Sukhsagar Datta, alias Sukha Sagar Datta (1890 – 3 November 1967), was a medical doctor and political activist, who was born in Bengal, India.[1] In 1908, his brother, Ullasakar Datta, was arrested by the British Raj for revolutionary activities and sentenced to a long prison sentence.[2] Fearing arrest himself, Sukhsagar fled to London, where he enrolled at the London Tutorial College and came into contact with members of the Bloomsbury Group.[3] Around 1910-11 he met and fell in love with Ruby Young of Bristol, whom he then married.[4] Following a failed attempt to become an actor, they moved to St Paul's in Bristol, where they had two sons: Albion and David.[5]
Sukhsagar Datta | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1890 |
| Died | 3 November 1967 Bristol, England |
| Nationality | Indian / British |
| Education |
|
| Occupation(s) | Medical doctor and political activist |
| Spouse | Ruby nee Young |
| Children | Albion and David |
In 1913 or 1914 Datta joined the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, where he passed exams that allowed him to join the University of Bristol Medical School in 1915. He qualified as a doctor on 22 October 1920.[6] He joined Bristol General Hospital as a House Physician at a time when Indian doctors were very unusual in Britain. He went on to work for a variety of medical institutions in Bristol and also offered his services on a voluntary basis to the St John's Ambulance Brigade, who went on to award him for his lifelong services to the Brigade in 1959.[7]
Datta remained committed to the cause of Indian Independence throughout his life, joining the Labour Party in 1926 in part because they were more sympathetic to this goal.[8] He was also heavily involved with local politics, becoming Chairman of the Bristol Labour Party (1946) and President of the Bristol Trades Council (1946-7).
During the 1930s Datta joined the London-based India League, which became an official branch of the Indian National Congress that was campaigning for Indian Independence. In 1944 Datta was instrumental to the Labour Party passing a resolution to support Indian Independence. This became a reality in 1947, following Labour's victory in the 1945 general election.[9]
Datta retired in 1956 and went on a six-month tour of India with his wife, Ruby. He died in Bristol on 3 November 1967, following a heart attack.[10] His wife and two sons survived him.
References edit
- ^ Barot, Rohit (2006). 'Datta, Sukha Sagar (Sukhsagar]) (1890–1967), medical practitioner and political activist', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ Barot, Rohit, Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 70, 1988), pp. 13-14.
- ^ 'Sukhsagar Datta', Making Britain: Discover how South Asians shaped the nation, 1870-1950 The Open University
- ^ Barot, Rohit, Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 70, 1988), pp. 17-18.
- ^ Barot, Rohit, Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 70, 1988), p. 18.
- ^ Barot, Rohit (2006). 'Datta, Sukha Sagar (Sukhsagar]) (1890–1967), medical practitioner and political activist', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ Barot, Rohit, Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 70, 1988), pp. 20-21.
- ^ Barot, Rohit, Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 70, 1988), p. 23.
- ^ Barot, Rohit, Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 70, 1988), pp. 24-25.
- ^ Barot, Rohit (2006). 'Datta, Sukha Sagar (Sukhsagar]) (1890–1967), medical practitioner and political activist', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography