Jyotirmoyee Ganguly
(1889- 1945)

Educationist, Social and Political Activist

Jyotirmoyee Ganguli, educationist, social worker, and political activist, was the second daughter of Kadambini Ganguli. After completing her schooling at Brahmo Balika Shikshalay, she graduated from Bethune College, Kolkata, and passed her M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Calcutta. She taught at Bethune Collegiate School and later at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, Odisha. Later, she became Principal, Women's College in Sri Lanka. She also served as Principal of several other institutions, including Jullundur Kanya Mahavidyalay. She was the first Woman-Councillor of Calcutta Corporation. Jyotirmayee Devi raised a female volunteer corps for the Indian National Congress. In 1926 she started the Students' Association for Social Service. She joined the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee and participated in the Satyagraha movement, serving as Vice-President of the Women's Satyagraha Committee, and was twice jailed in 1930 and 1932. She was a founding member of the Aryasthan Insurance Company. She was elected city councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. In 1942 she was arrested for joining the Quit India Movement. Jyotirmayee Ganguly was killed in a Police firing on 22 November 1945.
Jayanti Ganguli (Barman), the youngest daughter of Kadambini Ganguli, was married to L. M. Barman, Private Secretary of Pramethesh Barua. She acted as the private tutor of Pramathesh Barua. She was a student of both Bethune Collegiate School and Bethune College. She lived in Moradabad for four years where she taught conservative Muslim girls and established a school for them, which later grew into a college.
Bela Haldar, worthy daughter of her illustrious mother Kadambini Ganguli had become a household name during her tenure at the AIR. Bela Haldar is the famous Beladi of Mahila Mahal.
 

Shukhalata Rao
(1886-1969)

Poet & Author

Shukhalata Rao, eminent children's book author and social worker, was the daughter of Upendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury, and sister of Sukumar Ray. She had a career in teaching. After marriage and moving to Cuttack, Shukhalata founded the Shishu-o-Matri Mangal Kendro (Centre for the Welfare of Children and Mothers). She also established the Orissa Nari Seva Sangha. Shukhalata was the editor of Alok, a newspaper. Shukhalata Rao was given the Kaiser-e-Hind award by the Government of India in 1956 for her book Nije Pora. She has written a book in English, titled Behula - the story of Chand Saudagar, Lakhinder and Behula. Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote the introduction for this book. Shukhalata died in 1969.

Shanta Devi
(1893-1984)

Poet & Author

Shanta Devi and Sita Devi, daughters of Ramananda Chatterjee, were educated at home in the usual subjects including English language and then were sent to Bethune College. While students, they published a volume of stories translated from English. They introduced "Bre Rabbit" to Bengali nurseries. They translated George Eliot's works and some French stories. Sita Devi's first original story Light of Eyes appeared in Prabasi. They co-authored a novel Udyanlata,a series for Prabasi. They translated Srish Chandra Bose's Folk Tales of Hindustan as Hindusthani Upakaatha.

Kanak Das (Biswas)

Singer

Kanak Das (Biswas), sister-in-law of Debabrata Biswas, who influenced his style of singing. She was a student of Bethune College from 1920 - 1923 but she could not give her B. A, final examination. Her first record came out in 1927. Her singing was characterized by modern pronunciation and boldness. She was also proficient in Dwijendrageeti, Nazrulgeeti and modern Bengali songs. She was given the title of Sangeet Pratima by the famous musical organization Ragini. She was the principal of the famous music school Geetabitan.

Leela Roy nee' Nag
(1900-1970)

Educationist, Social & Political Activist

Leela Roy nee' Nag completed her BA (English) degree from Bethune College, Calcutta, receiving the Padmabati Gold Medal. She was the first woman to obtain the MA degree from the University of Dacca. She was the Assistant Secretary of Nikhil Banga Nari Votadhikar Samity and founded the Deepali Sangha. She established several Deepali Schools and Nari Shiksha Mandir. She also founded twelve Free Primary Schools. Dacca Deepali School was later named Qamrunnessa Girls' School. She established Gana Shiksha Parishad for spreading female education and established a working and needy girls' hostel at Calcutta. She was a member of a Revolutionary group Sree Sangha led by Hemchandra Ghosh and Anil Roy, whom she married later. She established the Mahila Atmaraksha Fund, the first self-defence martial art group in the region. Leela Nag was the founder editor of Jayasree, a women's monthly journal. The first woman to be detained under Bengal Ordinance Act from Dacca, she later joined Subhas Chandra Bose's Forward Bloc and was involved in relief work following the Calcutta and Noakhali riots of 1946. Elected member of the Constituent Assembly in 1946, she resigned soon after in protest against Partition and formed the East Bengal Minority Welfare Committee. She organised protest meetings against the Unauthorized Person's Eviction Bill, 1951 and was imprisoned during the Save East Bengal Movement.

