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{{Short description| | {{Short description|First Chief Minister of West Bengal, India}} | ||
{{Peacock|date=April 2021}} | {{Peacock|date=April 2021}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} | {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} | ||
{{Infobox | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
| name = | | name = Bidhan Chandra Roy | ||
| native_name_lang = | | native_name_lang = Bengali | ||
| image = | | image = File:Photograph of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, 2nd Chief Minister of West Bengal.jpg | ||
| image_size = 250px | | image_size = 250px | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| honorific-suffix = [[Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom|MRCP]], [[Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons|FRCS]] | | honorific-suffix = [[Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom|MRCP]], [[Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons|FRCS]] | ||
| alt = Portrait of Bidhan Chandra Roy | | alt = Portrait of Bidhan Chandra Roy | ||
| Line 16: | Line 15: | ||
| term_start = 23 January 1948 | | term_start = 23 January 1948 | ||
| term_end = 1 July 1962 | | term_end = 1 July 1962 | ||
| predecessor = [[Prafulla Chandra Ghosh]] | | predecessor = [[Prafulla Chandra Ghosh]] | ||
| successor = [[Prafulla Chandra Sen]] | | successor = [[Prafulla Chandra Sen]] | ||
| Line 34: | Line 32: | ||
| successor3 = [[Santosh Kumar Basu]] | | successor3 = [[Santosh Kumar Basu]] | ||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1882|7|1}} | | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1882|7|1}} | ||
| birth_place = | | birth_place = [[Patna]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1962|7|1|1882|7|1}} | | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1962|7|1|1882|7|1}} | ||
| death_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]] | | death_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]] | ||
| party = [[Indian National Congress]] | | party = [[Indian National Congress]] | ||
| residence = [[Kolkata]], West Bengal, India | | residence = [[Kolkata]], West Bengal, India | ||
| parents = Aghore Kamini Devi<br>Prakash Chandra Roy | | parents = Aghore Kamini Devi<br />Prakash Chandra Roy | ||
| alma_mater = [[Presidency College, Calcutta|Presidency College]] ([[Intermediate of Arts|IA]]) | | alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Presidency College, Calcutta|Presidency College]] ([[Intermediate of Arts|IA]])|[[Patna University]] ([[B.A.|BA]])|[[Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata|Calcutta Medical College]] ([[MBBS]], [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]])|[[Royal College of Physicians]] ([[Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom|MRCP]])|[[Royal College of Surgeons of England|Royal College of Surgeons]] ([[FRCS]])}} | ||
| profession = {{hlist|[[Physician]]|[[Politician]]|[[Educationist]]}} | | profession = {{hlist|[[Physician]]|[[Politician]]|[[Educationist]]}} | ||
| awards = [[Bharat Ratna]] (1961) | | awards = [[Bharat Ratna]] (1961) | ||
| signature = | | signature = Signature of Bidhan Chandra Roy.svg | ||
| website = | | website = | ||
| footnotes = | | footnotes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy''' [[Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom|MRCP]] | '''Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy''' {{small|[[Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom|MRCP]]}} {{small|[[Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons|FRCS]]}} (1 July 1882 – 1 July 1962) was an Indian [[physician]], [[educationist]], and statesman who served as [[List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]] from 1948 until his death in 1962. He played a key role in the founding of several institutions and the cities [[Bidhannagar]] (Salt Lake) and [[Durgapur]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/back-to-the-beginning-on-the-50th-year-of-the-landfill-heres-the-story-of-how-salt-lake-came-into-being/cid/396434|work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]]|date=10 August 2012|title=Back to the beginning - On the 50th year of the landfill, here's the story of how Salt Lake came into being }}</ref> | ||
In India, the [[National Doctors' Day]] is celebrated in his memory every year on 1 July. He was awarded the [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian honour in 1961.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/national-doctors-day-all-you-need-to-know-about-dr-bidhan-chandra-roy-10851091.html|work=Firstpost|date=1 July 2022|accessdate=1 July 2022|title=National Doctors' Day: All you need to know about Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy}}</ref> | |||
