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Abhishek Banerjee

2026-06-04T10:58:06Z

45.248.65.243:

{{short description|Indian politician (born 1987)}}
{{For|the actor|Abhishek Banerjee (actor)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Abhishek Banerjee Photo.jpg
| caption = Abhishek Banerjee, 2026
| office = [[All India Trinamool Congress|Leader of All India Trinamool Congress]] in [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start = 4 August 2025
| term_end =
| successor =
| predecessor = [[Sudip Bandyopadhyay]]
| deputy = [[Satabdi Roy]]
| office1 = [[Trinamool Congress|National General Secretary of All India Trinamool Congress]]
| 1blankname1 = Chairperson
| 1namedata1 = [[Mamata Banerjee]]
| term_start1 = 5 June 2021
|term_end1 = 3 June 2026
| predecessor1 = [[Subrata Bakshi]]
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| constituency3 = [[Diamond Harbour (Lok Sabha constituency)|Diamond Harbour, West Bengal]]
| term_start3 = 16 May 2014
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 = [[Somendra Nath Mitra]]
| successor3 =
| office4 = [[President (corporate title)|President]] of [[Trinamool Youth Congress]]
| term_start4 = 21 July 2011
| term_end4 = 5 June 2021
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 = [[Saayoni Ghosh]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|7 November 1987}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], West Bengal, India
| alma_mater = [[Indian Institute of Planning and Management]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]], [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])
| awards =
| party = [[Trinamool Congress|All India Trinamool Congress]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Rujira Narula|2012}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengal coal scam: Abhishek Banerjee's wife detained at Kolkata airport, called for questioning by ED|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bengal-coal-scam-abhishek-banerjee-wife-rujira-narula-banerjee-detained-kolkata-airport-called-questioning-ed-2388940-2023-06-05 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.indiatoday.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=লুচি বেলতে ব্যস্ত রুজিরা, গুরু নানকের জন্মদিনে পুত্র-কন্যাকে পাশে নিয়ে লঙ্গরসেবা অভিষেক-পত্নীর|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/abhishek-banerjees-wife-rujira-narula-banerjee-seen-busy-helping-the-langar-on-guru-nanaks-birthday-dgtl/cid/1477720#goog_rewarded |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.anandabazar.com |language=bn}}</ref>
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Mamata Banerjee]] ([[paternal aunt]])
| profession = [[Politician]]
| education =
}}

'''Abhishek Banerjee''' (born 7 November 1987) is an Indian politician who had been a Member of Parliament for [[Diamond Harbour (Lok Sabha constituency)|Diamond Harbour]], West Bengal, since 2014 and President of Trinamool Youth Congress since 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mamata-banerjee-sets-stage-for-nephew-abhishek-for-bigger-role-in-trinamool-congress-2027112 |title=Mamata Banerjee sets stage for nephew Abhishek for bigger role in Trinamool Congress |author =PTI|quote =Entrusting Trinamool Congress MP and nephew Abhishek Banerjee with more responsibilities, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today merged the 'Trinamool Congress Yuva' with the party's youth wing. |access-date = 14 April 2020 |date=17 October 2014|publisher = [[Daily News and Analysis]] }}</ref>

