Writer: Anita Kabra
Surendranath Banerjee (Born – 10 November 1848
Died – 6 August 1925)
Sir Surendranath Banerjee was one of the earliest Indian political leaders during the British Raj. He founded the Indian National Association, one of the earliest Indian political organizations, and later became a senior leader of the Indian National Congress.
He was born on 10 November 1848 in Calcutta to a Bengali brahmin family. He got his school education in the Parental Academic Institution. He graduated from the Calcutta University in 1868 and proceeded to England to compete for the Indian Civil Services.
He was the second Indian to qualify the Indian Civil Service examinations but as there was some trouble over his exact age he was declared disqualified. On his return to India in June 1875, Banerjee began his new career as a Professor of English at the Metropolitan Institution, the Free Church Institution and at Ripon College.
He took full advantage of his teaching profession to infuse Indian students with a new spirit. He was the most eloquent speaker that India had so far produced. This transference of Bengali youth’s interest and energy to national regeneration constitutes his first great contribution to the national cause of India.
His second great contribution was the foundation of the Indian Association on 26 July 1876 which was intended to be the center of an all-India political movement. For the first time, there emerged the idea of India as a political unit. Later on, Banerjee became a senior member of the Indian National Congress.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
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