Biography of Babu Ramananda Chatterjee

(1865 – 1943)

Babu Ramananda Chatterjee was born in 1865 in a Brahman family of Bengal. His early education was completed in his native village, Bankura. His interest in journalism arose during his student life. He wrote the first essay against the order of a British Magistrate, which prohibited the people not to drive bullock carts in front of his house at noon. Later on he helped his friend to start a journal named 'Dharmabandu' and became its editor. From then onwards he remained in the field of journals for the next 50 years. He also became the editor of 'Dasi'.

In 1901, he started 'Pravasi', a monthly journal, in 1907, he began publishing the English journal Modern Review'. Its editorials were curiously read in India as well as in foreign countries. Its contents and editorials still hold great importance as it is often used as an authentic source of information. Recognising the importance of Hindi in India, he started the 'Vishal Bharat' journal. In 1926, he was invited to speak in the Assembly of The League of Nations. He died in 1943.