Introduction

Nibaran Chandra Dasgupta was a social worker who had left an indelible mark in the Non-Cooperation Movement that was launched by Mahatma Gandhi. Nibaran Chandra Dasgupta was born at Bikrampur which is currently at Bangladesh. During his early years, he had been the Head Master of Purulia Zilla (District) School. Purulia at that time was a township in the district of Manbhum in the State of Bihar. He was also the honorary District Magistrate of Purulia but in 1921 he left his job to participate in the "Non-Cooperation Movement" launched by Mahatma Gandhi, for which he served an imprisonment sentence.

Foundation of Shilpashram

After his release from imprisonment, Nibaran Chandra met another prominent personality from Purulia, Atul Chandra Ghosh, who was also actively involved in the Indian freedom movement. Together they founded "Shilpashram" (Rural Industry Development inside ashram). It was an institution dedicated to the development of industry in rural areas while living in an Ashram ambience. Shilpashram was initially established at Deshbondhu Road and then it permanently shifted to Telkalpara in Purulia town. Soon after its establishment, "Shilpashram" became the epicentre of the freedom struggle of Manbhum region. During colonialism, Manbhum region was a historic district under British empire, spanning parts of modern-day West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Contributions of Nibaran Chandra Dasgupta

All Congress activities of Manbhum district had the unique distinction of association with "Shilpashram". The foremost Indian political leaders and freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Dr. Rajendra Prasad paid several visits to "Shilpashram". He was also the founder as well as the editor of "Mukti" the first Bengali bi-weekly from Manbhum district. The bi weekly journal created havoc amidst the lengths and breadths of captivated India. The biweekly even acted like a catalyst in the independence movement and fueled the "Language Agitation` or Bhasha Andolan.

After India gained independence from British rule, Nibaran Chandra Dasgupta continued his social service for the people of Bengal. On January 1956, Chief Minister of West Bengal Bidhan Chandra Roy and Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Krishna Singh proposed to merge both West Bengal and Bihar to form a new state called "Purba Pradesh." Nibaran Chandra along with Atul Chandra Ghosh and another famous Gandhian freedom fighter of the time Labanya Prabha Ghosh led the Manbhum march on April 1956 where thousands of people walked. The march was in favor of joining Manbhum with West Bengal and against the formation of "Purba Pradesh." The march reached Kolkata via different places of Bengal such as Bankura, Beliatore, Sonamukhi, Patsair, Khandhghosh, Burdwan, Pandua, Magra, Chunchura, Chandannagar, Srirampur and Howrah.

After the agitation created by the march, a commission named "State Reorganization Commission" was set up by the Central government on December 23, 1953. Eventually, the proposal of forming "Purba Pradesh" was dropped. Nibaran Chandra Dasgupta played a crucial role in setting up the Lok Sevak Sangh, a Gandhian movement that worked for Swaraj and social reform. The movement challenged caste hierarchies, preaching to Adivasis and Dalits to participate in social and political life on equal terms with upper caste. The movement actively fought against caste discrimination of the time.

Like a true patriot Nibaran Chandra dedicated his life for the betterment of his countrymen fighting for a cause and dwelling amidst a belief that he counted to be ideal. He breathed his last at "Shilpashram" on 17 July 1935.