Reformer, nationalist and educator Ananda Mohan Bose passed away on this day. He was 59.
He grew up in Mymensingh (now in Bangladesh), obtaining the ninth position in matriculation examination from there. He studied at Presidency College and stood first both in the BA and MA examinations. He and his wife Swarnaprabha converted to Brahmoism in 1869.
Ananda Mohan went to England in 1870 with Keshab Chandra Sen and studied at Christ Church College, Cambridge. He was the first Indian wrangler. He studied law simultaneously and was called to the bar in 1874.
Returning to India, he practised law with distinction. With his mentor Surendranath Banerjea, Ananda Mohan founded a number of organisations. The Calcutta Students Association, set up in 1875, was an early attempt to organise students politically. The Indian Association, founded in 1876, was one of the first Indian political organisations. It campaigned to raise the minimum age for Indian candidates in the Indian Civil Service. Ananda Mohan joined the Indian National Congress, which was founded in 1885. He was elected its president at its 1898 session.
He broke away from the Brahmo movement led by Keshab Chandra Sen, and with Shibnath Shastri and others formed the Sadharan Bramho Samaj established in 1878. The City School and the City College were established by him. On October 16, 1905, he addressed a large gathering protesting against the partition of Bengal.