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'''Surendra Kumar Datta''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (1878–1942), also spelt as '''Surendra Kumar Dutta''' or '''S. K. Dutta''', was the president of the [[All India Conference of Indian Christians]] and thus the [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Christians|Christian]] delegate to the [[Round Table Conferences (India)#Second Round Table Conference (September 1931 – December 1931)|Second Round Table Conference]] in [[London]], as well as a prominent [[Young Men's Christian Association|YMCA]] leader, and a member of [[Central Legislative Assembly]] – also called [[Central Legislative Assembly|Imperial Legislative Assembly]] before [[Partition of India|Indian independence]] – a lower house of a [[bicameral]] [[parliament]] synonymous to the current [[Lok Sabha]] after [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]].<ref name="R1">{{cite book |last= Anderson |first= Gerald H. |title= Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions |publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oQ8BFk9K0ToC&q=datta&pg=PA604|year= 2001 |page= 169 |isbn= 9780802846808}}</ref><ref name="R2">{{cite web |url= http://www.mundus.ac.uk/cats/13/1280.htm |title= Datta, Surendra Kumar |quote= Surendra Kumar Datta was born in 1878. He was lecturer in history and biology 1909-1914, and Principal 1932-1942 at [Forman Christian College]. |publisher= mundus.ac.uk|access-date= 8 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="R3">{{cite web |url= http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/EMSEnqList.asp?txtSubject=FRANCE&strCat=1 |title= BARNS (Margarita) - S K Datta and His People': a biography by Margarita Barns of Surendra Kumar Datta (1875-1942) |quote= Surendra Kumar Datta (1878-1942), lecturer in history and biology 1909-14, and Principal 1932-42, Forman Christian College; |publisher= bl.uk|access-date= 7 May 2012 }}</ref>

==Biography==
{{expand section|date=May 2012}}

===Life===
He was born in [[Lahore]], [[colonial India]], in [[1878]], and got educated in [[Lahore]]. He did [[Medicine]] from [[University of Edinburgh]], [[Edinburgh]]. He married Rena Carswell, a Scottish [[Irish people|Irish]] woman and secretary in the [[World Student Christian Federation]](WSCF) in [[Geneva]]. He served as the lecturer teaching [[history]] and [[biology]] between 1909 and 1914 in [[Forman Christian College, Lahore]]. He served as principal between [[1932]] and 1942, and later became the president of the same college.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R2"/><ref name="R3"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/030601/dmag7.htm |title= FC College: a Pandora's box |date= 1 June 2003 |quote= The tall ponderous and stately figure of Principal S.K. Datta and his equally well-build Irish wife, were almost omnipresent on the college premises |publisher= archives.dawn.com |access-date= 8 May 2012 }}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
<ref name="old">{{cite book |last= Clements |first= Keith |title= Faith on the Frontier:A Life of J.H. Oldham |publisher= Continuum International Publishing Group |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TPVU6eOEiYsC&q=Datta&pg=PA47|year= 1999 |pages= 40–240 |isbn= 9780567086907}}</ref><ref name="rena">{{cite book |last= Anthony |first= David Henry |title= Max Yergan: Race Man, Internationalist, Cold Warrior|publisher= Max Yergan: Race Man, Internationalist, Cold Warrior|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=NDAZL_-AdoQC&q=Datta%2C+Surendra%29+Kumar%29%2C+Indian+christian+leader&pg=PA115|year= 2006 |pages= 115–120 |isbn= 9780814707043}}</ref>

===YMCA leader===
He succeeded [[K. T. Paul]] as general secretary of [[YMCA|Young Men's Christian Association]](YMCA) and eventually became president of the Indian YMCA. He worked as national secretary of the YMCAs of [[India]], [[Burma]], and [[Ceylon]](''present'' [[Sri Lanka]]) from 1919 to [[1927]]. He along with [[K. T. Paul|K.T. Paul]] and [[Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah|V.S. Azariah]] were the prominent YMCA leaders, though, [[YMCA]] didn't directly involve in politics as it was run by the financial support of foreign donors beside an evangelistic agency, formed under the initiatives of [[missionaries]]; however, under the leadership of K.T. Paul and S.K. Datta, they made the YMCA known and respected not only in India but also in [[Europe]] and [[North America]]. He served as president of the All India Conference of Indian Christians in [[1925]], 1933, and 1934. After a lengthy service with YMCA, S.K. Datta was also associated with WSCF along with his wife Rena Datta.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R2"/><ref name="R3"/><ref>{{cite web |url= https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ijt/46_099.pdf |title= Young Men's Christian Association(YMCA) and others |publisher= biblicalstudies.org.uk |access-date= 8 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/stream/MN41778ucmf_9/MN41778ucmf_9_djvu.txt |title= A study of the Y.M.C.A. of India, Burma |quote= The brilliant achievements of this body are associated especially with the names of Mr. K. T. Paul and Dr. S. K. Datta, men who have made the Y.M.C.A. known and respected not only in India but also in Europe and North America. |access-date= 7 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="hugh">{{cite book |last= McLeod |first= Hugh |title= World Christianities c. 1914-c. 2000 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|date=2006 |page=427 |isbn= 9780521815000}}</ref> In June 1918, he was appointed a member of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) for services in the YMCA during the First World War.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30730|supp=y|page=6724|date=4 June 1919}}</ref>

