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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name               = Benoy Choudhury
| name         = Benoy Choudhury
| caption             =  
| native_name  = বিনয় চৌধুরী
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1911|1|16|df=y}}
| image        = Michil x.jpg
| birth_place         = Sutra, P.S. – Monteswer
| caption       =  
| residence           = [[Bardhaman]]
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1911|1|16|df=y}}
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2000|5|6|1911|2|16|df=y}}
| birth_place   = Sutra, Monteswer, [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_place         = Kolkata
| residence     = [[Bardhaman]]
| constituency        = [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman, Bardhaman South]], [[Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman North]]
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2000|5|6|1911|2|16|df=y}}
| office             = MLA, Minister, Land Reforms Pioneer
| death_place   = [[Kolkata, West Bengal]]
| term               = 1952–1962,1969–1972,1987–1996
| constituency2 = [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman, Bardhaman South]], [[Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman North]]
| predecessor         =  
| office2      = Member of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
| successor          =  
| term2        = 1951-1962
| party              = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]]
| party        = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (1964-2000)
| nationality        = [[India]]n
| preceded2    = Position Created
| spouse              =  
| succeeded2    = [[Nirupam Sen]]
| children            =  
| occupation    = Communist Leader, Politician, Minister
| website            =  
| office       = Minister of Land and Land Reform, [[Government of West Bengal]]
| date                = |
| term         = 1977-1996
| year                = |
| office3      = Member of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
| source              =  
| term3         = 1969-1972
| preceded3    = Position Created
| succeeded3    = [[Nirupam Sen]]
| constituency3 = [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman, Bardhaman South]], [[Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman North]]
| office4      = Member of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
| term4        = 1977-1987
| preceded4    = Position Created
| succeeded4    = [[Nirupam Sen]]
| constituency4 = [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman, Bardhaman South]], [[Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman North]]
| alma_mater    = [[Burdwan Municipal High School]], [[Serampore College]], [[University of Calcutta]]
}}
}}
'''Benoy Choudhury''' (14 January 1911 - 6 May 2000) was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter and politician, belonging to the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]], who played a major role in land reforms in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].
'''Benoy Choudhury''' (14 January 1911 6 May 2000) was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter and politician, belonging to the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] major role in land reforms in the [[India]]. He was also the Member of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] for three times from Bardhaman constituency. He was the Minister of Land and [[Land reform|Land Reform]] in government of [[West Bengal]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
He passed matriculation from [[Burdwan Municipal High School]] and Intermediate in Science from [[Serampore College]], under the [[University of Calcutta]]. As a student at the age of thirteen, Chowdhury joined the Indian freedom movement, joining the [[Indian National Congress|Indian National Congress party]] in 1924 along with his friend [[Saroj Mukherjee]]. He joined the [[Jugantar]] group in 1928 and was in jail before he could sit for his B.A. examination.<ref name="sansad">{{cite book| author = Subodhchandra Sengupta| title = Sansad Bangali charitabhidhan| year = 1998| isbn = 978-81-85626-65-9| page = 41 }}</ref> While studying in Serampore College, he and [[Saroj Mukherjee]] became acquainted with [[Bhupendranath Datta|Dr. Bhupendranath Datta]] and Communist leaders [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]] and [[Abdul Halim (communist)|Abdul Halim]].
He passed matriculation from [[Burdwan Municipal High School]] and Intermediate in Science from [[Serampore College]], under the [[University of Calcutta]]. As a student at the age of thirteen, Chowdhury joined the Indian freedom movement, joining the [[Indian National Congress|Indian National Congress party]] in 1924 along with his friend [[Saroj Mukherjee]]. He joined the [[Jugantar]] group in 1928 and was in jail before he could sit for his B.A. examination.<ref name="sansad">{{cite book| author = Subodhchandra Sengupta| title = Sansad Bangali charitabhidhan| year = 1998| isbn = 978-81-85626-65-9| page = 41 }}</ref> While studying in Serampore College, he and [[Saroj Mukherjee]] became acquainted with [[Bhupendranath Datta|Dr. Bhupendranath Datta]] and Communist leaders [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]] and Abdul Halim.


