Kamal Kumar Basu (22 August 1918 – 21 January 2013)[1] was a Bengali Indian politician who had served as a Mayor of Kolkata, India between 1985 and 1990.[2]
Early life and education
editBorn to a progressive family, that included his grandfather, barrister Bhupendra Nath Bose, a former president of the Indian National Congress, he had studied economics at the Scottish Church College, and eventually earned a master's degree in political science from the University of Calcutta, where he subsequently studied law.[3][4] He had joined a solicitor firm BN Basu & Co after passing law.
Career in politics and social life
editAt an early age, he joined the Communist Party of India and became a Member of Parliament for the Lok Sabha, from West Bengal's Diamond Harbour in the South 24 Parganas district in 1952.[2] In 1964, when CPI split up, he joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was associated with the CPI(M) for over four decades.[3]
Later life
editHe became Calcutta's mayor in 1985. He was also actively associated with the establishment of Salt Lake Stadium, as a founder secretary of the society for sports and stadium.[3] He used to make on-the-spot supervisions during its construction.[4] He was also a patron of the Mohun Bagan club.[3]
During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, he fought a legal battle on behalf of his Communist Party of India comrades who had been detained by the Government of India, on suspected loyalties.[4]
He efforts were instrumental in saving the Shobhabazar Rajbari, often described as the native Town Hall, from destruction.[4]
Death
editHe died in a private nursing home on 21 January 2013 at the age of 94.[3]
References
edit- ^ Anjali Bose (2019). Sansad Bengali Charitabhidhan Vol.II. Sahitya Sansad, Kolkata. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-7955-292-6.
- ^ a b "Former Kolkata mayor Kamal Basu dead". Indo-Asian News Service. yahoo.com, 21 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Former Kolkata mayor Kamal Basu passes away". The Times of India. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Saviour of rajbati". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India: telegraphindia.com, 29 August 2010. 29 August 2010. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
Further reading
edit- Debasis Bose, Kamal Kumar Basur Paribarik Prekshapat (in Bengali), Kolkata, 2010.