Biography of Bidhan Chandra Roy
Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on 1 July 1882. He was an Indian physician, educationist, philanthropist, freedom fighter and statesman who served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1948 until his death in 1962. Bidhan Roy is often considered the maker of modern West Bengal due to his key role in the founding of several institutions and four eminent cities Durgapur, Kalyani, Bidhannagar and Ashoknagar.
He is one of the few people in history to have become both a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. In India, the National Doctors’ Day is celebrated in his memory every year on the 1st of July. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour on 4 February 1961.
Bidhan Chandra Roy’s grandfather, Prankali Roy, was an employee of the collectorate of Baharampur in Murshidabad, West Bengal, and his father, Prakash Chandra Roy, was born there in 1847. His mother, Aghorkamini Devi, was the daughter of a zamindar of Baharampur named Bipin Chandra Bosu.
Prakash Chandra was a descendant of the family of Maharaja Pradapaditya, the rebel Hindu king of Jessore, but did not inherit much wealth from his ancestors. He earned a moderate salary for most part of Bidhan’s childhood, but he and Aghorkamini supported the education and upbringing of both their own children and a number of other poor children, mostly orphans. The spirit of ‘give and take’ was inculcated in Bidhan and his siblings at a young age. They were taught and even encouraged to give away what was precious to them, freely and willingly.
Bidhan studied at Patna Collegiate School in 1897, and obtained his I.A. degree from Presidency College, Calcutta. He completed his undergraduate studies at Patna College, where he obtained a B.A. degree with honours in mathematics. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he applied to undertake postgraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology and at the Calcutta Medical College.
His application was accepted by both institutions and he chose to attend the latter. Bidhan left Patna in June 1901 to study at the Calcutta Medical College. While at medical school, Bidhan came upon an inscription which read, “Whatever thy hands findeth to do, do it with thy might.” These words became a lifelong source of inspiration for him.
Bengal was partitioned while Bidhan was in college. Opposition to the partition was being organised by such nationalists as Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. Bidhan resisted the immense pull of the movement. He controlled his emotions and concentrated on his studies, realising that he could serve his nation better by qualifying in his profession first.