==Active in politics==
==Active in politics==
In 1930 he was sent to jail for his activities with [[Anushilan Samiti]]. Again in 1938 he was jailed for his involvement in Birbhum conspiracy case. He joined the Communist Party in 1938.<ref name=sansad/>
In 1930 he was sent to jail for his activities with [[Anushilan Samiti]]. Again in 1938 he was jailed for his involvement in Birbhum conspiracy case. He joined the Communist Party in 1938.<ref name=sansad/> filed his nomination for election from [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Burdwan]] constituency in 1951 while still in jail. Benoy Choudhury representing undivided [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] secured 11,439 votes, [[Uday Chand Mahtab]], the erstwhile [[Bardhaman Raj|Maharaja of Burdwan]], representing [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] secured 9,477 votes. Thereafter, he went on to win the Burdwan seat in 1957, and then the [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Burdwan South]] seat in 1969 and 1971. He won from the [[Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman North]] seat in 1987 and 1991.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://eci.nic.in/archive/ElectionAnalysis/AE/S25/Partycomp271.htm | title = 271 – Burdwan South Assembly Constituency | work = Partywise Comparison Since 1977| publisher = Election Commission of India| access-date = 12 November 2010 }}</ref>
 
==Elections==
He filed his nomination for election from [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Burdwan]] constituency in 1951 while still in jail. Benoy Choudhury representing undivided [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] secured 11,439 votes, [[Uday Chand Mahtab]], the erstwhile [[Bardhaman Raj|Maharaja of Burdwan]], representing [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] secured 9,477 votes. Thereafter, he went on to win the Burdwan seat in 1957, and then the [[Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Burdwan South]] seat in 1969 and 1971. He won from the [[Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman North]] seat in 1987 and 1991.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://eci.nic.in/archive/ElectionAnalysis/AE/S25/Partycomp271.htm | title = 271 – Burdwan South Assembly Constituency | work = Partywise Comparison Since 1977| publisher = Election Commission of India| access-date = 12 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dt1PAQAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%9F+%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80|title=Tathyera āloke Bidhānasabhā nirbācana, 2001|date=2001|publisher=Gaṇaśakti|language=bn}}</ref> He was minister of different departments.


==Land reforms==
==Land reforms==
Benoy Choudhury played a leading role in land reforms in West Bengal. Land reforms can be divided into two phases. In the first phase in 1967–1970, [[Hare Krishna Konar]] recovered around a million acres (4,000&nbsp;km²) of land through existing legal means. In the second phase of land reforms in 1978–1982, Benoy Choudhury accomplished two major tasks. The first task was carried out under [[Operation Barga]] when around 1.7 million sharecroppers were formally recorded, assuring them of permanency of land holding and a fair share of the crop. The second task was the distribution of about a million acres (4,000&nbsp;km²) of land earlier vested amongst 2.4 million poor and landless farm labor. Thus about 4 million people were directly benefited, laying the foundation for victory of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=319550&catid=39 |title = The story of a pretender |publisher = The Statesman, 9 February 2010 |access-date = 12 November 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110807052518/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=319550&catid=39 |archive-date = 7 August 2011 }}</ref>
Hare Krishna Konar played a leading role in getting surplus land held by big land owners in excess of land ceiling laws and kept ‘benami’ (or false names) vested with the state. The quantum of land thus vested was around one million acres (4,000 km2) of good agricultural land. Subsequently, under the leadership of Benoy Choudhury land was distributed amongst 2.4 million landless and poor farmers. It has been argued that this land reform along with Operation Barga formed the base for the Left Front victory in subsequent elections


==Later life==
==Later life==
After retirement from active politics, he lived in a small rented flat in [[Bidhannagar]], trying to make a living on the spouse's pension he received from his dead wife's account. She had been the headmistress of a school. Benoy Choudhury was well known for his frank talking. On 17 December 1995, when he was the second man in the West Bengal government he remarked, "This is a government of contractors, by contractors and for contractors". After his death, one obituary note read, "A poor man he had nothing to bequeath so he gave his eyes to the eye bank and his body to Calcutta Medical College for research".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000625/spectrum/main8.htm   |title = He was a man of the masses |first=Chanchal|last=Sarkar| publisher =Spectrum |access-date = 12 November 2010 }}</ref>
After retirement from active politics, he lived in a small rented flat in [[Bidhannagar]], trying to make a living on the spouse's pension he received from his dead wife's account. She had been the headmistress of a school. Benoy Choudhury was well known for his frank talking. On 17 December 1995, when he was the second man in the West Bengal government he remarked, "This is a government of contractors, by contractors and for contractors". After his death, one obituary note read, "A poor man he had nothing to bequeath so he gave his eyes to the eye bank and his body to Calcutta Medical College for research".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000625/spectrum/main8.htm |title = He was a man of the masses |first=Chanchal|last=Sarkar| publisher =Spectrum |access-date = 12 November 2010 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 12:45, 7 January 2022


