Vidyasagar College has produced a large number of notable individuals who have made significant contributions to society since its foundation. The institution was previously a school known as the Metropolitan Institution before being upgraded to a college in 1871. In 1917, it was renamed Vidyasagar College.
Notable alumni before upgradation to college (before 1871)
Name Notability Ref. Swami Vivekananda Philosopher and Hindu monk Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Philosopher and Hindu monk Brahmabandhav Upadhyay Theologian, journalist and Indian freedom fighter Charu Chandra Bhattacharya Bengali writer of scientific literature for children Priyanath Bose Circus performer and entrepreneur
Notable alumni after upgradation to college (after 1871)
Freedom fighters, activists and revolutionaries
Name Notability Ref. Abinash Chandra Bhattacharya Noted for his role in the Indo-German Conspiracy during World War I Barada Bhushan Chakraborty Communist peasant leader and prominent face of the Tebhaga movement Birendranath Sasmal Freedom fighter, barrister and politician; popularly known as "Deshapran" Chintamani Panigrahi Freedom fighter who participated in the Indian Independence Movement Ganesh Man Singh Nepalese freedom fighter known as the "Father of Democracy" in Nepal Ram Manohar Lohia Activist in the Quit India Movement and Indian Independence Movement
Literature
Name Notability Ref. Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury Bengali writer, publisher and entrepreneur Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay Bengali novelist and creator of Byomkesh Bakshi Ananda Chandra Agarwala Assamese writer and poet Durga Mohan Bhattacharyya Sanskrit scholar Sarat Chandra Goswami Assamese writer and founder member of Asam Sahitya Sabha Himanish Goswami Writer, journalist and cartoonist Ajit Dutta Bengali poet and author Dhirendralal Dhar National Award-winning children's author
Scholars, scientists and academics
Name Notability Ref. Ajoy Home Aviculturist, ornithologist and naturalist Durga Mohan Bhattacharyya Sanskrit scholar Jagat Jiban Ghosh Researcher in biological sciences, biochemistry and neurobiochemistry Prafulla Chandra Ray Chemist; regarded as the father of chemical science in India Radheshyam Brahmachari Scholar Sarada Charan Das Scientist Saratchandra Mitra Scientist and founding head of the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta Satya Churn Law Ornithologist
Cinema and theatre
Name Notability Ref. Chhabi Biswas Bengali actor and theatre artist Debaki Bose Film director and recipient of the Padma Shri Himangshu Dutta Music director Madhu Bose Film director, actor, singer and screenwriter Paoli Dam Actress Subhra Sourav Das Actor associated with Swapnasandhani Tarachand Barjatya Founder of Rajshri Productions
Singers and musicians
Name Notability Ref. Manna Dey Playback singer Ruprekha Banerjee Singer specialising in Rabindrasangeet and Hindustani classical music Sailajaranjan Majumdar Rabindra Sangeet singer and teacher Silajit Majumder Singer and composer Vishmadev Chattopadhyay Indian classical vocalist of the Delhi Gharana
Politicians
Name Notability Ref. Ashim Kumar Ghosh 19th Governor of Haryana Basanta Kumar Das Federal minister of Pakistan Chintamani Panigrahi Former Governor of Manipur Ganesh Man Singh Leader of Nepal's democratic movement Jyotipriya Mallick MLA and former Cabinet Minister, Government of West Bengal Ram Manohar Lohia Founder of the Congress Socialist Party Ram Sunder Das Former Chief Minister of Bihar Sadhan Pande Former Minister for Consumer Affairs, West Bengal Tarit Baran Topdar Former Member of Parliament Shyamaprasanna Bhattacharyya Former Member of Legislative Assembly
Sports
Name Notability Ref. Gostha Pal Indian footballer Asim Mukhopadhyay Mountaineer Brojen Das First Asian to swim across the English Channel Dipankar Ghosh Mountaineer Pankaj Roy Indian cricketer Priyanath Bose Circus performer and pioneer of circus in India
Other personalities
Name Notability Ref. Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar Philosopher, religious leader and founder of Ananda Marga Mitter Bedi Industrial photographer Jitendra Nath Ghosh Chairman of Netaji Research Bureau
Notable faculty
Name Notability Ref. Kshirode Prasad Vidyavinode Poet, novelist, dramatist and nationalist Surendranath Banerjee Nationalist leader, educator and politicianJadunath SarkarEducator, Historian, Author
References