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on 1 July 1882 to a [[Bengal|Bengali]] [[Hindu]] [[Kayastha]]-[[Brahmo]] family in [[Bankipore]] in [[Patna]], where his father, Prakash Chandra Roy coming from a wealthy family of [[Satkhira]], [[Khulna]] district, [[Bengal Presidency]] (now in [[Bangladesh]]), was serving as an excise inspector. His mother, Aghorkamini Devi, was religious and a devoted social worker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://evirtualguru.com/biography-of-bharat-ratna-dr-bidhan-chandra-roy-complete-biography-for-class-10-class-12-and-graduation-and-other-classes/|title=Biography of Bharat Ratna "Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy" complete biography for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.|date=1 February 2018|work=eVirtualGuru|access-date=1 September 2018}}</ref> Bidhan was the youngest of five siblings – he had 2 sisters, Susharbashini and Sarojini, and 2 brothers, Subodh and Sadhan. Bidhan's parents were ardent [[Brahmo Samaj]]ists.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/bitstream/1/20290/1/2851.pdf|title=Dr. B. C. Roy|last=Thomas|first=K.P.|publisher=Atulya Ghosh, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee|year=1955|location=Calcutta|access-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902011916/http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/bitstream/1/20290/1/2851.pdf|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Prakash Chandra was a descendant of the family of [[Pratapaditya|Maharaja Pradapaditya]], the rebel Hindu king of [[Jessore District|Jessore]], but did not inherit much wealth from his [[Ancestor|ancestors]]. He earned a moderate salary for most part of Bidhan's childhood, but he and Aghorkamini supported the education and upbringing of both their own children and a number of other poor children, mostly orphans. The spirit of 'give and take' was inculcated in Bidhan and his siblings at a young age. They were taught and encouraged to give away what was precious to them, freely and willingly.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |author=Nandalal Bhattacharya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0OeXw4AYVusC&pg=PA16 |title=''Karmajogi Bidhanchandra (Life of Bidhan Chandra Roy)'' |publisher=Grantha-tirtha |year=2004 |page=15 & 16 |language=Bengali}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=October 2022}} | |||
Bidhan studied at [[Patna Collegiate School]] in 1897, and obtained his [[Intermediate of Arts|I.A.]] degree from [[Presidency College, Calcutta]]. He completed his undergraduate studies at [[Patna College]], where he obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] degree with honours in [[mathematics]]. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, he applied to undertake postgraduate studies at the [[Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur|Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology]] and at the [[Calcutta Medical College]]. His application was accepted by both institutions and he chose to attend the latter. Bidhan left Patna in June 1901 to study at the [[Calcutta Medical College]]. While at medical school, Bidhan came upon an inscription which read, "Whatever thy hands findeth to do, do it with thy might."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/remembering-dr-bidhan-chandra-roy-1021823-2017-07-01|title=Remembering Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy: Facts about the doctor who dedicated his life to the profession of medicine|website=India Today|date=1 July 2017}}</ref> These words became a lifelong source of inspiration for him.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/bidhan-chandra-roy.html|title=Bidhan Chandra Roy Biography – Bidhan Chandra Roy Childhood, Life, Profile, Timeline|website=www.iloveindia.com|access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref> | |||
Intending to enroll at [[St Bartholomew's Hospital]] to complete further studies in medicine, Bidhan left for Britain in February 1909 with {{INR}}1200. The then dean of St. Bartholomew's Hospital was reluctant to accept an Asian student and rejected Bidhan's application.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://greatrulers.com/books/dr-bidhan-chandra-roy--biography-and-life-history|title=Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy -Biography and Life History {{!}} Great Rulers|website=greatrulers.com|access-date=27 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828001729/https://greatrulers.com/books/dr-bidhan-chandra-roy--biography-and-life-history|archive-date=28 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Roy submitted several additional applications till the dean, after 30 admission requests, admitted Bidhan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/culture/when-indias-national-doctor-was-denied-service-by-an-american-restaurant|title=When India's 'National Doctor' Was Denied Service By an American Restaurant|website=The Wire|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> Bidhan completed his studies in two years and three months, and in May 1911 became a member of the [[Member of the Royal College of Physicians|Royal College of Physicians]] and a fellow of the [[FRCS (Eng)|Royal College of Surgeons]] simultaneously. He returned home in 1911. | |||
Intending to enroll at [[St Bartholomew's Hospital]] to complete further studies in medicine, Bidhan left for Britain in February 1909 with {{INR}}1200. The then | |||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
[[File:Dr._Bidhan_Chandra_Roy_statue.jpg|thumb| | [[File:Dr._Bidhan_Chandra_Roy_statue.jpg|thumb|150px|Bidhan Chandra Roy statue in [[Bidhannagar|Salt Lake City]]]] | ||
[[File:Bidhan Chandra Roy 1982 stamp of India.jpg|thumb| | [[File:Bidhan Chandra Roy 1982 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|150px|A commemorative post stamp of Dr. Roy, published by [[India Post]].]] | ||
[[File:Statue of Dr. B. C. Roy.jpg|thumb|Statue of Dr. B. C. Roy in [[Howrah]] city]] | [[File:Statue of Dr. B. C. Roy.jpg|thumb|150px|Statue of Dr. B. C. Roy in [[Howrah]] city]] | ||