Banerjee was a member of the [[Standing Committee]] of Commerce in 2014, as well as a member of the Consultative Committee under the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs in 2014. He also served on the Railway Convention Committee from April 2015 to May 2019.<ref name="POI LSOW">{{cite web|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4843 |title= Banerjee, Shri Abhishek |website= Lok Sabha |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128141707/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4843 |archive-date= Nov 28, 2022 }}</ref> of External Affairs since September 2019. On 5 June 2021 he was appointed the general secretary of Trinamool Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 5, 2021|first=Indrajit|last=Kundu|title=Trinamool Congress reshuffle: MP Abhishek Banerjee made general secretary|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trinamool-congress-tmc-mamata-abhishek-banerjee-sayoni-ghosh-1811255-2021-06-05|access-date=2021-06-12|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mamata appoints Abhishek Banerjee TMC as general secretary|url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/mamata-appoints-abhishek-banerjee-tmc-general-secretary-9559061.htm|access-date=2021-06-12|website=cnbctv18.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Abhishek Banerjee is the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister [[Mamata Banerjee]]. He was born into a Bengali Hindu Brahmin family.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elections India - Abhishek Banerjee Biography|url=http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/abhishek-banerjee.html}}</ref> He was born and raised in Kolkata, [[India]]. Banerjee went to [[Nava Nalanda High School]] and [[M.P. Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School]], both in [[Kolkata]]. After relocating to Delhi, Banerjee studied for his [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] and [[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]] degrees in [[Human resource management|Human Resource]] and [[Marketing]] at the now-defunct and contentious [[Indian Institute of Planning and Management]]<ref name="POI LSOW" /> in 2009, New Delhi. On February 24, 2012, Banerjee married Rujira Narula,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengal coal scam: Abhishek Banerjee's wife detained at Kolkata airport, called for questioning by ED|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bengal-coal-scam-abhishek-banerjee-wife-rujira-narula-banerjee-detained-kolkata-airport-called-questioning-ed-2388940-2023-06-05 |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.indiatoday.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=লুচি বেলতে ব্যস্ত রুজিরা, গুরু নানকের জন্মদিনে পুত্র-কন্যাকে পাশে নিয়ে লঙ্গরসেবা অভিষেক-পত্নীর|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/abhishek-banerjees-wife-rujira-narula-banerjee-seen-busy-helping-the-langar-on-guru-nanaks-birthday-dgtl/cid/1477720#goog_rewarded |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.anandabazar.com |language=bn}}</ref> a [[Thai people|Thai]] national. They have a son and a daughter together.<ref name="POI LSOW" />

==Political career==
Abhishek Banerjee entered politics as a member of the Trinamool Congress in 2011, after the party ousted the 34-year-old [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] regime by winning the Assembly Election that year. In 2011, Banerjee was elected National President of the All India Trinamool Youth Congress, establishing him as the Trinamool Congress's youth icon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aitcofficial.org |title=All India Trinamool Congress Official Website }}</ref>

Banerjee represented the TMC in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as a candidate from the Diamond Harbour constituency.<ref name="32 newly elected under-35 MPs & what they intend to do for their constituencies">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=25 May 2014 |title=32 newly elected under-35 MPs & what they intend to do for their constituencies |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/32-newly-elected-under-35-mps-what-they-intend-to-do-for-their-constituencies/articleshow/35569860.cms |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720133857/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/32-newly-elected-under-35-mps-what-they-intend-to-do-for-their-constituencies/articleshow/35569860.cms |archivedate=20 July 2025 |accessdate=20 July 2025 |publisher=The Economic Times}}</ref> He defeated his closest opponent, Abul Hasnat of the CPI(M), by a wide margin.<ref name="elections.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/west-bengal/parliamentary-constituencies/diamond-harbour.html |title= Elections.in - India's First Elections Website }}</ref> At that time, Banerjee was the youngest parliamentarian in the lower house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/youth-parliament-mla-mp-young-2019-lok-sabha-election-results-5760545/ |title=Youth Parliament: What it means to have 64 MPs aged below 40|quote =As nephew of party chief Mamata Banerjee, he rose swiftly within the party. In 2011, at 23, he became national president of the All India Trinamool Youth Congress. Soon after his debut election, Banerjee was made a member of several key parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Commerce.|publisher =The Indian Express }}</ref> He also organised the M.P. Cup Football Tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aitcofficial.org/tmyc-photo-gallery/?aid=83653 |title= All India Trinamool Congress Official Website }}</ref> to encourage young people in his district to participate in sports and physical exercise. Following the successful conclusion of his first term, Banerjee defeated the closest opponent from the [[BJP]] by a margin of 320,594 votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election from Diamond Harbour.<ref name="elections.in" /> Abhishek broke the previous record by winning the Diamond Harbour constituency of the 2024 Lok Sabha for the third time in a row with 7,10,930 votes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-05 |title=Abhishek sets new record in WB, wins by margin of over 7.1 lakh votes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/abhishek-sets-new-record-in-wb-wins-by-margin-of-over-7-1-lakh-votes/articleshow/110713896.cms |access-date=2024-06-06 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name="Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls">{{cite news|last1=The Economic Times|title=Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/bullish-wins-bearish-losses-here-are-the-key-contests-of-2024-lok-sabha-results/articleshow/110713130.cms?from=mdr|accessdate=27 July 2024|date=6 June 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727153249/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/bullish-wins-bearish-losses-here-are-the-key-contests-of-2024-lok-sabha-results/articleshow/110713130.cms?from=mdr|archivedate=27 July 2024}}</ref>

