Bipin Behari Bose

Bipin Behari Bose was born in 1852 in a middle-class Bengali family. Described by the Indian Spectator as a person ‘fired with generous and patriotic ideas of nationality and progress’, Bose was an educator, advocate, political activist, social reformer and an acclaimed poet: his life story is the story of a quintessential 19th century Bengali ‘renaissance man’.

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Bengalis of Lucknow in 1880s

Public Life

Bipin Behari Bose’s public life had two interlinked facets. On the one hand was his relentless activism (both in his capacity as a lawyer and as a man of influence) against outdated social norms and customs that plagued Indian society. On the other was his dedication towards the Indian National Congress, with its objectives of forging a spirit of nationalism and achieving political self-sufficiency. Both these aspects had seen Bose emerge as a great organizer and an enterprising figure with a distinguished capacity to get things done.

Social Reforms

As a social reformer, Bose was a tireless petitioner for legislative reforms for the benefit of society. Documents reveal his role in the nation-wide campaigns for abolishing child and infant marriage customs that plunged hapless unprepared children into conjugal misery. He was committed to the cause of widow rehabilitation to bring to an end age-old mistreatment of widows in Indian societies. He petitioned for the abolishment of public consumption of opium—a common debilitating addiction of the time eroding the social fabric of certain parts of the nation—while supporting its judicious use for medical ends.

Legacy

Bipin Behari Bose left behind a rich legacy that included his great contributions to public and legal discourse, the number of public institutions he either built or nurtured and, more importantly, the altered lives of many individuals that he uplifted through his moral conviction and personal generosity. In short, he left behind a better world than the one he was born into.

Activities

When his acclaimed and much-reviewed poem the Congress Song was published, he pledged all the royalty from its sale to support the financially struggling Lucknow Congress. As a member of the civic society, he will be remembered for his philanthropy and welfare activities. The city of Lucknow will always remember him for his contribution in creating schools and welfare institutions like Rifa-e-Aam and the Bengali Youngmen’s Association, the latter being still active and operational today. But what really made him stand apart was his compassion and benevolence. He displayed an uncommon generosity and an earnest desire to help others. He pleaded for justice for the poor and downtrodden without charging any fees. His home was an open-house—just about anybody was welcome to stay and share meals with the family.

Early Life & Education

On a foundation of good Westernized education—he attended some of the best schools and colleges of his time—Bose rose to be one of the leading lights of the Central Provinces. He had proven to be an excellent teacher, loved by students and authorities alike. Later, he made a name for himself in the legal profession. As a member of the Indian National Congress and an organizer of political events, his commitment to the cause of the nation is well-recorded.

Revival

Unfortunately, many of the real heroes of the 19th century, who through their selfless endeavor laid the foundation for a better world, have been nearly forgotten. Bipin Behari Bose is one such figure whose life and work have slowly drifted away from public memory, remaining hidden under the layers of more tumultuous events of history that followed in the wake of his untimely death in 1902. As we piece together various surviving documents that include biographies, poetry anthologies, newspaper clippings and even legal documents to revive the story of this remarkable individual, what emerges is a portrait of a multi- dimensional man, of a rare indomitable spirit, a man who gave it his all during a lifetime of service to the nation and humanity.

The Last Days

Towards the end of his life, Bipin Behari Bose had been suffering from chronic indigestion. He travelled to Calcutta with his whole family aiming to avail superior treatment for his illness, and he started receiving medical ministrations while at his own Calcutta residence at 20 Grey Street. But as all renowned physicians failed to improve his health, his condition deteriorated day by day. Finally, on 15th December 1902, on a night of full moon, he breathed his last breath surrounded by his wife, children and relatives.