Charu Chandra Roy was born on 25 August 1870, into a Vaidya family in Chandannagar. His father’s name wasDayal Chandra Roy.Charu Chandra's educational journey began at Garbati High School, followed by his admission to Hooghly College in 1888, where he excelled in his studies, passing the entrance examination in the first division and the F.A. examination in 1890. He continued his education at Canning College, Lucknow, earning first division honours in Sanskrit in 1892. Subsequently, he achieved first rank in the second division while completing his M.A. in English literature.
Charu Chandra was a poly, well-versed in Sanskrit, French, philosophy, literature, politics, economics and law. His imprint on organizational work could be traced to Lucknow, where he established two institutions, namely the Young Bengal Men's Association and the Vidya Sagar Pustakalaya. Returning to Chandannagar, he assumed the role of a Professor of English Literature at Duplex College.He embarked on a mission to instil a sense of immortal patriotism in the youth, aiming to break the shackles of subjugation. Under his guidance, students learned to love their country and willingly sacrifice their lives for its freedom. His disciple, UpendranathBandyopadhyay, became a prominent revolutionary who endured immense hardships and humiliation during the Alipore Bomb Case.
In 1905, when Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal, Charu Chandra rallied the young community of Chandannagar to oppose the British. In 1930, revolutionary Makhanlal Ghoshal was fatally shot by the police when several revolutionaries, who had looted the Chittagong Armory, sought refuge in Chandannagar and came under attack by the notorious English Police Commissioner Charles Taggart. Charu Chandra, then the mayor of Chandannagar, led the procession for Makhanlal's funeral. Despite police opposition, he asserted his authority and proceeded to the Boraichanditla crematorium.
In his honour, the Chandannagar municipality dedicated a road and a meeting house in Chandannagar College bearing his name. Charu Chandra Roy passed away on 28 January 1945.
Roy’s Bust installed in Hooghly
Source: Bhaskar Mondal, Contributor for CCRT