Ramgopal Ghosh

Infobox Person
name = Ramgopal Ghosh


image_size =120px
caption =
birth_date =1815
birth_place = Kolkata
death_date = 15 January 1868
death_place = Kolkata
occupation = Social reformer
spouse =

Ramgopal Ghosh ( _bn. রামগোপাল ঘোষ) was one of the leaders of the Young Bengal group, a successful businessman, a brilliant orator and a social reformer. He was called the Indian Demosthenes. Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, "Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan" (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, Bn icon, pp 480-481, ISBN 8185626650 ] Sengupta, Nitish, 2001/2002, "History of the Bengali-speaking People", p 228, UBS Publishers’ Distributors Pvt. Ltd., ISBN 8174763554] Ghosh was one of the persons who helped John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune to establish his girls school. [ Acharya, Poromesh, Education in Old Calcutta in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, pp 87, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195636961.]

Early life

The family hailed from Bagati, near Mogra in Hooghly District. His father, Gobinda Chandra Ghosh had a small shop in Kolkata’s China Bazar. His maternal grandfather, Dewan Ramprasad Singha, used to work in the office of King Hamilton & Co. in Kolkata. Ghosh was born in his maternal grandfather’s house. Sastri, Sivanath, "Ramtanu Lahiri O Tatkalin Bangasamaj", Bn icon1903/2001, p 76-80, New Age Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ]

There are two opinions about his childhood. The first says that he initially joined Sherburne’s School and started learning English. At that time Hara Chandra Ghosh, then a student of Hindu College and later one of the leading Derozians, married a relative of his. Observing the keenness of young Ramgopal, Hara Chandra pestered the former’s father to get him admitted in Hindu College. His father did not have the means to pay for his education at Hindu College. However, one Mr. Rogers of King Hamilton & Co. agreed to pay the fees and he was admitted to Hindu College. The second opinion is that Mr. Rogers got him admitted in Hindu College right from the beginning. David Hare and soon he was on the latter’s free student list. In time he joined the class of Derozio. He became friendly with Ramtanu Lahiri and the other Derozians. His dedication attracted Derozio’s attention and he used to coach him in English philosophy and poetry outside class hours.

Business activities

Ghosh had to leave his studies unfinished and get on in working life. On the recommendation of David Hare, he started working with a Jewish businessman named Joseph. Later, another businessman name Kelsall joined the firm, Ghosh served them as a middle-man. When the two fell out, Ghosh formed a jointly owned firm Kelsall, Ghose & Co., and still later, around 1848, he floated his own firm, R.G.Ghosh & Co. In the process he accumulated fabulous wealth.

When his grand father died, there was a hue and cry in society that he was opposed to Hindu religion and there was possibility of his being ostracised. His father appealed to him to declare publicly his faith in Hindu religion but he turned to his father and said, “I am ever willing to obey you and bear any pains for that but I cannot tell a lie.” When this spread around, he gained in the esteem in society. On another occasion his business had nosedived and there was possibility of his becoming bankrupt. His friends advised him to transfer his assets to others but he refused to follow an illegal path. He was the first, as early as 1853, to demand the eligibility of Indians in the civil service examinations. In 1854, he was the first Indian to propose the establishment of universities in India. He supported the move of Dwarkanath Tagore to send four students to England for higher medical studies.

Ghosh not only delivered fiery speeches but also wrote effectively. His publication of a booklet "A Few Remarks on Certain Draft Acts, Commonly Called Black Acts" so angered the English that he was forced out of his position as vice-president of the Agri-Horticultural Society. He took an active part in the establishment of the British Indian Association and was a member of its committee. . [ Sastri, Sivanath, pp 115-116, ]

He not only indulged in politics but also other causes. It was at his initiative that a decision was taken to erect a statue of David Hare. He was the first to offer one month’s income for the purpose; others followed

References

Persondata
NAME= Ramgopal Ghosh
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Indian Demosthenes
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Social reformer
DATE OF BIRTH=1815
PLACE OF BIRTH=Kolkata
DATE OF DEATH=15 January 1868
PLACE OF DEATH=Kolkata