===National delegate===
He served as a nominated[appointed] member of Central Legislative Assembly to represent Indian Christian community, before Indian independence and Indian partition, from 1924 to 1926, and gave an address at the [[International Missionary Council]] meeting held at [[Lake Mohonk]] in 1921 and [[Jerusalem]] in 1928. As an Indian Christian delegate, he attended ''Second Round Table Conference'' held in London between September and December 1931—K.T. Paul and S.K. Dutta, though not followers of [[Gandhi]] and represented Indian christian community, they indeed made efforts to bring reconciliation among the opposing leaders who took part in the conference, including [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]], [[Sarojini Naidu]], [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]], [[Muhammad Iqbal]], [[Ghanshyam Das Birla]], [[Mirza Ismail]], and more.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R2"/><ref name="R3"/><ref name="hugh"/><ref name="XXX">{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/stream/buildingwithindi00flemiala/buildingwithindi00flemiala_djvu.txt |title= Building with India |quote= The editor of the Young Men of India since 1919 has been Dr. S. K. Datta, author of The Desire of India |access-date= 8 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Thomas |first= Abraham Vazhayil |title= Christians in Secular India |publisher= Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dcDhYz8vUKcC&q=s.k.+datta%2C+Christian%2C+YMCA&pg=PA104|year= 1974 |page= 104 |isbn= 9780838610213}}</ref>

As an editor of YMCA's periodical ''The Young Men of India'', he edited many articles like ''India and racial relationships'' and promoted national consciousness among the Indian Christians during the national movement. By 1930, prominent [[Indian Christian|Indian christian]]([[Protestant]]) leaders like V.S. Azaraih, K.T. Paul, V. Chakkarai(V. Chakka Rai), and S.K. Dutta have come to conclusions that Indian christians would best integrate themselves into national life if they didn't cast themselves as a separate [[political entity]]. They also realized that a separate ''Christian electorate'' would further alienate them from [[National Cultural Foundation|national culture]] and amount to a form of ''compulsory segregation''. In [[1930]], All Indian Christian Council proclaimed that "the place of a minority in a nation is its value to the whole nation and not merely to itself."{{sic}} In Second Round Table conference, both K.T. Paul and S.K. Datta representing Protestants took a determined stand against turning Indian Christians into a Communal political entity by [[United Kingdom|Britain]]—imposing on them Communal representation, Communal electorate, and other Communal safeguards.<ref name="hugh"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://epress.anu.edu.au/anu_lives/transnational/mobile_devices/ch03.html |title= 'A fine type of Hindoo' meets 'the Australian type': British Indians in Australia and diverse masculinities |quote= Datta, S. K. 1924, ‘India and racial relationships’, Young Men of India, vol. 35, no. 8, August. |publisher= NY Times Co. |access-date= 9 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url= http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=1448&C=1268 |title= The Church's Mission and Post-Modern Humanism by M. M. Thomas |quote= K.T.Paul and S.K.Datta of the Indian YMCA who represented Protestants at the Round Table Conference in London, took a determined stand against turning Indian Christians into a communal political entity by Britain imposing on them communal representation, communal electorate and other communal safeguards. |publisher= religion-online.org |access-date= 9 May 2012 }}</ref>

A biography of S.K. Datta with name ''S.K. Datta and his people'' was published by Margarita Barns.<ref name="R3"/>

