Nani Bhattacharya (6 November 1917 – 11 October 1993) was one of the founder-members of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, trade union activist, minister in West Bengal, and Member of Parliament.

Early days

Nani Bhattacharya was born to Kalidas Bhattacharya at Khagra, Murshidabad district, on 6 November 1917. He passed matriculation from Jiaganj School. He completed his higher education in spite of severe adversities.Samsad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical Dictionary) by Anjali Bose, Vol II, 3rd edition 2004, page 146, , (in Bengali) Sishu Sahitya Samsad Pvt. Ltd., 32A Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata-700009 He studied at Arnakali Tole in Baharampur for sometime and completed his graduation from the University of Calcutta. In early life, he was a member of

Anushilan Samiti Anushilan Samiti ( bn, অনুশীলন সমিতি, , bodybuilding society) was an Indian fitness club, which was actually used as an underground society for anti-British revolutionaries. In the first quarter of the 20th century it su ...

. In 1940, he played an important role in the founding of the Revolutionary Socialist Party. For his participation in the national struggle, he was interned during 1936-38 and imprisoned during 1940–46. He was imprisoned on a number of occasions before and after independence.

Trade union activities and electoral politics

Apart from development of the trade union of the railway workers, he worked amongst the tea garden workers in the

Dooars The Dooars or Duars ( as, দুৱাৰ, duar, rkt, দুৱাৰ, duar, bn, দুয়ার, duyar) () are the alluvial floodplains in eastern-northeastern India that lie south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas and north of the ...

. He was associated with Dooars Cha Bagan Workers’ Union. In 1950, he was editor of the RSP mouth-piece, ''Ganavarta''. Nani Bhattaharya was elected to the West Bengal state assembly from

Alipurduars (Vidhan Sabha constituency) Alipurduars Assembly constituency is an assembly constituency in Alipurduar district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Overview As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, No. 12 Alipurduars Assembly constituency covers Alipurduar munici ...

in 1967, 1969, 1977, 1982, and 1987. He was elected to the

Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-p ...

from

Baharampur (Lok Sabha constituency) Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency (earlier known as Berhampore) is one of the 543 parliamentary constituencies in India. The constituency centres on Baharampur in West Bengal. All the seven assembly segments of No. 10 Baharampur Lok Sabha consti ...

in 1989 and 1991. In 1967, 1969 and 1977-82 he was the health minister in West Bengal, and during 1982-87 he was irrigation minister in the state. In 1989, he was state secretary of RSP.

Death

Nani Bhattacharya died on 11 October 1993, at the age of 75.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhattacharya, Nani 1917 births 1993 deaths Revolutionary Socialist Party (India) politicians Lok Sabha members from West Bengal West Bengal MLAs 1962–1967 West Bengal MLAs 1967–1969 West Bengal MLAs 1977–1982 West Bengal MLAs 1982–1987 West Bengal MLAs 1987–1991 People from Murshidabad district Bhattachrya, Nani India MPs 1991–1996