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Anand Mohan Bose
Context:
Anand Mohan Bose was born on September 23, 1847, in Bengal and was deeply influenced by the socio-political climate of his time. Bose advocated for the rights of Indians under British colonial rule and played a significant role in mobilising public opinion against colonial injustices. He was a prominent figure in the Indian freedom movement and was known for his contributions as a nationalist leader and journalist.
Contributions to the Indian Freedom Movement:
Brahmo Samaj:
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- Bose was associated with Debendranath Tagore and Keshab Chandra Sen. After the Brahmo Samaj was split, Bose jointly founded Sadharan Brahmo Samaj with Shivnath Shastri.
- It became a hub for education and social progress, positively transforming lives across Bengal.
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Journalism:
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- He utilised journalism as a powerful tool to spread nationalist sentiments. Bose was associated with several newspapers that focused on political issues and aimed to awaken the masses to the realities of colonial rule.
- He was a major contributor in launching the “Bengalee” newspaper with Surandranath Banerjee.
- His writings emphasised the need for self-governance and encouraged public participation in the struggle for independence.
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Indian Association:
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- He co-founded the Indian Association in 1876, which aimed to organise constitutional agitation against colonial rule. The Association convened the National Conference in 1883, which later evolved into the Indian National Congress, of which Bose was a founding member.
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Indian National Congress:
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- He was an active member of the Indian National Congress, where he worked alongside other prominent leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Bose advocated for constitutional reforms and greater representation of Indians in governance.
- In 1898, Bose was elected President of the Indian National Congress at its Madras session.
- He presided over a protest meeting against the partition of Bengal in 1905, delivering a historic speech that called for the province’s unity, despite being ill.
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Education and Social Reform:
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- In addition to his political activities, Bose was involved in educational reforms, believing that education was essential for empowering Indians to challenge colonial authority. He promoted modern education and sought to uplift marginalised communities through social reforms.
- As a social reformer, Ananda Mohan Bose dedicated himself to uplifting women and the illiterate masses. He fought tirelessly against social evils and promoted temperance, earning him lasting gratitude.
- Bose founded several educational institutions, including the City College of Calcutta, in 1879.
- He also worked tirelessly for the promotion of female education, establishing the Banga Mahila Vidyalaya in 1876.
- Bose held progressive views and was an early proponent of large-scale technical education and industrialisation in India, something that Parliamentarian Nitish Sengupta, in his book “The Land of Two Rivers”, has found among Bengali nationalists.
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