Yesterdate: This day from Kolkata’s past, June 19, 1907

Umeschandra Dutta, who contributed in a major way towards education, especially women’s education, and established the Brahmo Samaj at Harinavi in the face of great opposition, died on this day. He was 66.He dropped out of Medical College because of poverty and graduated as a private student. Inclined towards Brahmo ideas from a young age, he became a Brahmo. After beginning to work as a teacher at Harinavi, he founded a Brahmo Samaj there. He became the headmaster of City School after it was founded in 1879, and the principal of City College when it was established in 1881. He had founded a school for the hearing and speech-impaired. He was member of the Calcutta University senate. To promote women’s education, he had started the Bamabodhini journal and had written two books — Bamarachanabali and Strilokdiger Bidyar Abashyakata.