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Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee was born on 6 July 1901 in Calcutta to Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee and Mrs. Jogmaya Devi. He was the second of seven children. A brilliant and sharp-minded scholar, Dr. Mookerjee pursued higher education with distinction. He later became the youngest Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and served two terms in this prestigious position.
As the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee introduced several fundamental reforms in the field of education. At that time, India was still under British rule, and he sought to link education with national self-respect. He replaced the colonial symbol of Calcutta University with a new emblem featuring the word “Shri” at the center of a fully bloomed lotus—an enduring symbol of Indian culture. Until then, university convocations were conducted entirely in English. In a bold move to embrace Indian identity, he invited Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to the 1937 convocation, where Tagore delivered his address in Bengali—thus beginning a new tradition. Dr. Mookerjee’s contributions also included promoting women’s education, creating more opportunities for Indian scholars, and integrating Indian cultural values into academic curricula.
In 1929, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was elected to the Bengal Legislative Council from the Calcutta University constituency. He entered politics to oppose the oppression of Hindu society under the coalition government of the Muslim League
Dr. Mookerjee’s contributions also included promoting women’s education, creating more opportunities for Indian scholars, and integrating Indian cultural values into academic curricula
and the Krishak Praja Party in Bengal. He remained committed to this cause throughout his life. Later, he joined the Hindu Mahasabha and went on to become its National President.
At the time, the then Chief Minister of Bengal, Dr. Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, was raising the slogan of a “United Bengal” under the pretext of language unity. His real intention was to ensure that Bengal would not be divided and would instead join Pakistan in its entirety. Unfortunately, some Congress leaders, unaware of the deeper implications, also supported this idea. However, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee saw through this conspiracy. With conviction, he declared, “Neither will we live in Pakistan, nor in United Bengal. We are a part of India and will remain with India.” He launched a powerful movement against this plan and succeeded in persuading Congress leaders and even Lord Mountbatten through letters and dialogue. He strongly argued that if the division of Punjab was possible, then Bengal could and should be divided as well.
Today, we can proudly say that had Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee not intervened, Bengal might not have remained a part of India. This historical danger becomes even more palpable when we observe current events in Bangladesh—where Hindus are unsafe, temples of Maa Kali are desecrated, and even the statue of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, who gave the country its national anthem, is being destroyed.
When a society fails to respect even its founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, how can it be expected to safeguard the Hindu community?
Dr. Mookerjee, with his remarkable foresight, had anticipated this threat. He understood that if Bengal were lost, India would also risk losing access to its North-Eastern states. Today, we all recognize the strategic significance of the Siliguri Corridor—commonly known as the “Chicken Neck”—which connects the Northeast to the rest of India. Economically too, the Bay of Bengal holds immense importance, which is intrinsically linked to Kolkata.
The very danger Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee foresaw and worked to prevent is once again looming before us. His efforts not only kept Bengal with India but also secured the country’s unity, security, and strategic future.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee served as the Minister of Industry in Prime Minister Nehru’s cabinet. During the time of India’s partition, he was deeply pained by the forced conversions, atrocities, and neglect faced by Hindu refugees living in Pakistan. The Nehru-Liaquat Pact, which was intended to address the issue, was in his view biased and inadequate. Disheartened by the Nehru government’s indifferent attitude toward the suffering of Hindus, Dr. Mookerjee resigned from the cabinet. He returned to Calcutta and devoted himself to the service of the displaced Hindu refugee community.
As the Industry Minister, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee played a pivotal role in shaping India’s industrial future. In 1948, he formulated the Indian Industrial Policy, laying the foundation for a self-reliant economy. To strengthen industrial financing, he also established the Industrial Finance Corporation of India the same year.
His policy emphasized self-reliance and focused on four key sectors: defense, atomic energy, railways, and air services. Under his leadership, several landmark industrial projects were initiated, including Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Hindustan Aircraft Factory (now HAL), Sindri Fertilizer Plant in Dhanbad, Damodar Valley Project, Hirakud Dam, and Bhilai Steel Plant. These institutions remain vital to India’s industrial and economic development even today.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was not just a politician—he was a deeply sensitive and service-oriented leader committed to the welfare of society. In 1943, when Bengal was devastated by one of the worst famines in its history, an estimated 30 lakh people lost their lives. This tragedy was not merely a natural disaster; it was the result of gross administrative failures under British rule. Instead of providing food and relief, the colonial administration responded with apathy and bias, abandoning the common people to suffer in silence.
At this critical moment, Dr. Mookerjee strongly opposed the disastrous policies of the British government and the then Chief Minister. He did not stop at criticism alone—he personally mobilized society, collected relief materials, and led extensive relief efforts on the ground. His dedication to service was so profound that he even missed the ‘Sampradana’ ritual during his own daughter’s wedding, choosing instead to stand beside the famine-stricken.
After independence, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh to uphold the nationalist spirit and safeguard democracy in the country. At the time of its establishment, he declared, “We need a nationalist alternative to the Congress.” In the first Parliament, he organized a joint coalition to challenge the authoritarian tendencies of Prime Minister Nehru, forming the National Democratic Party (N.D.P.), which consisted of 34 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 20 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
When Nehru remarked, “I will crush the Jan Sangh,” Dr. Mookerjee boldly responded, “I will crush this crushing mentality.” This powerful exchange reflects Dr. Mookerjee’s unwavering faith in democracy and his fearless spirit in the face of political adversity.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee served as the President of the Mahabodhi Society from 1942 to 1953. He played a key role in preserving and promoting India’s Buddhist heritage. One of his notable contributions was during the International Buddhist Conference of 1952, where he was instrumental in the enshrinement of the sacred relics of Sariputra and Mahamoggallana at Sanchi. His commitment to Buddhism also took him to countries like Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, and Thailand, strengthening spiritual and cultural ties.
A staunch believer in national unity, Dr. Mookerjee took an uncompromising stand against the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. Declaring that “two flags, two heads, and two constitutions” cannot exist within one nation, he launched a nationwide movement to demand its abolition. In pursuit of this goal, he made the ultimate sacrifice—he passed away on 23 June 1953 while in custody in Kashmir, leaving behind a powerful legacy.
Today, as the nation moves toward realizing his vision, we pay our heartfelt tribute to this great patriot on his birth anniversary, honoring his unwavering dedication to India’s unity and integrity.
(The writer is National Joint General
Secretary (Organisation), BJP)