===Partner of the Indian National Developmental Alliance's coordination committee===
At the [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] convention in Mumbai on September 1, 2023, Banerjee was named a member of the Coordination Committee.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-19 |title=Opposition alliance named 'INDIA', 11-member coordination committee to decide on all important issues |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/opposition-alliance-named-india-to-hold-third-meeting-in-mumbai/articleshow/101860451.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-09-01 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Mritunjay |title=Sharad Pawar, Tejashwi, Raghav Chadha Named In I.N.D.I.A's 13-Member Coordination Panel |url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/india-coordination-committee-announcement-members-arvind-kejriwal-mamata-banerjee-nitish-kumar-1626766 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=ABP Live |language=en}}</ref> The coordination committee will decide the national agenda, common campaign issues and common program of the country's main opposition alliance ([[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|I.N.D.I.A.]]).{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

== Legal Issues ==

Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee were summoned by the [[Enforcement Directorate]] in August 2021 in an alleged money laundering case involving coal smuggling. The criminal case in this matter had originally been registered by CBI after which the ED initiated money laundering probe into alleged theft in the government coalfields.<ref>{{cite web |title= Trinamool's Abhishek Banerjee, Wife Summoned In Money Laundering Case|url= https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trinamool-leader-abhishek-banerjee-wife-rujira-summoned-by-enforcement-directorate-in-money-laundering-case-2521619s|website=The NDTV|access-date=26 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

He was questioned in New Delhi in September 2021, followed by second round of questioning in March 2022 in Kolkata.<ref>{{cite web |title= TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee appears before ED in money laundering case|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tmc-mp-abhishek-banerjee-appears-before-ed-in-money-laundering-case/article36315027.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=26 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Mamata Banerjee's Nephew, Wife to Appear Before ED for Interrogation in Coal Scam Case|url= https://thewire.in/government/mamata-abhishek-banerjee-rujira-ed|website=The Wire|access-date=26 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

He appeared before ED for the third time in November 2023 in Bengal school jobs scam, inked to alleged improprieties in recruitment of teacher in state-aided schools.<ref>{{cite web |title= TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee appears before ED in connection with Bengal school jobs scam|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tmc-mp-abhishek-banerjee-appears-before-ed-in-connection-with-bengal-school-jobs-scam/article67515871.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=26 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee grilled by ED for nine hours over teacher recruitment scam|url= https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2023/Sep/13/tmc-leader-abhishek-banerjee-grilled-by-ed-for-nine-hours-over-teacher-recruitment-scam-2614531.html|website=The New Indian express|access-date=26 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= "I Have Nothing To Hide": Trinamool's Abhishek Banerjee Appears Before Probe Agency|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/i-have-nothing-to-hide-trinamools-abhishek-banerjee-appears-before-probe-agency-4559792|website=NDTV|access-date=26 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

==May 2026 Attack==

On 30 May 2026, a mob attacked Banerjee in Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district at around 3 PM. Citizens including a group of women protested against him with black flags and eggs. These eggs were hurled at Abhishek Banerjee followed by physical assault. Eggs and pieces of brick were thrown at him, while Banerjee saved himself by wearing a cricket helmet given by a party worker. He was given slaps, punches and physical assault, while slogans being continuously chanted against him. <ref>{{cite web |title= 'Chor, Chor To Eggs, Stones: How Attack On Abhishek Banerjee Unfolded|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/abhishek-banerjee-attack-in-west-bengal-trinamool-congress-chor-chor-to-eggs-stones-11570549|website=NDTV|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