[[File:Bust of Bidhan Chandra Roy in Kolkata.jpg|thumb|150px|Bust of Roy at Bidhan Shishu Udyan in [[Ultadanga]]]] | |||
After his return, Roy joined the Provincial Health Service. He exhibited immense dedication and hard work, and would serve as a nurse when necessary. In his free time, he practised privately, charging a nominal fee. He taught at the [[Medical College Kolkata|Calcutta Medical College]], and later at the [[Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital|Campbell Medical School]] (now [[NRS Medical College]]) and the [[R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital|Carmichael Medical College]]<ref name=":0" /> (now R.G. Kar Medical College). Roy served as the first president of [[Cardiological Society of India]] from 1948 to 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past President - CSI |url=https://csi.org.in/presidents?page=1 |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=csi.org.in}}</ref> | |||
Roy believed that [[swaraj]] (the call to action for India's freedom) would remain a dream unless the people were healthy and strong in mind and body. He made contributions to the organisation of medical education. He played an important role in the establishment of the Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, [[Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital|Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital]], [[Victoria Institution (College)|Victoria Institution (college)]], and [[Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute|Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital]]. | Roy believed that [[swaraj]] (the call to action for India's freedom) would remain a dream unless the people were healthy and strong in mind and body. He made contributions to the organisation of medical education. He played an important role in the establishment of the Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, [[Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital|Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital]], [[Victoria Institution (College)|Victoria Institution (college)]], and [[Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute|Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital]]. In 1926, the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan for women and children was opened by Roy.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtoftheday98.com/2021/07/dr-bidhan-chandra-roy-biography.html|title=''Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy Biography: डॉ. बिधान चंद्र राय जीवन परिचय''|language=Hindi|author=Sumit Kumar|publisher=Sumit-Kumar|year=2021}}</ref> | ||
In 1942, Rangoon fell to Japanese bombing and caused an exodus from Calcutta fearing a Japanese invasion. Roy was serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. He | In 1942, Rangoon fell to the Japanese bombing and caused an exodus from Calcutta fearing a Japanese invasion. Roy was serving as the [[Vice-chancellor|Vice-Chancellor]] of the University of Calcutta. He acquired air-raid shelters for schools and college students to have their classes in, and provided relief for students, teachers and employees alike. In recognition for his efforts, the [[Doctorate of Science]] was conferred upon him in 1944. | ||
Roy | Roy was also [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s personal doctor and friend. | ||
Roy | In 1925, Roy ran for elections from the [[Barrackpore]] Constituency as an independent candidate for the [[Bengal Legislative Council]] and defeated the "Grand Old Man of Bengal", [[Surendranath Banerjee]]. Though an independent, Roy voted with the [[Swaraj Party]] (the Parliamentary wing of the Congress in the 1920s). As early as 1925, Roy tabled a resolution recommending a study of the causes of pollution in [[Hooghly River|Hoogly]] and suggested measures to prevent pollution in the future. | ||
Roy was elected to the [[All India Congress Committee]] in 1928 | Roy was elected to the [[All India Congress Committee]] in 1928. Roy efficiently conducted the Civil Disobedience in Bengal in 1929 and prompted [[Pandit Motilal Nehru]] to nominate him Member of the Working Committee ([[Congress Working Committee|CWC]]) in 1930. The CWC was declared an unlawful assembly and Roy along with other members of the committee were arrested on 26 August 1930 and detained at [[Alipore Jail|Alipore Central Jail]]. | ||
During the [[Salt March|Dandi March]] in 1931, many members of the [[Calcutta Corporation]] were imprisoned. Congress requested Roy to remain out of prison and discharge the duties of the Corporation. He served as | During the [[Salt March|Dandi March]] in 1931, many members of the [[Calcutta Corporation]] were imprisoned. Congress requested Roy to remain out of prison and discharge the duties of the Corporation. He served as the [[Alderman]] of the Corporation from 1930 to 1931 and as the Mayor of Calcutta from 1931 to 1933. Under him, the Corporation made leaps in the expansion of free education, free medical aid, better roads, improved lighting, and water supply. He was responsible for setting up a framework for dispensing grant-in-aid to hospitals and charitable [[dispensaries]]. | ||
==Post independence== | ==Post independence== | ||
