Bachcha Munsi (died 10 October 1987) was an Indian communist politician who belonged to Communist Party of India Marxist. He was a farmer leader of the Kisan Sabha and an influential figure in the Tebhaga movement in the Dinajpur district of undivided Bengal.[1] He was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1977 and 1982.[2][3]

Bachcha Munsi
বাচ্চা মুন্সি
Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office
1977–1987
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byMohammad Mahamuddin
ConstituencyChopra
Personal details
BornVelapukari, Maidandighi, Boda, Jalpaiguri District, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died10 October,1987
Chopra, Paschim Dinajpur
Political partyCommunist Party of India (Marxist)
OccupationPolitician
Revolutionary
Communist Leader
Indian independence movement

Freedom struggle and Tebhaga movement

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His real name was Majitullah. Born in a poor peasant family, he later became involved in many groundbreaking movements. In 1939, in resistance to high interest rates on farm laborers in Dinajpur, present-day Bangladesh, he jumped into the militant movement with sharecroppers against moneylenders. He broke the stockpiles of landlords Debnath Saha and Triloikya Saha and distributed food among the afflicted people during the famine of 1942. Abdullah Rasul named him Bachcha Munsi to avoid the surveillance of the British, this is the name by which he is best known. In 1946, against the tyranny and oppression of the landlords and the Britishers the historic resistance of Tebhaga took place at Nilphamari in Rangpur district under the leadership of Bachcha Munsi and Narayan Barman. His ally Narayan Barman was martyred by the bullet of the zamindars. And as there was a death warrant in his name in East Pakistan, he fled to Chopra's Daspara. The Communist Party's first public meeting in Islampur area was held on 19 November 1956 at Dhanirhat, Chopra, where the red flag was hoisted for the first time and one of the initiators was Bachha Munsi. Then he continued to be involved in the Food Movement of 1959 like other famous activities. Bachcha Munshi was twice elected to the Chopra Assembly in 1977 and 1982. He passed away on 10 October 1987.

Electoral history

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Election Year Constituency won/lost Votes Secured %
1977 Chopra Assembly constituency won 16188 42.37
1982 won 37279 51.98

Legacy

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The school, Bachcha Munshi Smriti Balika Vidyalay in Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, is named after him.[4]

The office of CPIM's Chopra Area Committee-1, the district office of SFI-DYFI at Raiganj Super Market and the district office of CPIM South Dinajpur at Balurghat are named Bachcha Munshi Bhavan.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Hashmi, Taj Ul-islam (11 July 2019). Pakistan As A Peasant Utopia: The Communalization Of Class Politics In East Bengal, 1920-1947. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-31037-5.
  2. ^ "🗳️ Moha Bachcha Munsi, Chopra Assembly Elections 1977 LIVE Results | Election Dates, Exit Polls, Leading Candidates & Parties | Latest News, Articles & Statistics | LatestLY.com". LatestLY. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Statistical Report on General Election 1982" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Bachcha Munshi Smriti Balika Vidyalaya - Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur - Reviews, Fee Structure, Admission Form, Address, Contact, Rating - Directory". EduGorilla Listings. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  5. ^ "CPIM Chopra Party Office, Bachcha Munsi Bhavan · 9885+9HF, Chopra, Bhagabati, West Bengal 733207, India". CPIM Chopra Party Office, Bachcha Munsi Bhavan · 9885+9HF, Chopra, Bhagabati, West Bengal 733207, India. Retrieved 5 July 2022.