Ananda Mohan Bose was India's first Wrangler, leader of the Brahmo Samaj, pioneer of the freedom movement, educationist, and social reformer. He is an important figure from the early nationalist history of India. He was progressive and one of the first to advocate for large-scale technical education and industrialization. He was a moderate and a constitutionalist in his political views. In this article, we will look in detail into the life of Ananda Mohan Bose and his contributions to the cause of Indian nationalism.

Ananda Mohan Bose - Background

• Ananda Mohan Bose was born on 23 September 1847 in Mymensingh, Bengal in an upper-middle-class family.
• After his schooling, from 1870 to 1871, he left for England and enrolled himself as a student of Higher Mathematics at Christ Church College, Cambridge.
• He was the first Indian wrangler and received a First Class degree.
• Bose trained to become a barrister in Britain and was admitted to the Bar in 1874.
• Bose's involvement in Indian politics may be traced back to 1871 when he met Surendranath Banerjea in England. He has been interested in politics since his student life.

Ananda Mohan Bose - Contribution & Achievements

• While in England, he and a few other Indians created the "India Society." In addition, he was a member of Sisir Kumar Ghosh's "Indian League."
• Ananda Mohan Bose founded a number of pioneering institutions. The Calcutta Students Association was the first attempt to organize students for political activism.
• The Indian National Association, the first pan-India political organization to launch a serious constitutional movement for Indian citizens' rights and privileges, was founded by Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose together.
  • One of its major agendas was to advocate for an increase in the minimum age for Indian Civil Service candidates.
• The first National Conference in 1883 which became a precursor of the Indian National Congress (1885), was a by-product of the formation of the Indian Association.
• Bose had been a member of the Congress since its inception, and in 1898 he was elected President of the Madras Session.
• Bose co-founded the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, which not only became a church and a congregation but also an active center for the spread of education and social uplift. It was Kesab Chandra Sen who converted him to Brahmo Samaj in 1869.
• On April 27, 1879, he formed the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj's student wing, the Chhatrasamaj. The City College of Calcutta was founded in 1879 as part of the initiative.
• He spoke out against the Vernacular Press Act and the decrease of the overall age limit for the Indian Civil Service Examination.
• His services for the upliftment of women and the illiterate masses, his crusade against social vices, and his work to promote temperance are still remembered with gratitude as social reformers.
• Bose was a progressive and one of the first to advocate for large-scale technical education and industrialization. He was a moderate and a constitutionalist in his political outlook.
• For his honesty and nobility of character, Ananda Mohan was dubbed "Saint Bose" by his friends and admirers.
• Sister Nivedita referred to him as "the forerunner of a new Knighthood of Civil Order."
• He presided over a protest meeting against the Bengal partition at Federation Hall in 1905, but his address was read by Rabindranath Tagore due to his frail health.

Conclusion

He is best remembered for his final speech, delivered on October 16, 1905, at a public meeting in Calcutta to protest the partition of Bengal. He passed away in Calcutta on 20 August 1906 at the somewhat premature age of 59. He was known for his personal integrity and public commitment, both of which were in keeping with the spirit of the great Bengal Renaissance.

FAQs

Question. Who was Ananda Mohan Bose?

Question. What was Ananda Mohan Bose's contribution to Indian society?

Question. How did Ananda Mohan Bose influence the Indian National Congress (INC)?

Question. What was the role of the Moderate Phase in the Indian freedom movement?

Question. What were the key beliefs of Ananda Mohan Bose in terms of governance and reform?

MCQs

1. Who founded the Indian National Association (INA) in 1876?

A) Surendranath Banerjee

B) Lala Lajpat Rai

C) Ananda Mohan Bose

D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

2. Which phase of the Indian freedom struggle is Ananda Mohan Bose associated with?

A) Extremist Phase

B) Moderate Phase

C) Revolutionary Phase

D) Quit India Movement

3. What was the primary goal of the Indian National Association (INA)?

A) To demand immediate independence from the British

B) To support British rule in India

C) To promote social reforms in India

D) To advocate for Indian political rights and reforms

4. Ananda Mohan Bose believed that the Indian National Congress should adopt which approach for Indian independence?

A) Violent rebellion

B) Constitutional methods and petitions

C) Complete separation from the British Empire

D) Passive resistance

5. What was Ananda Mohan Bose’s stance on the role of education in India’s progress?

A) Education should be restricted to a few elite groups

B) Education should be used to spread nationalistic ideas

C) Education should be ignored for social progress

D) Education should only focus on religious teachings

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of Ananda Mohan Bose in the early Indian Nationalist Movement.

Answer: Ananda Mohan Bose was a key leader in the early phases of the Indian nationalist movement. As a founder of the Indian National Association, he advocated for constitutional reforms and united various sections of society for political participation. His moderate approach set the foundation for future political movements in India.

Q2: Evaluate the impact of the Moderate Phase on the Indian freedom struggle.

Answer: The Moderate Phase, with leaders like Ananda Mohan Bose, focused on constitutional means of achieving self-rule through petitions, reforms, and collaboration with the British. While this phase failed to secure immediate independence, it created the groundwork for later, more radical movements and brought political awareness to the masses.

Q3: How did Ananda Mohan Bose and other Moderate leaders influence British policies in India?

Answer: Moderate leaders like Bose believed in appealing to the British for reforms and better representation of Indians in governance. Their efforts led to the creation of legislative councils and an increased Indian presence in administrative positions, although they were often unable to achieve full political autonomy.

Previous Year Questions on Ananda Mohan Bose

1. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: "Assess the role of the Moderate Nationalists in the Indian freedom struggle."

Answer: Moderate Nationalists like Ananda Mohan Bose, Surendranath Banerjee, and others, played a pivotal role in initiating political reforms. They laid the foundation for the broader Indian nationalist movement by focusing on constitutional methods, demanding legislative reforms, and uniting various groups through dialogue and petitions to the British authorities.

2. UPSC CSE 2015

Question: "Explain the significance of the Indian National Congress during the early years of its formation."

Answer: The Indian National Congress (INC), during its early years under leaders like Ananda Mohan Bose, focused on drawing attention to the concerns of the Indian people through petitions and representation in the British government. The INC's moderate phase emphasized gradual reform and paved the way for later, more radical movements.