Surendranath Banerjee (1848-1925): Political Moderate

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Born in 1848 in Calcutta, Surendranath Banerjee was an educationist, journalist and political leader. In 1868 he successfully competed for the Indian Civil Service but on technical grounds he was disqualified. After a court judgment that went in his favour, he was inducted into the Civil Services but not long after, was dismissed over a procedural error.

After dismissal, he became more politically active. In 1876, together with Anand Mohan Bose they formed the Indian Association of Calcutta. 

In 1879, he became editor of The Bengalee, an English language newspaper in Kolkata. 

He was a vocal critic of the partition of Bengal in 1905. 

One of the founders of the Indian National Congress, Surendranath Banerjee became its president on two occasions in 1895 at Poona and in 1902 at Ahmedabad. 

He left Congress following the emergence of Mahatma Gandhi on the Indian political scene. After accepting a knighthood from the British in 1921 he was appointed as minister of local self-government and health in the Bengal government becoming the first Indian to hold that position. His acceptance of office was met with strong protest by the nationalists.

He passed away on 6th August 1925.


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