Benoy Choudhury
বিনয় চৌধুরী
File:Michil x.jpg
Minister of Land and Land Reform, Government of West Bengal
In office
1977-1996
Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office
1951-1962
Preceded byPosition Created
Succeeded byNirupam Sen
ConstituencyBardhaman, Bardhaman South, Bardhaman North
Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office
1969-1972
Preceded byPosition Created
Succeeded byNirupam Sen
ConstituencyBardhaman, Bardhaman South, Bardhaman North
Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office
1977-1987
Preceded byPosition Created
Succeeded byNirupam Sen
ConstituencyBardhaman, Bardhaman South, Bardhaman North
Personal details
Born(1911-01-16)16 January 1911
Sutra, Monteswer, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died6 May 2000(2000-05-06) (aged 89)
Kolkata, West Bengal
Political partyCommunist Party of India (Marxist) (1964-2000)
ResidenceBardhaman
Alma materBurdwan Municipal High School, Serampore College, University of Calcutta
OccupationCommunist Leader, Politician, Minister

Benoy Choudhury (14 January 1911 – 6 May 2000) was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter and politician, belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) major role in land reforms in the India. He was also the Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly for three times from Bardhaman constituency. He was the Minister of Land and Land Reform in government of West Bengal.

Early life[edit | edit source]

He passed matriculation from Burdwan Municipal High School and Intermediate in Science from Serampore College, under the University of Calcutta. As a student at the age of thirteen, Chowdhury joined the Indian freedom movement, joining the Indian National Congress party in 1924 along with his friend Saroj Mukherjee. He joined the Jugantar group in 1928 and was in jail before he could sit for his B.A. examination.[1] While studying in Serampore College, he and Saroj Mukherjee became acquainted with Dr. Bhupendranath Datta and Communist leaders Muzaffar Ahmed and Abdul Halim.

Active in politics[edit | edit source]

In 1930 he was sent to jail for his activities with Anushilan Samiti. Again in 1938 he was jailed for his involvement in Birbhum conspiracy case. He joined the Communist Party in 1938.[1] filed his nomination for election from Burdwan constituency in 1951 while still in jail. Benoy Choudhury representing undivided CPI secured 11,439 votes, Uday Chand Mahtab, the erstwhile Maharaja of Burdwan, representing Congress secured 9,477 votes. Thereafter, he went on to win the Burdwan seat in 1957, and then the Burdwan South seat in 1969 and 1971. He won from the Bardhaman North seat in 1987 and 1991.[2]

Land reforms[edit | edit source]

Hare Krishna Konar played a leading role in getting surplus land held by big land owners in excess of land ceiling laws and kept ‘benami’ (or false names) vested with the state. The quantum of land thus vested was around one million acres (4,000 km2) of good agricultural land. Subsequently, under the leadership of Benoy Choudhury land was distributed amongst 2.4 million landless and poor farmers. It has been argued that this land reform along with Operation Barga formed the base for the Left Front victory in subsequent elections

Later life[edit | edit source]

After retirement from active politics, he lived in a small rented flat in Bidhannagar, trying to make a living on the spouse's pension he received from his dead wife's account. She had been the headmistress of a school. Benoy Choudhury was well known for his frank talking. On 17 December 1995, when he was the second man in the West Bengal government he remarked, "This is a government of contractors, by contractors and for contractors". After his death, one obituary note read, "A poor man he had nothing to bequeath so he gave his eyes to the eye bank and his body to Calcutta Medical College for research".[3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Subodhchandra Sengupta (1998). Sansad Bangali charitabhidhan. p. 41. ISBN 978-81-85626-65-9.
  2. "271 – Burdwan South Assembly Constituency". Partywise Comparison Since 1977. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  3. Sarkar, Chanchal. "He was a man of the masses". Spectrum. Retrieved 12 November 2010.