Hara Chandra Ghosh

Rai Bahadur Hara Chandra Ghosh (archaic Hurro Chunder Ghose) was one of the prominent leaders of the Young Bengal group (a group of radical Bengali free thinkers emerging from Hindu College, Calcutta of British India in the early 19th century). He was the first Bengali to be a judge of the Calcutta Small Causes Court from 1854 to 1868. H.E.A. Cotton says, "In his youth, he was a favourite pupil, as the Rev. K.M.Banerjee had been of David Hare and Derozio: but unlike others he maintained his Hinduism."

Formative years The family of Hara Chandra Ghosh hailed from Sarsuna in South 24 Parganas. He joined the other Derozians for the construction of a memorial statue for David Hare.

He became the legal guardian of Kaliprasanna Singha, the son of his neighbour Nandalal Singha of Jorasanko after the later's untimely death. He stood with the family through thick and thin, and assisted Kaliprasanna's mother in legal cases against relatives. He was also a trusted advisor of the Kaliprasanna.

Honours He enjoyed the confidence of Lord William Bentinck, Lord Auckland and Lord Dalhousie. He was made a Rai Bahadur (a title of honor issued in British India to individuals who have performed a deed of great service to the nation).

A memorial meeting was held in the Town Hall, on 4 January 1869, where Chief Justice Norman, mentioned Ghosh as 'the very model of what a native gentleman should be.' A marble bust of Hara Chandra Ghosh was unveiled in the main entrance to the Small Causes Court by Sir Arthur Macpherson, then a judge of Calcutta High Court on 8 March 1876.