===President of the All India Conference of Indian Christians===
S.K. Datta served as the president of the [[All India Conference of Indian Christians]], which stood for the interests of the Christian community of [[colonial India]].<ref name="BlackHymanSmith2014">{{cite book |last1=Black |first1=Brian |last2=Hyman |first2=Gavin |last3=Smith |first3=Graham M. |title=Confronting Secularism in Europe and India: Legitimacy and Disenchantment in Contemporary Times |date=2014 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-78093-607-9 |pages=88–91 |language=en}}</ref> He represented Indian Christians in the [[Round Table Conferences (India)|Second Round Table Conference]], agreeing with [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in his views on minorities and Depressed Classes.<ref name="BlackHymanSmith2014"/> Surendra Kumar Datta served as the principal of Forman Christian College in Lahore from 1932 to 1942. During his tenure, he emphasized the integration of liberal arts education with Christian values, aiming to elevate the college's standing as a premier institution in colonial India. His leadership contributed to the development of graduates who significantly impacted Indian society. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=The National |title=The Discovery Service |url=https://discovery-cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F53072 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=discovery-cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 2 November 1932, Dr. Datta was inducted as the first Indian principal of Forman Christian College by the President of the Board of Directors. This appointment marked a significant shift toward greater Indian leadership in institutions that were previously dominated by foreign missionaries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=The National |title=The Discovery Service |url=https://discovery-cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F53072 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=discovery-cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Devout christian==

===Critic of Hinduism===
He was a devout Christian and critic of [[Hinduism]], who believed that the [[Indian religions]] do indeed search for the truth, yet argued that they didn't provide moral and [[Spirituality|spiritual]] support for reform and renewal. He denounced Hinduism philosophy and its doctrines, especially [[Karma]] and [[Reincarnation|Transmigration]] in weakening the demand for moral responsibility and social reform; according to him, only the basic teachings of [[Christianity]] could give hope to the people of India—the righteousness of God, the moral order of the created universe, the redeeming love of God manifest in [[Jesus Christ]]. He further emphasized a two-fold contribution of Christianity to India through the work of educational institutions, and through the visible Indian church, which he believed to be influential far beyond its minority status.<ref name="R1"/>

===Critic of Western Christianity===
He was cynical about Indian church for lack of spiritual depth, absence of a distinctive Indian Christian theology, and dependence on foreign leadership and money. He was even critical about the caste system operating within the Indian churches.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="old"/><ref>{{cite journal |title=Indian Christians and National Identity, 1870-1947|page= 362 |quote= In his presidential address to the All India Conference of Indian Christians (AICIC) in 1932 S. K. Datta pointed out that whereas two Christians, of whom he was one, had been invited to the second Round Table Conference, the Christians were the only community to be excluded from the third Round Table Conference. |doi=10.1111/1467-9809.00138 |volume=25 |issue= 3 |journal=Journal of Religious History|year = 2001|last1 = Oddie|first1 = Geoffrey A.}}</ref>

==Works==
* ''The desire of India''.
* ''The Christian Student and the Indian Church''.<ref name="XXX"/><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008625818 |title= The desire of India / Surendra Kumar Datta.|quote= Main Author:Datta, Surendra Kumar.|publisher= London : Church Missionary Society, 1908. |access-date= 8 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Datta |first= Surendra Kumar|title= The desire of India|publisher= Church Missionary Society |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qZDlwSh7M3IC|date=July 1908 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Datta |first= S.K.|title= The Christian Student and the Indian Church |publisher=National Council of the Young Men's Christian Association of India and Ceylon, Student Department Committee |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vAD3GwAACAAJ|date= }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Round Table Conferences (India)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=059-msseur_13&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1 Papers of S K Datta, lecturer 1909-14 and Principal 1932-42, Forman Christian College]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=dcDhYz8vUKcC&dq=s.k.+datta%2C+Christian%2C+YMCA&pg=PA104 Christians in Secular India - Author: Abraham Vazhayil Thomas]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=dcDhYz8vUKcC&dq=s.k.+datta%2C+Christian%2C+YMCA&pg=PA104 Cultural and Religious Heritage of India: Christianity - Editors: Suresh K. Sharma, Usha Sharma]
* [https://www.scribd.com/ioana_cn/d/62003651/4-Israel-Selvanayagam Points of Contact and the Christian use of Hindu concepts]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Datta, Surendra Kumar}}
[[Category:1878 births]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]
[[Category:Members of the Central Legislative Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:YMCA leaders]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the Forman Christian College]]

Surendra Kumar Datta - Revision history

RonaldKign: Created a biography