The Congress Party proposed Roy's name for Chief Minister of Bengal. Roy wanted to devote himself to his profession. On Gandhi's advice, however, Roy accepted the position and took office on 23 January 1948. Bengal at the time had been torn by [[communal violence]], shortage of food, unemployment and a large flow of [[Refugee|refugees]] in the wake of the creation of [[East Pakistan]]. Roy brought unity and discipline among the party ranks. He told the people:<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=30 June 2016 |title=Bengal's physician chief minister – The Statesman |work=The Statesman |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/bengal-s-physician-chief-minister-151414.html |access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{blockquote|We have the ability and if, with faith in our future, we exert ourselves with determination, nothing, I am sure, no obstacles, however formidable or insurmountable they may appear at present, can stop our progress... (if we) all work unitedly, keeping our vision clear and with a firm grasp of our problems.}} | |||
The nation honoured Roy with the [[Bharat Ratna]] on 4 February 1961. After his death, his house became a nursing home named after his mother, Aghorkamini Devi. He had also constituted a trust for his properties at [[Patna]] to carry out social service, with eminent nationalist [[Ganga Sharan Singh (Sinha)]] being its first trustee.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Correspondence and Select Documents: 1934–1937|last=Choudhary|first=Valmiki|publisher=Allied Publishers|year=1984|isbn=978-81-7023-002-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/drrajendraprasad0000pras/page/133 133]|url=https://archive.org/details/drrajendraprasad0000pras/page/133}}</ref> | |||
The | The [[Dr. B. C. Roy Award|B.C. Roy National Award]] was instituted in 1962<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mciindia.org/CMS/awards/dr-b-c-roy-award|title=Dr. B.C. Roy Award {{!}} MCI India|website=www.mciindia.org|access-date=28 August 2018|archive-date=28 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071416/https://www.mciindia.org/CMS/awards/dr-b-c-roy-award|url-status=dead}}</ref> in Roy's memory and has been awarded annually since 1976. The award recognizes excellent contributions in the areas of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts. The Dr. B. C. Roy Memorial Library and Reading Room for Children in the Children's Book Trust, New Delhi, was opened in 1967. Today, his private papers are part of the Archives at the [[Nehru Memorial Museum & Library]], at [[Teen Murti House]], Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/archives.html|title=Archives|last=NMML|website=www.nehrumemorial.nic.in|access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrounds.org/rounds/indias-iconic-doctor-dr-bidhan-chandra-roy|title=India's Iconic Doctor: Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy{{!}} DailyRounds|website=www.dailyrounds.org|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214416/https://www.dailyrounds.org/rounds/indias-iconic-doctor-dr-bidhan-chandra-roy|archive-date=26 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | |||
*[[B.C. Roy Trophy]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
{{s-start}} | {{s-start}} | ||
{{s-off}} | {{s-off}} | ||
| Line 116: | Line 115: | ||
[[Category:1882 births]] | [[Category:1882 births]] | ||
[[Category:1962 deaths]] | [[Category:1962 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]] | [[Category:Bengali Hindus]] | ||
[[Category:Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata alumni]] | [[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata alumni]] | ||
[[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata alumni]] | |||
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]] | [[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]] | ||
[[Category:Patna University alumni]] | [[Category:Patna University alumni]] | ||
[[Category:University of Calcutta | [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Calcutta]] | ||
[[Category:Indian city founders]] | [[Category:Indian city founders]] | ||
[[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna]] | [[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna]] | ||
| Line 131: | Line 128: | ||
[[Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors]] | [[Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors]] | ||
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal]] | [[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal]] | ||
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians]] | [[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians]] | ||
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]] | [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]] | ||
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons]] | [[Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England]] | ||
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Bengal]] | [[Category:Indian independence activists from Bengal]] | ||
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]] | [[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]] | ||
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[[Category:Scientists from Kolkata]] | [[Category:Scientists from Kolkata]] | ||
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]] | [[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]] | ||
Revision as of 12:50, 22 July 2023
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (April 2021) |