Amiya Thakur
(1901-1988)

Singer

Amiya Thakur was admitted to the Intermediate class of Bethune College after completing her schooling from Bethune School. She learnt Tagore songs from Rabindranath Tagore himself and played the role of Pramada in Tagore's dance drama Mayar Khela, directed by Tagore himself. She was married to Hritendranath. A versatile singer, she learned Dhrupad from Jogindranath Bandyopadhyay, kheyal and tappa from Ramesh Chandra Bandyopadhyay.

Malati Ghoshal
(1902-1984)

Singer

Malati Ghoshal was a student of Bethune College in the 1920s. She was a famous exponent of Rabindrasangeet. She learned classical music from Gopeshwar Bandyopadhyay and Tagore songs from Ramesh Chandra Bandyopadhyay.

Maya Roy

Actress

Maya Roy was a student of Bethune College when she got married to the artist Charu Roy. She acted in the silent film Siraj - a Romance of India (1928) followed by the talkie Anarkali at a time when women did not venture into cinema. She also helped her husband in the editing of the first cinema magazine Bioscope.

Kankabati Devi
(1903-1939)

Actress

Kanakbati Devi, a student of Bethune College, was a renowned stage and film actress. She was the first graduate woman to enter the Bengal stage. She received lessons in music and acting from Tagore himself. In her college days Kankabati took part in various cultural activities. After graduation, Kankabati joined M.A.classes, but wished to enter the professional stage and in 1928, she signed a contract with Art Theatres whereby she would be their exclusive artiste for three years. This created a stir as this was a taboo for women from respectable families. However, Kankabati broke her contract unilaterally and joined the group of Sisir Kumar Bhaduri, who trained her for the singing role of Bharatnari in his play Digbijoyi in February, 1929. She performed in a number of plays, including Basantaleela and Tagore's Bisarjan, Buddhadeb Charit, Alamgir, Bibaha Bibhrat, Pally Samaj and many others.She accompanied Sisir Bhaduri's troupe on a tour of America. Kankabati appeared in silent films, including Bicharak, and later in talkies, such as Palli Samaj (1932), Seeta (1933) as Seeta and Talkie of Talkies. She suffered from meningitis in the course of shooting for Sisir Kumar Bhaduri's film Chanakya (1939) and was admitted in Carmichael Medical College in Calcutta where she breathed her last on 21st June, 1939.

Kamala Dasgupta
(1907-2000)

Political Activist and revolutionary

Kamala Dasgupta, a freedom fighter, graduated from Bethune College. Her political career began with the Jugantar Group. She trained herself in the art of Fighting with Lathi. In 1938 she took charge of editing Mandira a women's news. In 1939 she was arrested in connection with the Dalhousie Square Conspiracy Case for allegedly supplying a revolver to Bina Das who fired at Stanley Jackson, Governor of Bengal, and was imprisoned in Hijli jail. After the amalgamation of the Jugantar Group with the Indian National Congress, she became the Secretary of Bengal Provincial Women Congress and joined the Quit India Movement. She was asked by Gandhi to provide relief to victims of communal riots of Noakhali.She wrote Swadhinata Sangram ae Nari and her autobiography Rakter Akshare and worked for women's empowerment.

Mira Dutta Gupta
(1907-1983)

Revolutionary

Mira Dutta Gupta, a teacher, social worker and political activist, had secured 2nd position and silver medal for her graduation at the Calcutta University in mathematics despite not sitting for one full paper. As the Secretary of the South Calcutta branch of 'Chhatri Sangha', she became the target of the police. During the August movement of 1942, she collected funds for revolutionaries. She was associated with Indian revolutionary groups, such as Anushilan, Jugantar and Bengal Volunteers and was the editor of the women's section of its magazine - Benu. She actively participated in relief work at the time of the Bengal Famine of 1943. She joined Netaji's Forward Bloc and was jailed for her nationalist activities in 1946. She was elected MLA twice and was Principal of the women's section of Surendra Nath College. She also contributed to the setting up of the Patha Bhavan School, Kolkata.

Rajmata Benita Roy
(1907-1951)

Political Activist and revolutionary

Rajmata Benita Roy, litterateur, diplomat and minister, was the forty-ninth Rani of the Chakma Circle in the Chittagong Hill Tract and grand-daughter of Keshub Chandra Sen, the Hindu reformer and Brahmo Samaj leader. She launched the first literary magazine Garika, featuring Chakma poetry, inspired by Rabindranath Tagore. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Roy offered the Rangamati Palace as a shelter for civilians. In 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman appointed her as a member of Bangladesh's first delegation to the UN General Assembly. During the political and constitutional crises of the mid 1970s, Roy served the Bangladesh Government as Minister of Land Administration and Land Reforms and Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation.

