Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee – The Tiger of Bengal!

Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, popularly known as Banglar Bagh or Tiger of Bengal was an educator, jurist, barrister and mathematician. Mukherjee was born on 29th June, 1864 at Bowbazar, Kolkata to Jagattarini Devi and Ganga Prasad Mukhopadhyaya. He was the first student to be awarded a dual Master’s degree in Mathematics and Physics by the University of Calcutta and is well known for his lifelong endeavour in the field of education.

Mukherjee is recognised as the first modern Indian mathematician to enter the field of mathematical research. He founded the Calcutta Mathematical Society in 1908 and was its President until his death on 25 May 1924. He was the second Indian to become the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University where he served from 1906 to 1914, and again from 1921 to 1923.

He used his vast network of scholars and friends around the world and brought in accomplished professors both Indian and European to the Calcutta University during his tenure. Graduate courses in Comparative Literature, Applied Psychology, Industrial Chemistry, Ancient Indian History and Culture, and Islamic Culture along with Post-graduate courses and research were started in Sanskrit and Pali in Calcutta University during his tenure.

Mukherjee founded the Bengal Technical Institute in 1906 which is now known as Jadavpur University and the Rajabazar Science College in 1914. Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee left behind a humongous intellectual and cultural legacy for his fellow countrymen who are paying their tributes to him every day and especially on his birth anniversary. 

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