13938therollofhonour" – via Internet Archive.
- ↑
"উপেন্দ্রনাথ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়– নির্বাসিতের আত্মকথা". www.ebanglalibrary.com.
- ↑
Ghosh, Kalicharan (June 5, 1973). "Banglar Sashastra Biplaber Purbapar Itibritta" – via Internet Archive.
- ↑
Ghosh, kalicharan (June 5, 1979). "Balidanon Ki Prashasti Shahid Puran" – via Internet Archive.
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Ghosh, Kalicharan (June 5, 1962). "Matri Mantra" – via Internet Archive.
- ↑
"The Roll of Honour". Vidya Bharati,Calcutta. 1960.
- ↑
Bandhopadhyay, Upendranath (July 6, 1950). "Upendranath Bandhopadhyayer Granthabali Part.1" – via Internet Archive.
- ↑
Bandyopadhyay, Upendranath. "উপেন্দ্রনাথ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের গ্রন্থাবলী (১৯৫০)" – via Internet Archive.
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