Ashoka Gupta
(1912-2008)

Educationist, Social & Political Activist

Ashoka Gupta, an eminent social worker, was brilliant in academics and secured first place among female candidates in matriculation. She joined Bethune College, to study mathematics. She was the founder of Mahila Seva Samity, a member of the All-India Women's Conference and President of Indian Society for Sponsorship and Adoption. She actively set up branches of AIWC. She was engaged in relief operations during the Bengal Famine of 1943, and the Noakhali riots. After Partition, she engaged herself in refugee rehabilitation, child literacy and up-liftment of rural women and tribal communities. She was a Fellow of the Senate of the University of Calcutta and was chairperson of the West Bengal State Social Welfare Advisory Board from 1955 to 1959 and a member of the Central Social Welfare Board. She was the State Commissioner (Guides) and the State Chief Commissioner of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. She was associated with the Palli Sangathan Vibhag of Visva Bharati University from 1956 and a member of the Executive Council. During the Bangladesh War she and her husband set up the Bangladesh Anushandhan Committee. She was a member of the advisory committee of the Bengal Board, Board of the LIC, of the Karma Samiti of Viswa Bharati, and Kasturba Trust. She was the President of the All Indian Women's Conference for five years, and state chief commissioner of the Indian Scouts and Guides Associations for three years, president of the SOS children's villages, president of Buniyadi Vidyapeeth, patron of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust and the Indian Society for Sponsorship and Adoption. A founder member of the Mahila Seva Samiti, she received the Jamnalal Bajaj award for lifetime achievement. Her memoir is widely read.

Pritilata Waddedar
(1911-1932)

Revolutionary

Pritilata Waddedar, a fearless nationalist revolutionary, was deeply involved in the Indian independence struggle. She graduated in Philosophy with distinction. However, her degree, along with that of co-revolutionary, Bina Das, was withheld by the British officials of Calcutta University. She joined the revolutionary group headed by Masterda Surya Sen in her student days. After completing her education, Pritilata returned to Chittagong and joined as headmistress of Nandankaran Aparnacharan School for girls. She was trained in lathi khela and gun fighting, and trained other girls. She also supplied explosives, wrote nationalist pamphlets and was in the "Bengal's Most Wanted List" at the age of 21. Pritilata led the attack on Pahartali European Railway Officers' Club of Chittagong and captured the Reserve Police Line. Under her able leadership, all the others could escape safely, but she had to commit suicide by swallowing a capsule of potassium cyanide.

Bina Das (Bhowmick
(1911-1986)

Revolutionary

Bina Das (Bhowmick), a dauntless freedom fighter was a student of Bethune College in 1928. Her political career began with the Simon Commission Boycott movement. She joined the revolutionaries and along with her fellow students organized their first protest against the Simon Commission and were threatened with dire consequences by the British Principal of the College. She tried to shoot the Governor,Stanley Jackson during the convocation ceremony at Calcutta University in 1932, where she was to receive her graduation degree. Bina Das served nine years in rigorous imprisonment. She was MLA of West Bengal Assembly from 1946 - 1951. Shrinkhal Jhankar and Pitridhan, books written by Bina Das are valuable records of the freedom struggle. She won the Padma Shri award in 1960 for social work. She lived in seclusion in Rishikesh in the last years of her life.

Kalpana Joshi (Dutt)
(1913 - 1995)

Revolutionary

Kalpana Joshi, after passing her matriculation in 1929, came to Calcutta and joined Bethune College to study science, where she met Pritilata Wadedar and Bina Das, the firebrand revolutionaries, and joined Chhatri Sangha. After the Chittagong Armoury Raid in 1930, Kalpana Dutta joined the Indian Republican Army, Chittagong Branch in 1931 and actively participated in the 'dynamite conspiracy' case which ultimately failed. She evaded arrest for a long time, but was ultimately caught and was given a life-sentence and, although released in 1939, she remained under house arrest till 1942. Even Rabindranath Tagore had striven for her release. She married Puranchand Joshi - the former General Secretary of the undivided Communist Party of India. She later joined the Indian Statistical Institute where she worked till her retirement. Known as Agnikanya of Bengal, as MasterDa used to call her, Kalpana Dutta is remembered as one of the bravest patriots of India.

Shudhalata Sarkar
(1913-2007)

Political Activist and revolutionary

Shudhalata Sarkar passed her Intermediate examination from Bethune College in 1932. and graduated with Mathematics Honours from Vidyasagar College. She actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement. She attended all the important meetings of the Old Students' Association even in her nineties. Tarak-Sudha Endowment Fund of Rs. 45 Lacs was created by Shudhalata's children and the interest from the fund is used for a yearly award for leadership in Mathematics and Computer Science in Bethune College.