Banerjee was taken to the private hospital Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals on EM Bypass, where he was initially examined but not admitted. Then he was taken to Belle Vue Clinic at Minto Park, where he was given further evaluation. He was out of hospital at around 11 pm. <ref>{{cite web |title= You should be ashamed’: Mamata’s heated hospital exchange hours after Abhishek Banerjee faces stone pelting|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/you-should-be-ashamed-mamatas-heated-hospital-exchange-hours-after-abhishek-banerjee-faces-stone-pelting-10716734/|website=Indian express|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= 'He could have died': Mamata vs hospital over Abhishek Banerjee's injuries after Sonarpur attack|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/he-could-have-died-mamata-banerjee-vs-hospital-over-abhishek-banerjee-injuries-after-sonarpur-attack-101780193151834.html|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

Doctors at both the places called Banerjee's injuries superficial, with minor chest bruises, saying that hospital admission was not medically required.

This incidence resulted in big political controversy, with Mamata Banerjee alleging BJP for this incidence and also alleging the hospitals to working in tandem with the political masters on political and administrative pressure. In contrast, BJP has denied having any linkage to the given incidence. Instead, it has alleged Mamata Banerjee of threatening the hospital administration. <ref>{{cite web |title= ‘Victim of state-sponsored terrorism’: TMC's Abhishek Banerjee day after attack|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/victim-of-state-sponsored-terrorism-tmcs-abhishek-banerjee-thanked-rahul-gandhi-day-after-attack/cid/2163308#goog_rewarded|website=Telegraph|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

05 persons have been arrested so far in the given incidence, though the BJP Government in West Bengal has called then TMC workers. <ref>{{cite web |title= Five arrested for attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/five-arrested-for-attack-on-abhishek-mamata-says-police-pressurised-hospitals-not-to-admit-him/article71044003.ece|website= The Hindu|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title= Big Twist In Abhishek Banerjee Attack Case: Arrested Accused Linked To Ex-TMC MLA Lovely Maitrae|url=https://www.news18.com/india/big-twist-in-abhishek-banerjee-attack-case-arrested-accused-linked-to-ex-tmc-mla-lovely-maitra-ws-l-10122338.html|website= News 18|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] (INDIA or INDI Alliance), right from [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Akhilesh Yadav]] and others, has wholeheartedly supported Mamata Banerjee on this cause. <ref>{{cite web |title= R ahul Gandhi called me- Abhishek Banerjee|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-called-me-mamata-says-lop-offered-to-fly-abhishek-banerjee-to-hyderabad-for-treatment/articleshow/131417867.cms|website= Times of india|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title= Attack On Abhishek Banerjee In Bengal Gives INDIA Bloc Fresh Momentum|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/attack-on-abhishek-banerjee-in-bengal-gives-india-bloc-fresh-momentum-11572450|website= NDTV|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile Mamata has announced public protest on 02 June against the attacks on Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee in rapid succession. <ref>{{cite web |title= After Abhishek Banerjee, attack against Kalyan Banerjee ignites row, Mamata to protest on June 2; BJP says reflection of public anger
|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/after-abhishek-banerjee-attack-against-kalyan-banerjee-ignites-row-mamata-to-protest-on-june-2-bjp-says-reflection-of-public-anger20260531222321/|website= ANI|access-date=31 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2026 signature forgery case and teacher recruitment investigation ===

In May 2026, the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) began investigating allegations that Abhishek Banerjee's signature had been forged on documents linked to appointments in state-run schools. The matter emerged amid investigations into alleged irregularities in the teacher recruitment process. CID served a notice asking Banerjee to appear before investigators and provide his statement regarding the authenticity of the signatures in question.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abhishek Banerjee moves Calcutta HC against signature forgery allegations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/abhishek-banerjee-moves-calcutta-hc-againstsignature-forgery-allegations/article71056145.ece |work=The Hindu |date=31 May 2026}}</ref>

