Syama Prasad Mookerjee� (1901-1953)
Founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh
The BJP is the successor party of the BJS, which merged itself into� the Janata� Party in 1977. The BJP was formed as a separate party in� 1980 after internal� differences in the Janata Party resulted in the� collapse of it’s government in� 1979.
A brief life-sketch Dr. Mookerjee’s mother Jogmaya Debi exclaimed, on hearing of her son’s death. “Proudly� do I feel that the loss of my son is a loss to Mother India !”
Born on 6th July 1901 in a famous family. His father Sir Asutosh was� widely� known in Bengal. Graduated from Calcutta University he became a� fellow of the� Senate in 1923. He enrolled as an advocate in Calcutta� High Court in 1924 after� his father’s death. Subsequently he left for� England in 1926 to study in� Lincoln’s Inn and became a barrister in� 1927. At the age of 33, he became the� world’s youngest Vice-Chancellor� of the Calcutta University and held the office� till 1938. During his� tenure, he introduced a number of constructive reforms� and was active� in Asiatic Society of Calcutta as well as was a member of the� Court and the Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and� Chairman of the Inter-University of Board.
He was elected as member of the Legislative Council of Bengal as a� Congress� candidate representing Calcutta University but resigned next� year when Congress� decided to boycott the legislature. Subsequently, he contested the election as� an independent and got elected.
He became the opposition leader when Krishak Praja Party – Muslim League� coalition was in power 1937-41 and joined the Progressive Coalition� Ministry� headed by Fazlul Haq as a Finance Minister and within less� than an year� resigned. He emerged as a spokesman for Hindus and shortly joined Hindu� Mahasabha and in 1944, he became the President.
After the assassination of Gandhiji, he wanted the Hindu Mahasabha not� to be� restricted to Hindus alone or work as apolitical body for the� service of masses� and broke away from it on this issue on November 23,� 1948.
Pandit Nehru inducted him in the Interim Central Government as a� Minister for� Industry and supply. On issue of Delhi pact with Likayat� Ali Khan, Mookerjee� resigned from the Cabinet on 6th April 1950. After� consultation with Shri� Golwalkar Guruji of RSS Shri Mookerjee founded� Bharatiya Jana Sangh on 21st� Oct. 1951 at Delhi and he became the first President of it. In 1952 elections,� Bharatiya Jana Sangh won 3 seats� in Parliament one of them being that of Shri� Mookerjee. He had formed� National Democratic Party within the Parliament which� consisted 32� members of MPs and 10 of Members of Rajya Sabha which however was� not� recognised by the speaker as an opposition party.
To voice his opposition he turned outside Parliament and on Kashmir he� termed� the arrangement under Article 370 as Balkanisation of India and� three nation� theory of Shaikh Abdullah. Bharatiya Jana Sangh along with Hindu Mahasabha and� Ram Rajya Parishad launched a massive Satyagraha� to get removed the pernicious� provisions. Mookerjee went to visit� Kashmir in 1953 and was arrested on 11th� May while crossing border. He� died as detenu on June 23, 1953.
A veteran politician, he was respected by his friends and foes alike for his� knowledge and forthrightness. He outshined all other Ministers in� the cabinet� except perhaps Pandit Nehru by his erudition and culture.� India lost a great� son at a very early stage of Independence.