Usha Devjani Khan

Actress

Usha Devjani Khan, a student of Bethune College, was a renowned actress, remembered for her role as Henrieta opposite Utpal Dutta in the Bengali film Michael Madhusudan (1950) directed by Madhu Bose. She also acted in a few other Bengali films.

Sadhana Bose
(1914 - 1973)

Actress

Sadhana Bose, granddaughter of Keshab Chandra Sen was a renowned danseuse, actress and singer, married to film-maker Madhu Bose. A contemporary of Uday Shankar, she staged a number of ballets in Kolkata, including Bhookh on Bengal famine, and Omar Khayyam. She acted in Alibaba (1937), Abhinoy (Bengali-1938), Kumkum (1940), Rajnartaki (1941), Meenakshi (1942), Shankar Parvati, Vishkanya, Paigham, Shesher Kabita, and Maa O Chhele.

Dr.(Prof.) Asima Chatterjee
(1917-2006)

Academician

Dr.(Prof.) Asima Chatterjee, noted scientist and teacher, was a student of Bethune College and obtained her M.Sc. Degree from Calcutta University in 1938, with organic chemistry as her special paper. She was the first woman to be awarded a D.Sc. degree in 1944. She was a Premchand Roychand Scholar of the University of Calcutta. In 1940 she joined Lady Brabourne College as the Founder- Head of the Department of Chemistry. She also served as Khaira Professor of Chemistry in the University of Calcutta. She worked with L.M. Parks of University of Wisconsin, USA on naturally occurring glycosides. Chatterjee successfully developed the anti-epileptic drug Ayush-56 and the anti-malarial drug, patented drugs h marketed by several companies. She made significant contributions in the field of medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, and mechanistic organic chemistry. She published around four hundred papers in national and international journals and more than a score of review articles. Chatterjee edited and revised the six-volume Bharatiya Banoushodhi published by Calcutta University and was Chief-Editor of the six volume series, The Treatise of Indian Medicinal Plants published by CSIR. She was Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi (1960), and received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1961), Padma Bhushan (1975) amongst other awards. In 1972, she was appointed Honorary Coordinator of the Special Assistance Programme sanctioned by the Indian University Grants Commission. She was the first woman General President of the Indian Science Congress Association (1975) and was nominated Member of Rajya Sabha from February 1982 till May 1990.

Prof. Akhtar Imam
(1917-2009)

Educationist and Social Activist

Prof. Akhtar Imam, graduated from Bethune College in Philosophy Honours in 1937, and was awarded the Gangamani Devi Medal. In 1946, she completed her masters in philosophy from the University of Dhaka. On being awarded a scholarship in 1952 from the Bengal Muslim Education Fund by the Pakistani Government in 1952 to study outside the country, she pursued masters in philosophy at the University College London. From 1963 to 1965 she was engaged in research at the University of Nottingham. She became the first lady professor of Dacca College and in 1953, she joined University of Dacca as the first lady teacher of Dacca University and then the first female Head of the Department of Philosophy. She was the first convenor of Bangladesh Philosophical Association and also served as the President of Bangladesh Lekhika Sangha for three years.

Dr. (Prof.) Hamida Khanam

Academician

Dr. (Prof.) Hamida Khanam passed B.A. Examination with Distinction from Bethune College. In 1952 she went to Columbia University as a Fulbright fellow. She was Principal of Home Economics College, Dacca. In 1969 Pakistan Govt. awarded her a Gold Medal for her contribution in education.

Sabitri Roy
(1918-1985)

Poet & Author

Sabitri Roy, noted writer, graduated from Bethune College. Savitri continued in the tradition of novel writing introduced by Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay. Paka Dhaner Gan (3 Vols.), Meghna Padma (2 Vols.), Samudrer Dheu are some of her notable works on subjects like August movement, the Tebhaga movement, the Hajong uprising, the Partition, the riots, the refugee problem. Her last novel is 'Ba-Dwip' (1972). Some of her other novels are: Srijan, Trisota, Swarlipi, Malasri, etc.

Prof. Tatini Das (Gupta)
(1895-1953)

Principal of Bethune College

Tatini Das joined Bethune College as Senior Lecturer of Philosophy. In 1934 she became the Principal of Bethune College and remained till her retirement in 1950. Owing to her efforts the nearby Christ Church building became part of the college premises. An able administrator, she steered the college through some very difficult times.

Shobha Sen
(1923-2017)

Eminent theatre and film personality

Shobha Sen, noted actress, began her career in the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) acting in the lead female role in 'Nabanna'. In 1953 -54 she joined the Little Theatre Group which later became Peoples' Theatre Group. Under her husband, Utpal Dutt's direction she played the female lead in plays like Shakespeare's Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream. She is remembered for her roles in Barricade, Tiner Taloyar, Titumir, Surja Shikar, Lenin Kothay, Stalin 1934, and Maloparar She also acted in films. She produced the documentary Nati which depicts the history of female actresses in Bengali theatre. She received the Mother Teresa International Award in April 2010.

