Charuchandra Bhandari, a prominent freedom fighter in the Diamond Harbour and the entire Sundarbans region, was born on 19 October 1896, in the village of Shyambasurchak, situated under the jurisdiction of Kulpi police station in the Diamond Harbour subdivision of South 24 Parganas district.
He displayed remarkable academic prowess. He pursued a career as a lawyer but in 1930, he made the momentous decision to abandon his legal profession and join the freedom movement, inspired and directed by Mahatma Gandhi himself. His involvement in the Salt Satyagraha campaign soon elevated him to the leadership of the entire Sundarbans region, including Diamond Harbour. His charismatic speeches against British colonial rule not only stirred the hearts of the people but also struck fear into the minds of the British authorities.
His commitment to the cause led to his imprisonment in Alipore Jail for his active participation in the civil disobedience movement. Upon his release, he embraced Gandhi's Charkha movement, rallying the masses with the slogan 'I will weave my own clothes'. Through the Charka movement, he brought about a transformative change in the socio-economic landscape of the impoverished and underdeveloped Sundarbans area. He established Khadi temples in Diamond Harbour, Hatugonj, Kulpi, and Harinavi, contributing significantly to the promotion of indigenous Khadi cloth.
Following India's independence, he ventured into politics and achieved success by winning from the Diamond Harbour constituency. He served as the food minister in Prafulla Chandra Ghosh's cabinet.
Charuchandra Bhandari passed away on 24 June 1985.
Source: Sujatak Kumar, Contributor for CCRT