Asutosh Mukherjee is regarded as the builder of Indian education. Born in Bowbazar of Kolkata state on June 29, 1864, he completed his Masters in Mathematics and Physical Science from the Presidency College and law studies under the tutelage of S.P. Sinha.
In 1886, he became the recipient of the coveted Premchand Roychand Scholarship. Later he was appointed as an examiner for M. A examination in Mathematics and was invited by the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science to deliver lectures in higher mathematics. In 1898, he was appointed as a law professor. The lectures he delivered took the form of Law of Perpetuities in the publications during the British rule. In addition, Asutosh had been a judge of the Kolkata High court from 1904 to 1923. For his achievements, he was awarded the Tagore gold medal for Law thrice.
Asutosh proposed new policies for enhancing education system in the nation. He preached the importance of education in the oppressed Indian society. He believed that only through broad-based education, Indian citizens could be liberated. He encouraged western cultural values but not at the cost of his own where they were truly significant and complementary. Thus he gave a new face to the Indian education system. Asutosh passed away on May 25th, 1924 at Patna.