Ila Sen Mitra
(1925-2002)

Educationist, Social & Political Activist

Ila Sen Mitra, the first Bengali woman athlete to be selected for the London 1944 Olympic Games, which was cancelled due to the Second World War, passed I.A from Bethune College, and Masters in Bangla Literature and Culture from Calcutta University as a private student. A political activist, she became a volunteer teacher at a girls' school established by her husband Ramendra Mitra and his friend, Altaf Mia in their village. She emerged as a leader of peasants and indigenous Santhals and was revered as RaniMa (Queen mother). She organized a peasant-Santhal uprising in Nachole Upazila, Chapai Nawabganj, forcing the government to implement the Floud Commission Report to give justice to sharecroppers. While trying to escape from riot-hit Noakhali, she was caught and sent to the Rajshahi Central jail on 21 January 1950. Tried under a treasonable charge, Ila Mitra was sentenced to life imprisonment. Ila Mitra fell sick and in 1954, the United Front government sent her on parole to Kolkata for treatment. A member of the Communist Party of India, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly four times, from 1962 to 1972 and in 1971 she campaigned extensively for the Bangladesh War of Independence. Ila Mitra was a writer and translator and won the Soviet Land Nehru Award. The central government of India awarded her the Tamra Patra for her role in the Independence movement.

Purabi Mukherjee
(1923-1991)

Political Activist

Purabi Mukherjee passed her Intermediate examination from Bethune College. She was the Minister-in-charge of Prison and Social Welfare when Prafulla Chandra Sen was Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Abha Maity
(1925-1994)

Political Activist

Abha Maity, a student of I. A. Class in Bethune College, later became the Minister-in-Charge of the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation under the Chief Minister Prafulla Chandra Sen. In 1977 she became the State Minister of Industries in the Central Government of Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

Purabi Mukhopadhyay
(1931-2017)

Singer

Purabi Mukhopadhyay, named Purabi by Rabindranath Tagore is one of the leading exponents of Rabindra Sangeet. Purabi taught music at Visva Bharati as well as in Rabindra Bharati University. A gifted singer, she performed in different Asian and European countries.

Amita Bhose
(1933-1992)

Poet & Author

Amita Bhose is considered the unofficial cultural ambassador of Bengali language and literature in Romania. She went to Romania in 1959 and learned Romanian language so well that she wrote two books for Romanians to learn Bengali - Curs De Limba Bengali and Manual De Limba Bengali. She has authored 17 books and was offered professorship at Bucharest University, a signal honour for any non-Romanian. In 1977 she was awarded a medal of honour for her work in spreading literature and Indian culture by the Romanian Government. Rabindra Bharati Society awarded her Rabindra Purashkar, posthumously.

Dr. Manjushree Chaki Sarkar
(1934-2000)

Danseuse

Dr. Manjushree Chaki Sarkar, a student of I.A.in Bethune College, was a renowned danseuse trained in Odissi. She not only excelled in dance but acquired a doctorate in Anthropology from Columbia University and applied her knowledge of anthropology in her dances. In early 1980s, Manjushree Chaki Sircar and her daughter, Ranjabati Sircar, coined the term Navanritya or New Dance for their methodology of dance training and choreography. The Sircars' New Dance emerged as a powerful. feminist statement. One of her best-known production was the water ballet Abhigyan Shakuntalum. She was awarded the Shiromani Puraskar, West Bengal State Academy Award, Uday Shankar Award and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award

(Dr.)Aruna Mukherjee
(1938-1987)

Academician and cultural activist

(Dr.) Aruna Mukherjee stood first in I.Sc. from Bethune College and completed her B Sc. from Presidency College, then,M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Calcutta University. Her Ph.D. dissertation was titled 'Studies on N-substitutes Hydroxamic Acid and Metal Chelates." Aruna Mukhopadhyay published Arghya and Sonar Harin, two books of poems. She was actively involved in performing arts, especially drama and was associated with Rabibasar, a reputed literary group. She will always be remembered for her role of Prakriti in Rabindranath Tagore's Chandalika.

Dr. Mukulika Konar

Medical Practitioner

Dr. Mukulika Konar, a Physician and Gynaecologist, MB, DGO Cal., F.R.C.O.G. London. She was a Professor Director of the Gynaecology & Obstetrics Department, Eden Hospital, CMC, Calcutta. In 1974, she co-authored a paper," Interlocking in Twin Pregnancy - a case report" with Dr Bani Ghosh and Dr. Debi Prasad Chatterjee.

