A LEGACY TO BE CHERISHED

Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was born on 6 July 1901 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), into the family of Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee and Mrs. Jogmaya Devi.

- SHIVPRAKASH

Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was born on 6 July 1901 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), into the family of Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee and Mrs. Jogmaya Devi. He was the second of seven children of his parents. Endowed with a sharp intellect and great erudition, Dr. Mukherjee pursued higher studies with excellence. Following his academic achievements, he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta—and he served in that capacity twice.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, while serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, implemented numerous pioneering reforms in the field of education. At the time, Bharat was under British rule, and he endeavoured to restore dignity and self-pride in education. He replaced the colonial emblem of the university by redesigning it, thus removing the symbol of English subjugation and featuring a fully bloomed lotus with the auspicious symbol "Sri" at its center, a representation of Bhartiya culture.

During that time, university convocation ceremonies were conducted in English. In 1937, during his tenure, he invited Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to deliver the convocation address—and for the first time ever at the University of Calcutta, Tagore delivered it in Bengali, seeding a new tradition. Promotion of women's education, crafting educational opportunities for Bhartiya scholars and intellectuals, integrating Bhartiya Culture with the academic curriculum are some of the initiatives taken by Dr. Mukherjee in the field of education.

In 1929, Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was elected to the Bengal Legislative Council from the University of Calcutta constituency. In order to protest against the oppression of Hindus by the erstwhile coalition government of Muslim League and Krishak Praja Party in Bengal, Dr. Mukherjee entered into politics. Later, Dr. Mukherjee joined the Hindu Mahasabha, eventually becoming its national president.