Monomohun Ghose

Manmohun Ghose (Mônmohon Ghosh) (also spelt Monomohun Ghosh, Manmohan Ghosh) (13 March 1844 – 16 October 1896) was the first practicing barrister of Indian origin. He is notable for his contributions towards the fields of women's education, for arousing the patriotic feeling of his countrymen and for being one of the earliest persons in the country in organised national politics. At the same time his Anglicised habits often made him a target of ridicule in Calcutta. He was one of the co-founders of Indian National Congress.

Formative years He was the son of Ramlochan Ghose, of Bikrampur (now Munshiganj in Bangladesh). His father was a renowned sub-judge and a patriot, and had acquired his broad frame of mind from Ram Mohan Roy, when he came in contact with him. Preparations for the examination was tough, as they had to pick up many subjects not taught in India. Moreover, Ghose was subject to racial discrimination. After being called to the English bar, Ghose returned to India in 1866. At that time his father died and he started practising as a barrister in Calcutta High Court in 1867.

Contribution in the field of women's education Ghose will long be remembered for his contributions towards the improvement of the position of his countrymen, particularly in the field of women's education,

During his stay in England he had befriended another Unitarian, Annette Akroyd. On arrival at Kolkata with the objective of promoting women's education, in October 1872, she was a house guest of Ghose and his wife. While Swarnalata, Ghose's wife, impressed Annette Akroyd, she was "shocked" when she met Keshub Chunder Sen's "unemancipated Hindu wife." By the time Monomohun Ghose died the institution had already turned, under his secretaryship, into a centre of higher studies where girls could read up to the postgraduate level.

Politics When the Indian Association was established in 1876 he was one of the advisers. Numerous meetings with Surendranath Banerjee, Ananda Mohan Bose and others attending were held in his house. He was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress established in 1885 and was chairman of the reception committee of its session held at Kolkata in 1890. He fought hard for separation of the judiciary from the administration and wrote the book Administration of Justice in India. He fought the practice of child marriage and supported an 1891 bill requiring consent in marriage.

Right from 1869, he delivered speeches at various places arousing the patriotic feelings of his countrymen. In 1885, he went to England and lectured at various places enlightening people there about the state of affairs in his home country.

Satyendranath Tagore's house on Park Street (after his retirement) was a meeting place for important people of the age in Kolkata. Ghose joined Taraknath Palit, Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, Umesh Bannerjee, Krishna Govinda Gupta, and Behari Lal Gupta, as a regular visitor.