Prof. Nandini Raha
(1939- 2020)

Academician

Prof. Nandini Raha was an Intermediate Class student in Bethune College (1954-1956) and graduated with Honours in Physics from Scottish Church College in 1958. After teaching for some time in Sarojini Naidu College, Calcutta, she joined the Physics Department of Bethune College as lecturer in 1963 and continued for 37 years. After her retirement in 1999 she was engaged in practical classes in the Baker Laboratory of Presidency College. Even after her retirement, Prof. Raha was deeply involved in various activities of Bethune College including practical classes for students of physics.

Rupa Chakravarty
(1944-1997)

Academician and cultural activist

Rupa Chakravarty, a cultural activist, graduated from Bethune College in 1964 with History Honours, receiving the gold medal She completed a course in Rabindra Sangeet from Viswa Bharati and directed many musical performances, including Ramayana, performed in Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Chicago. A prestigious award instituted in her memory by her son Joydeep, daughters Nipa and Dipa in 1999 is given annually to a Bethune Alumna who has distinguished herself in the area of performing arts or science or research.

Dr. (Prof.) Pushpa Misra

Alma matar and Principal of Bethune College

Dr.(Prof) Pushpa Mishra passed B.A(Hons) in philosophy in 1961 from Bethune College, obtaining the Tatini Das Memorial Medal for highest proficiency in Philosophy(Hons). She completed her M.A in Psychology & Philosophy from the University of Calcutta in 1963 & 1964 respectively; She appeared in WBSC Exam in 1966, securing 9th rank in Executive Category, the first lady candidate from W.B selected in this category. She preferred academics and was awarded Ph.d degree in Philosophy, University of Rochester , New York in 1988.Her Ph.d dissertation was nominated for the prestigious Johsnonian Prize in Philosophy, later published by Karnac Books, London under the title : Scientific status of Psychoanalysis : Evidence and confirmation .She was a fulbright fellow and did her Post-Doctoral work at the University of Pittsburg, USA. Dr. (Prof) Mishra taught in Lady Brabourne College and was later, Head of the Department of Philosophy in Bethune College from 1988 to 1990 and was the Principal of Bethune College from 1997 till her retirement in 2002.

A fully trained practising psychologist, a Training & Supervising Analyst and currently president of Indian Psychoanalytical Society affiliated to International Psychoanalytical Association, London, she is the recipient of (First) Kadambini Ganguly Medal and was awarded the Rupa Chakraborty Medal from Bethune College Sammilani.

She is also a well-known translator and writer and author, and has a number of publications to her credit, apart from academic papers and articles.She has published many articles on Philosophy and Psychology.

Dr. (Prof.) Manimala Das
(1953-)

Educationist and Principal of Bethune College

Professor Manimala Das graduated from Bethune College with Physics (Honours) and did her Master's degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. She was awarded State Scholarship by the Government of West Bengal in 1977 for higher studies in Physics at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. She was awarded Lundgren Research Award from the University in 1980 and was the first woman from India to receive a Ph.D. degree in Physics from Cambridge University. Professor Das continued her research work as Post-Doctoral Fellow at the State University of California, U.S.A. On her return to India, she joined Presidency College, where she taught for twenty years till she joined Lady Brabourne College as Professor of Physics in W.B.S.E.S. After a short stint of seven months there, Professor Das took over as Principal of Bethune College, her alma mater in October 2002. Under her leadership the 125th anniversary of Bethune College was celebrated through a year-long program (2003-2004) including publication of two volumes of essays - "In the Footsteps of Chandramukhi" and "Women and Politics of Gender". As a result of her outreach initiative, the Tarak Sudha Endowment Fund and the Jyotsnamayee Dey Endowment Fund were set up for sustaining teaching of Computer Science (Hons) and Post graduate Mathematics. Autonomous postgraduate teaching was initiated at Bethune College in four different subjects in her tenure. Bethune College was assessed by NAAC for the first time in 2006 and accredited with 'A' grade. Through her initiative, in 2008 two plots of land at Salt Lake were allotted to Bethune College for construction of a Hostel and for a Second Campus. Professor Das was a member of the Pay Review Committee, University Grants Commission. In 2008 Professor Das was appointed Vice Chancellor of Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata. She was Visiting Scientist at the Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. She was chairperson of peer teams of National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Bengaluru. She served as a member of the National Task Force, formed in 2018, for Assessment and Accreditation of Open and Distance Learning. Professor Das was elected a Life Fellow of Cambridge Philosophical Society, UK in 1982. UK in 1982.

Nandini Maliya
(1952 - 1999)

Theatre and film personality

Nandini Maliya, famous actress and a student of Bethune College, starred in nearly forty films, winning the National Award for her role in Chhuti which won her the National Award. She was also known for acting in professional theatre and jatra.