Bidhan Chandra Roy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Chief Minister of West Bengal | |
| In office 23 January 1948 – 1 July 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Prafulla Chandra Ghosh |
| Succeeded by | Prafulla Chandra Sen |
| Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1952–1962 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Bijoy Singh Nahar |
| Constituency | Bowbazar |
| In office 1962–1962 | |
| Preceded by | Bijoy Singh Nahar |
| Succeeded by | Siddhartha Shankar Ray |
| Constituency | Chowranghee |
| 5th Mayor of Kolkata | |
| In office 5 April 1931 – 9 April 1933 | |
| Preceded by | Subhas Chandra Bose |
| Succeeded by | Santosh Kumar Basu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1882 Patna, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Died | 1 July 1962 (aged 80) Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Parent(s) | Aghore Kamini Devi Prakash Chandra Roy |
| Residence | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (1961) |
| Signature |  |
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy MRCP FRCS (1 July 1882 – 1 July 1962) was an Indian physician, educationist, and statesman who served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1948 until his death in 1962. He played a key role in the founding of several institutions and the cities Bidhannagar (Salt Lake) and Durgapur.[1]
In India, the National Doctors' Day is celebrated in his memory every year on 1 July. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour in 1961.[2]
Early life and education
Bidhan Chandra Roy was born on 1 July 1882 to a Bengali Hindu Kayastha-Brahmo family in Bankipore in Patna, where his father, Prakash Chandra Roy coming from a wealthy family of Satkhira, Khulna district, Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh), was serving as an excise inspector. His mother, Aghorkamini Devi, was religious and a devoted social worker.[3] Bidhan was the youngest of five siblings – he had 2 sisters, Susharbashini and Sarojini, and 2 brothers, Subodh and Sadhan. Bidhan's parents were ardent Brahmo Samajists.[4]
Prakash Chandra was a descendant of the family of Maharaja Pradapaditya, the rebel Hindu king of Jessore, but did not inherit much wealth from his ancestors. He earned a moderate salary for most part of Bidhan's childhood, but he and Aghorkamini supported the education and upbringing of both their own children and a number of other poor children, mostly orphans. The spirit of 'give and take' was inculcated in Bidhan and his siblings at a young age. They were taught and encouraged to give away what was precious to them, freely and willingly.[5][better source needed]
Bidhan studied at Patna Collegiate School in 1897, and obtained his I.A. degree from Presidency College, Calcutta. He completed his undergraduate studies at Patna College, where he obtained a B.A. degree with honours in mathematics. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, he applied to undertake postgraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology and at the Calcutta Medical College. His application was accepted by both institutions and he chose to attend the latter. Bidhan left Patna in June 1901 to study at the Calcutta Medical College. While at medical school, Bidhan came upon an inscription which read, "Whatever thy hands findeth to do, do it with thy might."[6] These words became a lifelong source of inspiration for him.[7]
Intending to enroll at St Bartholomew's Hospital to complete further studies in medicine, Bidhan left for Britain in February 1909 with ₹1200. The then dean of St. Bartholomew's Hospital was reluctant to accept an Asian student and rejected Bidhan's application.[8] Roy submitted several additional applications till the dean, after 30 admission requests, admitted Bidhan.[9] Bidhan completed his studies in two years and three months, and in May 1911 became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons simultaneously. He returned home in 1911.
Career
After his return, Roy joined the Provincial Health Service. He exhibited immense dedication and hard work, and would serve as a nurse when necessary. In his free time, he practised privately, charging a nominal fee. He taught at the Calcutta Medical College, and later at the Campbell Medical School (now NRS Medical College) and the Carmichael Medical College[7] (now R.G. Kar Medical College). Roy served as the first president of Cardiological Society of India from 1948 to 1950.[10]
Roy believed that swaraj (the call to action for India's freedom) would remain a dream unless the people were healthy and strong in mind and body. He made contributions to the organisation of medical education. He played an important role in the establishment of the Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution (college), and Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital. In 1926, the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan for women and children was opened by Roy.[11]
In 1942, Rangoon fell to the Japanese bombing and caused an exodus from Calcutta fearing a Japanese invasion. Roy was serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. He acquired air-raid shelters for schools and college students to have their classes in, and provided relief for students, teachers and employees alike. In recognition for his efforts, the Doctorate of Science was conferred upon him in 1944.
Roy was also Mahatma Gandhi's personal doctor and friend.
