Some of the Distinguished Alumni
of the University of Calcutta
Radhabinod PalRadhabinod Pal (1896-1967) was born in Salimpur, Nadia. He studied mathematics and constitutional law at Presidency College, Calcutta and the Law College of the University of Calcutta.
Radhabinod Pal was the only Indian member to be appointed in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East's trials of Japanese war crimes committed during the Second World War.
In 1944, he became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and served in that capacity till 1946.
Subhas Chandra BoseSubhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack in 1897. He had his education first at the Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack and then at Scottish Church College, Calcutta where he was admitted to his B.A. course after his expulsion from Presidency College. He graduated from the University of Calcutta.
An uncompromising patriot and an ardent nationalist, Bose played a seminal role in the nationalist politics. He was the Chief Executive Officer and later Mayor of Calcutta Corporation. He was elected President of the Indian National Congress at the Haripura Session. He was elected President again in 1939 at the Tripuri Congress but had to step down in the face of a stiff opposition from Gandhi and his loyalists. Thereafter, he formed the All India Forward Block and continued his fight against British imperialism. At the outset of the Second World War, in a daring act of escape from the eyes of the colonial police, he fled from India and reached Germany where he sought to enlist the support of the Axis powers with cause of Indian independence. Later, after the fall of Singapore, he reached there and with the help of Japan, reinvigorated the Indian National Army which consisted primarily of the Indian prisoners of war. He is immortalised in Indian history for having formed the Azad Hind Government in exile and launching armed attack against the British from the North Eastern parts of India. A true patriot in the best sense of the term, he is endearingly called Netaji.
Nirad C. Chaudhuri
Nirad C. Chaudhuri (1897-1999) was a celebrated Indian writer. He was born in Kishorganj, in the then Mymensingh district of East Bengal. He was educated in Kishorganj and Calcutta. In his F.A. course he attended Ripon College (at present Surendranath College). He attended Scottish Church College, Calcutta, graduating with honours in History. He topped the University of Calcutta merit list obtaining a first class first.
He started his career as a clerk in the Accounting Department of the Indian Army. At the same time, he started contributing articles to popular magazines. He left the job in the Accounting Department shortly thereafter, living the life of intellectual journalist and editor. He was involved with the editing of the then well-known English and Bengali magazines Modern Review, Probasi (Bengali) and Sonibarer Chithi (Bengali). He himself ran two short-lived highly esteemed Bengali magazines Samasamayik and Notun Patrika.
Side by side his career as a secretary he continued contributing articles in Bengali and English to newspapers and magazines. He was also appointed as a political commentator in All India Radio - Calcutta branch. In 1941, he started working for the Delhi Branch of All India Radio.
He was a productive and prolific writer till the very end; publishing his last work at the age of 99. Some of his widely acclaimed works include : Autobiography of an Unknown Indian, A Passage to England, Thy Hand, Great Anarch , The Continent of Circe, The East is East and West is West, etc.
