Benoy Choudhury
Encyclopedia
Benoy Choudhury was a revolutionary freedom fighter and politician, belonging to the CPI(M)
, who played a major role in land reforms in the India
n state
of West Bengal
.
group in 1928 and was in jail before he could sit for his B.A. examination.
. Again in 1938 he was jailed for his involvement in Birbhum conspiracy case. He joined the Communist Party in 1938.
constituency in 1951 while still in jail. Benoy Choudhury representing undivided CPI
secured 11,439 votes, Uday Chand Mahtab, the erstwhile Maharaja of Burdwan, representing Congress
secured 9,477 votes. Thereafter, he went on to win the Burdwan seat in 1957, and then the Burdwan South
seat in 1969 and 1971. He won from the Bardhaman North
seat in 1987 and 1991.He was minister of different departments.
recovered around a million acres (4,000 km²) of land through existing legal means. In the second phase of land reforms in 1978-1982, Benoy Choudhury accomplished two major tasks. The first task was carried out under Operation Barga
when around 1.7 million sharecroppers were formally recorded, assuring them of permanency of land holding and a fair share of the crop. The second task was the distribution of about a million acres (4,000 km²) of land earlier vested amongst 2.4 million poor and landless farm labor. Thus about 4 million people were directly benefited, laying the foundation for victory of the Left Front
in subsequent years.
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
, who played a major role in land reforms in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
.
Early life
He passed matriculation from Bardhaman Municipal School and I.Sc. from Serampore College.He joined the JugantarJugantar
Jugantar or Yugantar was one of the two main secret revolutionary trends operating in Bengal for Indian independence.This association, like Anushilan Samiti started in the guise of suburban fitness club. Several Jugantar members were arrested, hanged, or deported for life to the Cellular Jail in...
group in 1928 and was in jail before he could sit for his B.A. examination.
Active in politics
In 1930 he was sent to jail for his activities with Anushilan SamitiAnushilan Samiti
Anushilan Samiti was an armed anti-British organisation in Bengal and the principal secret revolutionary organisation operating in the region in the opening years of the 20th century. This association, like its offshoot the Jugantar, operated under the guise of suburban fitness club...
. Again in 1938 he was jailed for his involvement in Birbhum conspiracy case. He joined the Communist Party in 1938.
Elections
He filed his nomination for election from BurdwanBardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Bardhaman Dakshin is an assembly constituency in Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Extent:...
constituency in 1951 while still in jail. Benoy Choudhury representing undivided CPI
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
secured 11,439 votes, Uday Chand Mahtab, the erstwhile Maharaja of Burdwan, representing Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
secured 9,477 votes. Thereafter, he went on to win the Burdwan seat in 1957, and then the Burdwan South
Bardhaman Dakshin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Bardhaman Dakshin is an assembly constituency in Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Extent:...
seat in 1969 and 1971. He won from the Bardhaman North
Bardhaman Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
.# Swing calculated on Congress+Trinamool Congress vote percentages taken together, as well as the CPI vote percentage, in 2006 for the Burdwan North constiuency.-Burdwan North constituency 1967-2006:...
seat in 1987 and 1991.He was minister of different departments.
Land reforms
Benoy Choudhury played a leading role in land reforms in West Bengal. Land reforms can be divided into two phases. In the first phase in 1967-1970, Hare Krishna KonarHare Krishna Konar
Hare Krishna Konar was a fire brand politician, belonging to the CPI, who played a major role in land reforms in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Early life:...
recovered around a million acres (4,000 km²) of land through existing legal means. In the second phase of land reforms in 1978-1982, Benoy Choudhury accomplished two major tasks. The first task was carried out under Operation Barga
Operation Barga
Operation Barga was a land reform movement throughout rural West Bengal for recording the names of sharecroppers while avoiding the time-consuming method of recording through the settlement machinery. It bestowed on the bargadars, the legal protection against eviction by the landlords, and...
when around 1.7 million sharecroppers were formally recorded, assuring them of permanency of land holding and a fair share of the crop. The second task was the distribution of about a million acres (4,000 km²) of land earlier vested amongst 2.4 million poor and landless farm labor. Thus about 4 million people were directly benefited, laying the foundation for victory of the Left Front
Left Front
The Left Front is an alliance of Indian leftist parties. After a 34-year reign in West Bengal, the Left Front was swept from power in the 2011 election...
in subsequent years.