In 1925, Roy ran for elections from the Barrackpore Constituency as an independent candidate for the Bengal Legislative Council and defeated the "Grand Old Man of Bengal", Surendranath Banerjee. Though an independent, Roy voted with the Swaraj Party (the Parliamentary wing of the Congress in the 1920s). As early as 1925, Roy tabled a resolution recommending a study of the causes of pollution in Hoogly and suggested measures to prevent pollution in the future.
Roy was elected to the All India Congress Committee in 1928. Roy efficiently conducted the Civil Disobedience in Bengal in 1929 and prompted Pandit Motilal Nehru to nominate him Member of the Working Committee (CWC) in 1930. The CWC was declared an unlawful assembly and Roy along with other members of the committee were arrested on 26 August 1930 and detained at Alipore Central Jail.
During the Dandi March in 1931, many members of the Calcutta Corporation were imprisoned. Congress requested Roy to remain out of prison and discharge the duties of the Corporation. He served as the Alderman of the Corporation from 1930 to 1931 and as the Mayor of Calcutta from 1931 to 1933. Under him, the Corporation made leaps in the expansion of free education, free medical aid, better roads, improved lighting, and water supply. He was responsible for setting up a framework for dispensing grant-in-aid to hospitals and charitable dispensaries.
Post independence
The Congress Party proposed Roy's name for Chief Minister of Bengal. Roy wanted to devote himself to his profession. On Gandhi's advice, however, Roy accepted the position and took office on 23 January 1948. Bengal at the time had been torn by communal violence, shortage of food, unemployment and a large flow of refugees in the wake of the creation of East Pakistan. Roy brought unity and discipline among the party ranks. He told the people:[12]
We have the ability and if, with faith in our future, we exert ourselves with determination, nothing, I am sure, no obstacles, however formidable or insurmountable they may appear at present, can stop our progress... (if we) all work unitedly, keeping our vision clear and with a firm grasp of our problems.
The nation honoured Roy with the Bharat Ratna on 4 February 1961. After his death, his house became a nursing home named after his mother, Aghorkamini Devi. He had also constituted a trust for his properties at Patna to carry out social service, with eminent nationalist Ganga Sharan Singh (Sinha) being its first trustee.[13]
The B.C. Roy National Award was instituted in 1962[14] in Roy's memory and has been awarded annually since 1976. The award recognizes excellent contributions in the areas of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts. The Dr. B. C. Roy Memorial Library and Reading Room for Children in the Children's Book Trust, New Delhi, was opened in 1967. Today, his private papers are part of the Archives at the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, at Teen Murti House, Delhi.[15][16]
See also
References
- ↑ "Back to the beginning - On the 50th year of the landfill, here's the story of how Salt Lake came into being". The Telegraph. 10 August 2012.
- ↑ "National Doctors' Day: All you need to know about Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy". Firstpost. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ↑ "Biography of Bharat Ratna "Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy" complete biography for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes". eVirtualGuru. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ↑ Thomas, K.P. (1955). Dr. B. C. Roy (PDF). Calcutta: Atulya Ghosh, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ↑ Nandalal Bhattacharya (2004). Karmajogi Bidhanchandra (Life of Bidhan Chandra Roy) (in Bengali). Grantha-tirtha. p. 15 & 16.
- ↑ "Remembering Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy: Facts about the doctor who dedicated his life to the profession of medicine". India Today. 1 July 2017.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Bidhan Chandra Roy Biography – Bidhan Chandra Roy Childhood, Life, Profile, Timeline". www.iloveindia.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ↑ "Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy -Biography and Life History | Great Rulers". greatrulers.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ↑ "When India's 'National Doctor' Was Denied Service By an American Restaurant". The Wire. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ↑ "Past President - CSI". csi.org.in. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ↑ Sumit Kumar (2021). "Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy Biography: डॉ. बिधान चंद्र राय जीवन परिचय" (in Hindi). Sumit-Kumar.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Bengal's physician chief minister – The Statesman". The Statesman. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ↑ Choudhary, Valmiki (1984). Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Correspondence and Select Documents: 1934–1937. Allied Publishers. p. 133. ISBN 978-81-7023-002-1.
- ↑ "Dr. B.C. Roy Award | MCI India". www.mciindia.org. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ↑ NMML. "Archives". www.nehrumemorial.nic.in. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ↑ "India's Iconic Doctor: Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy| DailyRounds". www.dailyrounds.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Prafulla Chandra Ghosh |
Chief Minister of West Bengal 1948–1962 |
Succeeded by President's Rule |
