Gupta, Sir Krishnogobinda

Gupta, Sir Krishnogobinda (1851-1926) an administrator, religious reformer and a philanthropist. Krishnagobinda Gupta was well known as KG Gupta. He was the first ICS officer of the then East-Bengal (Bangladesh). He was born on 28 February 1851 in the village of Bhatpara of sadar thana in Narsingdi district. A zamindar of Bhatpara and also a leader of Brahma Samaj, Kalinarayan Gupta was his father and Mother Annadasundari Gupta. KG Gupta started his primary education at Pogos school of Dhaka. He passed the Entrance examination in 1867 from Dhaka Collegiate School and FA from Dhaka College in 1869. In the same year he went to England for higher studies. Gupta obtained his Bar-at-Law at Lincoln';s Inn in London. KG Gupta then got back to his native soil and qualified for ICS (Indian Civil Service) In 1871.

Thus KG Gupta started his career as a civil servant in British India. In his career, he served as Sub-divisional Officer, District Administrator, Tax Commissioner, District Commissioner, and the Member of the Board of Revenue, along with other high official posts. He was the first Indian to be nominated by the British Government as the Member of the Indian Council to the Viceroy of British-India. Besides, at the same time he served as the only Indian member in the House of Commons. KG Gupta retired from the civil service in 1906.

As a religious reformer he established a Brahma temple in 1300 BS in his zamindari estate at Kaoraid. He played an important role in establishing Rammohun Roy Library in Dhaka in 1871. He and his father Kalinarayan Gupta were the chief patron of the Brahma Samaj of Dhaka and Mymensingh. He established 'Sir KG Gupta High School' at Panchdona and 'Kalinarayan High School' at Kaoraid in 1919. In recognition of his services British Government conferred upon KG Gupta the title of KCSI (Knight Commander of the State of India). He was the first Indian who received such award. Krishnagobinda Gupta died on 29 March 1926. A road was named in his memory as 'KG Gupta Lane' at Lakshmibazar in Dhaka. [ATM Zayed Hossain]