Surendranath Banerjee was the President of the Indian National Congress in 1895 and 1902. He inspired the youth of Bengal to serve the nation.
Surendranath was born on November 19, 1848. His early education was in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He appeared for the Indian Civil Service Examination in London. He started his career in 1871 as an Assistant Magistrate, which he had to resign on some false charges. He was a gifted orator and writer. He became a Professor of English on June, 1875. He started a college called Ripon College, which is now named after him.
Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian Association on July 26, 1876. He became the editor of a paper called ‘Bengalee’ in 1878. As an editor, he wrote emphatically on subjects of national interest like freedom, unity and culture. He was a member of the Calcutta Corporation (1876-99) and a member of the Indian Legislative Council. His social reform programs included widow remarriage and raising the age of marriage for girls. Surendranath Banerjee passed away in 1925.
