Dr Atindranath Basu Thakur was born in the month of December, 1909 in Malkhanagarh. His father Sri Manmohan Basu Thakur was an engineer. His father died at a very young age. After the death of his father his older brother Sri Amiyo Basu Thakur took the responsibility of looking after their family. They were five brothers and Dr. Atindranath Basu Thakur was the third.

His father died when he was still in his youth and after his father’s death he finished his studies in his village school like everybody else in the family. In 1926 he passed Matric examination from his school acquiring Letter marks in all the six subjects and came fourth in University of Calcutta. In English he claimed first position in the university by acquiring highest marks.

After passing matric he got admission in Presidency College, Kolkata. From there he passed I.S.C. and then studied B.A. in history. In 1930 he obtained the degree and in the examination he came out first class first.

While he was studying in Presidency College he came in touch with a revolutionary group in Bengal. After that he became a target for the police. After getting the B.A. degree he was put into Presidency Jail under the ‘Bengal criminal Law Amendment Act’ from there he was first transferred to Hijli Detention Centre. After that he was again transferred to Bauxa Detention Centre. This Detention Centre was in Alipurduar near a hill. It was very difficult to get books from there but in spite of all the difficulties he tried to collect some books for his studies and he sat for his M.A examination and passed the examination in first division. But he couldn’t come in first he came second in the University. He passed a diploma in Latin while he was still in jail. He prepared for ‘Premchand Ray Scholarship’ exam while in jail. He was finally released from jail in 1938 and in the same year he received a scholarship as a non- collegiate student. These students were known as P.R.S students. After that he received a PhD in economics from Calcutta University. His research topic was ‘Social and Economic History of Indo-Gangetic Plain’. His research paper was later published and this book became the textbook of M.A course in Calcutta University. At the end of 1942 he became the first principle of Srikyle College later in 1946 he joined University of Calcutta as an Assistant Professor. He used to teach history, economics and political science in University of Calcutta. He was attached to University of Calcutta for nearly 15 years.

In 1961 he went to London after acquiring the ‘Ghosh Travelling Fellowship’ to do research in British Museum Library. His research resulted in him writing a book known as ‘Anarchism’. The book was later translated in Bengali also and was named ‘Noirajyabad’. He wanted to publish the Bengali version of his book but couldn’t do so. On 17th of October 1961 he died of heart attack in London’s St. Pang Cross Hospital. His last remains and cremation was organised in London. Later his second wife and Lecturer, Dr. Narayani Basu published his book both in Bengali and in English.

He wrote a school textbook in history also. From 1950 for quite a few years he was the editor of a magazine called ‘Current Affairs’. After his release from jail he wrote a book called ‘B – CLASS’ where the book was mainly regarding his time in jail and the book became very popular among his readers. One of his many popular books called ‘Crossroad of Science and Philosophy’ was critically acclaimed and became very popular within the intellectual section of the society.

While he was studying in college he used to regularly write in a magazine called ‘Benu’. ‘Benu’ was actually a propaganda machine of the revolutionaries or freedom fighters. In his political life he was first affiliated with ‘Srisangha’ and later he joined hands with the famous Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. After Netaji created his own party called Forward Bloc Dr. Atindranath Basu Thakur helped him a lot to create a standing for the party. He was also a part of the magazine called ‘Forward’ and later he got related to Forward Bloc party (Subhas), later he got related to Socialist Party and created a new party called ‘Proja Socialist Party’. In 1952 he got elected from Asansol and became a member of West Bengal State Government. Later in 1957 he became a member of ‘Rajya Sabha’ from ‘Proja Socialist Party’. He was a member of Rajya Sabha till his death. He was also a President of ‘All India Postal Workers Union’.

In the last fifteen years of his life he dedicated more towards teaching than politics. He was an ideal teacher for the students. He is remembered by teachers and students of University of Calcutta till this date.

Education runs in the blood of Basu Thakur family from time immemorial. The proof of the work that is done by the members of the Basu Thakur family in the field of education can be found everywhere from school, college and/or university. It is not at all feasible to give the list of their achievements and books that they published.

Maybe later history will document the achievements of the Basu Thakur family members.