Ray, Jogesh Chandra

Ray, Jogesh Chandra (1859-1956) scientist, antiquarian, astrologer, writer, was born on 20 October 1859 at Dighra in Hughli. He studied at Bankura Zilla School first and passed the Entrance (1878) from Burdwan Raj School, and the FA (1880) and BA (l882) from hughli mohsin college. After completing his MA in Botany in 1883 Ray joined as lecturer at Cuttack Ravenshaw College. He also taught at Calcutta Madrasah College, chittagong college and presidency college for some time, then again at Cuttack Ravenshaw College till his retirement in 1919. In 1920 he returned to Bankura.

His regularly contributed in the prabasi, Sahitya, bangadarshan, and Bharatvarsa. His initiative was responsible for omitting joint alphabets in Bangla spellings. He discovered the Bashuli Chandidas Manuscript. He was president of the vangiya sahitya parishad. Besides, he was a member of the Bijvan Parisad, Udbhid Vidya Parisad and Utkal Sahitya Samaj. Among his books are Siddhanta Durpun (1899), Amader Jyotisi O Jyotis (1903), Bangla Bhasa (4 Vol, 1908-1915), Puja Parvan (1951), Bangala Shabdakos (1913), Ratna Pariksa, Chandidas Charita, Ancient Indian Life (1948), Veder Devata O Krstikal (1954).

Jogesh Chandra Ray was awarded the title of Vidyanidhi (1910) by the Pandit Sabha of Puri. He was also honoured with Rabindra Smrti Puraskar, Rampran Gupta Puraskar, Jagattarini Svarna Padak by Calcutta University and Sarojini Padak. Calcutta University honoured him with the' honorary doctorate degree. He died on 30 July 1956. [Badiuzzaman]