Rita Sinha

Sports person

Rita Sinha, a National Champion in Rifle Shooting, graduated in Chemistry Honours from Bethune College. She was a National Champion in rifle shooting for nine consecutive years, representing India in many countries. She is the recipient of a number of awards and prizes.

Krishna Das
(1959 - till date)

Sports person

Krishna Das, an Archer, represented India in the Asian Games in Bangkok and Delhi in 1978 and 1982, and in three Asian Archery meets. She was the first archer to receive the Arjuna Award in 1984.. She has received several state awards and a host of other national level awards. She has coached several local level aspiring archers.

Krishna Dutta

Author

Krishna Dutta graduated from Bethune College in 1961 with Honours in Philosophy. After completing her Masters in Philosophy from Calcutta University, she migrated to England with her husband. She continued with her literary activities in England and her most acclaimed work is a biography of Tagore titled Tagore: A Myriad Minded Man which she co-authored with Andrew Johnson, published by Cambridge University. She also wrote a book on Calcutta titled Calcutta and has translated several letters of Tagore.

Pandita Tripti Mukherjee

Singer

Pandita Tripti Mukherjee, famous Indian Classical vocalist, is the founding director of Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, Research, Artistry and Appreciation, New York 99, New Hyde Park, USA. She was awarded Padmashri by the Govt. of India in 2015 for her efforts in spreading Indian culture abroad.

A regular artist at All India Radio, National television,she has performed at the White House (USA), Diwali Fest, 2007, at Indian Consulate in New York (Jewel of Indian concert programme), and at Symphony Space, New York, as well as, in a number of prestigious events at home and abroad.

She won various awards including Chhandayan Jyotsna award, Amir Khan Memorial award, Pandit Jasraj Gourav Puraskar.

She completed her B.A (Hons) in Political Science from Bethune College, and passed M.A in Political Science. She has a diploma in Russian Language from Gorki Sadan, Kolkata.
 

Bratati Bandyopadhyay

Elocutionist

Bratati Bandyopadhyay, noted for her innovative recitation and oration, was a student of Economics Honours at Bethune College

Bratati has more than Sixty (60) albums to her credit till date. Her recent work, Raktakarabi, an audio play amalgamated with music,dance and supported by stagecraft is noteworthy. She has performed extensively in India and abroad. Bratati is a recipient of many awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award by Rotary Club of Calcutta, Woman of the Year by Airtel, Abritti Ratna Award. She set up 'Kabyayan' an institution for recitation which now has over 800 students. She is the founder head of 'Bratati Parampara' and mentor for elocution in the schools run by Techno India Group. She conducted a special workshop for inmates of Presidency Correctional Home in 2006.
 

Debarati Shome

Singer

Debarati Shome, the renowned singer, stood First Class first in M.Mus. from Rabindra Bharati. She did her PhD on the subject of Bhanga Gaane Rabindranath er Swakiyata. She is a recipient of Samatat Samman (2003).

Susmita Goswami

Singer

Susmita Goswami,exponent of Nazrul Geeti, received many awards, including the prestigious Nazrul Award for LifeTime Achievement by the Govt. of West Bengal. She was music director of the Bengali film Rehal.

Aditi Lahiri
(1952-till date)

Academician

Aditi Lahiri, a student of Bethune College, was awarded the Leibniz Max Planck Research Award. She is an Indian born British Linguist and holds the chair of Linguistics at the University of Oxford since 2007.She is also a fellow of somerville College, Oxford. Her interests range from Phonology, phonetics, historical linguistics to psycholinguistics & neuro linguistics. She is the director of the Language & Brain Lab and Principal Investigator of MORPHON Project

Rupa Manjari Ghosh

Academician

Rupa Manjari Ghosh, the present vice chancellor of Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh and former Director of School of Natural Science & Dean of Research & Graduate studies at Shiv Nadar University, was a student of Physics Honours in Bethune College. Prof. Ghosh is Professor of Physics & former Dean at the School of Physical Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her areas of interests include Experimental & Theoretical Quantum optics, Laser Physics, Nonlinear Optics, Quantum Information, Quantum Measurement, Magnetic Optics etc. She completed her Phd from University of Rochester (USA), after her M.Sc. from Calcutta University She was awarded Streeshakti Science Samman in 2008.

Dr. (Prof.) Suparna Sanyal

Academician

Dr. (Prof.) Suparna Sanyal, a student of Bethune College, is Professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden. An expert in molecular and structural biology and fast kinetics her research focuses on ribosome structure and function, translational GTPases, antibiotics, amyloid (prion) aggregation and misfolding diseases. Sanyal lab has engineered an E. coli strain JE28, which allows quick and easy purification of the his-tagged ribosomes. Sanyal is also a pioneer for demonstrating rRNA assisted protein folding activity of the ribosome.

