Mukherjee, Sambhu Chandra

Mukherjee, Sambhu Chandra (1839-1894) writer, journalist. Sambhu Chandra Mukherjee was born in a middle-class Brahmin family in the 24-Paraganas on 8 May 1839. He studied at the Oriental Seminary (1848-53) and at the Hindu Metropolitan College. In 1855, while still at college, he brought out the Calcutta Monthly Magazine in which he was assisted by his friend, Krishnadas Pal. In 1856, he became the Editor of the Morning Chronicle. He joined the hindu patriot in 1859 as Assistant Editor, subsequently becoming Editor. He was also working at this time as Headmaster of the Calcutta Training Academy. He was associated with Mookherjee's Magazine (1861) which played a prominent part in awakening economic and political nationalism. It was his association with this magazine that established his fame as a journalist. He started the weekly journal, Reis and Rayyet in 1882 and continued it till his death on 7 February 1894. He was also associated with the Sumachar Hindustani, and the Hindu Intelligencer.

Sambhu Chandra was assistant secretary (1861-1863) to the Taluqdars' Association at Lucknow and successively became political adviser, dewan and secretary to the Nawab of Murshidabad (1964-1866) and secretary to Raja Sheoraj Singh of Kashipore in 1867. He also served Maharaja Bir Chandra Deo of Tipperah as a minister (1878-1881).

Though Sambhu Chandra supported British rule, he protested boldly against its injustice, corruption and exploitation. In 1875 Sambhu Chandra was elected president of the Indian League, a short-lived political association. In 1891 he got a doctor's degree in homeopathy from an American university. He was also a fellow of the Calcutta University and a first class Magistrate.

His writings include On the Causes of the Mutiny (1858), The Mutinies and the People (1859), Mr. Wilson, Lord Canning and the Income Tax (1860), The Prince in India (1871), Travels and Voyages in Bengal between Calcutta and Independent Tipperah (1883), The Career of an Indian Princes s (1896) etc. [Sambaru Chandra Mohanta]