Dr. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay
(1968 - till date)

Padma Shri Recipient, renowned Computer Scientist

Dr Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, a student of Bethune College at the Higher Secondary level, graduated from Presidency College with Honours in Physics. She ranked First Class First in B.Tech in Computer Science at Rajabazar Science College and later won the Institute Silver Medal and Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal for securing First Class First Position in M.Tech at I.I.T, Kharagpur in 1994. After finishing her Doctoral research from Indian Statistical Institute, she joined the institution as faculty. She has received a number of Awards and Fellowships. In 2009, she received the Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researcher from Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. She won the Infosys Prize in 2017 in the 'Engineering and Computer Science' category for her work on algorithmic optimisation. She has identified a genetic marker for breast cancer, determined the co-occurrence of HIV and cancers, and helped understand the significance of the brain's white matter in Alzheimer's disease. She is the recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (2009-2010), in the engineering sciences category. Dr Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay became the first woman Director of the Indian Statistical Institute. She received Padma Shri in Science and Engineering in 2022.

Dr. (Prof.) Aditi Sen Dey
(1974 - till date)

Academician

Dr. (Prof.) Aditi Sen Dey graduated from Bethune College in Mathematics honours in 1995. She joined the Applied Mathematics department of the Rajabazar Science College, University of Calcutta, for her Masters Degree, and after a brief period of research work in India, she moved to Gdańsk, Poland to work at the University of Gdańsk, where she received her PhD in January 2004. She moved to Hannover, Germany as a Humboldt Research Fellow to work at Leibniz University. Thereafter, she joined The Institute of Photonic Sciences at Barcelona, Spain to continue her research, where she won the prestigious Ramony Cajal Research Fellowship. Upon returning to India in 2008, she joined the School of Physical Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University as an Assistant Professor in Physics, before moving to Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad in 2009, where she is currently a Professor in Physics. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research awarded her the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 2018. She is the first women recipient of this Prize in the Physical Science category. In 2012, she won the biennial Buti Foundation Award, given by the Indian Physics Association for contributions in the area of Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics or Biophysics.

NanditaMisra Chakraborty
(1975- till date )

Writer and Researcher

Nandita Misra Chakraborty, a writer and researcher, graduated from Bethune College with Botany Honours in 1997 and did her Masters in Environmental Science. Deeply influenced in Buddhist teachings and literature, she learnt Pali. Presently she is engaged in research work on Buddhist Studies at the Department of Pali in University of Calcutta. Nandita Misra Chakraborty's novels Jeebak and Tathagata, related to Buddha, have received much fame. She regularly writes for Desh, Anandabazar Patrika, Anandamela and many web magazines of international fame. Her forthcoming publication includes "Kapilavastu Nagare Buddha".

Mayuri Mitra

Theatre Director, Special Educator, Theatre Researcher and Writer

Mayuri Mitra, renowned theatre personality, writer, director, actor and critic, as well as, a special educator, graduated with History Honours from Bethune College. After completing her Masters from Calcutta University, Mayuri Mitra did her Doctoral research from Jadavpur University. She worked as a Research Fellow at Natyo Sodh Sansthan from 1997 to 2000. She has also done B.Ed for special children. Presently, Dr Mayuri Mitra works as a Special Educator, while remaining associated with theatre activities. Dr Mayuri Mitra has compiled and edited Sundor Natyo Sombhar ( Vol 1 and vol 2 ) and Sishu Kishore Natok together with her father Shri Manoj Mitra.

Dr. (Prof.) Neena Gupta
(1984-till date)

Academician

Dr. (Prof.) Neena Gupta graduated with honours in Mathematics from Bethune College in 2006 and did her Post Graduation from the Indian Statistical Institute in 2008, and received her Ph.D. degree in 2011. Her primary fields of interest are commutative algebra and affine algebraic geometry. She served in various prestigious institutions- Associate Professor at Statistical and Mathematics Unit (SMU), ISI Kolkata, INSPIRE Faculty at ISI Kolkata, Visiting Fellow at TIFR Mumbai, Visiting Scientist at ISI Kolkata, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Fellow at ISI Kolkata. She received the Swarup Bhatnagar Award (2019) in the category of mathematical sciences.
Professor Neena Gupta's solution for the Zariski cancellation problem, a fundamental problem in Algebraic Geometry, earned her the 2014 Young Scientists Award of the Indian National Science Academy (NSA). The problem was posed by one of the most eminent founders of modern Algebraic Geometry, Oscar Zariski, in 1949. In 2021, Professor Neena Gupta, became the fourth Indian and third woman to win the Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians for her outstanding work in affine algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. She also received from the President of India the Nari Shakti Puraskar for her excellent contribution in the field of Mathematics.