After receiving the notice, Banerjee sought fifteen days' time from the CID, citing medical reasons and treatment following injuries sustained during an attack on him in Sonarpur. CID officers subsequently visited his residence in Kolkata and served a second summons, asking him to cooperate with the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |title=CID revisits Abhishek Banerjee's residence in forged signature case after TMC MP seeks 15 days citing illness |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cid-revisits-abhishek-banerjees-residence-in-forged-signature-case-after-tmc-mp-seeks-15-days-citing-illness-2920430-2026-06-01 |work=India Today |date=1 June 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fake signature row: CID serves second summons to Abhishek |url=https://dailypioneer.com/news/slug-lite/fake-signature-row-cid-serves-second-summons-to-abhishek?year=2026 |work=The Pioneer |date=2026}}</ref>

On 30 May 2026, Banerjee moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the CID proceedings and seeking relief against the notices issued to him. His petition argued that the allegations and subsequent investigation were unjustified, while the CID maintained that his statement was required as part of the ongoing inquiry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abhishek Banerjee moves Calcutta HC against signature forgery allegations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/abhishek-banerjee-moves-calcutta-hc-againstsignature-forgery-allegations/article71056145.ece |work=The Hindu |date=31 May 2026}}</ref>

Separately, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Banerjee in connection with its investigation into the alleged teacher recruitment scam and related money-laundering aspects of the case. The summons was issued while the CID's signature-forgery investigation was continuing, resulting in simultaneous inquiries by state and central agencies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Troubles mount for TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee after CID, ED summons him in teachers' recruitment case |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/troubles-mount-for-tmc-mp-abhishek-banerjee-after-cid-ed-summons-him-in-teachers-recruitment-case/articleshow/131496476.cms |work=The Times of India |date=1 June 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trouble mounts for TMC MP: CID notice pending, ED summons Abhishek Banerjee in teacher recruitment scam |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/trouble-mounts-for-tmc-mp-cid-notice-pending-ed-summons-abhishek-banerjee-in-teacher-recruitment-scam-10723011/ |work=The Indian Express |date=1 June 2026}}</ref>

According to reports, the ED directed Banerjee to appear before investigators in New Delhi for questioning regarding the alleged recruitment scam. Banerjee denied wrongdoing and described the actions against him as politically motivated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Troubles mount for TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee after CID, ED summons him in teachers' recruitment case |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/troubles-mount-for-tmc-mp-abhishek-banerjee-after-cid-ed-summons-him-in-teachers-recruitment-case/articleshow/131496476.cms |work=The Times of India |date=1 June 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trouble mounts for TMC MP: CID notice pending, ED summons Abhishek Banerjee in teacher recruitment scam |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/trouble-mounts-for-tmc-mp-cid-notice-pending-ed-summons-abhishek-banerjee-in-teacher-recruitment-scam-10723011/ |work=The Indian Express |date=1 June 2026}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{S-par|in-ls}}
{{Lok Sabha succession box
| constituency = Diamond Harbour
| before= [[Somen Mitra]]
| after=
| years= [[2014 Indian general election|2014]] – }}
{{s-end}}

{{18th Lok Sabha members from West Bengal|state=expanded}}
{{17th Lok Sabha members from all states}}
{{16th Lok Sabha members from all states}}

==External links==
*[https://aitcofficial.org/trinamool-youth-congress/ TMC youth congress president Official]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banerjee, Abhishek}}
[[Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Planning and Management alumni]]
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:India MPs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from West Bengal]]
[[Category:People from South 24 Parganas district]]
[[Category:India MPs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]

Chinthamani Ragoonatha Chary

2026-06-03T06:19:10Z

45.248.65.243:

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chinthamani Ragoonatha Chary
| image = Ragoonathachary.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1822 or 1828
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[British India]]
| death_date = 5 February 1880
| death_place = Madras, British India
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| residence =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| known_for = discovery of variable star ''[[R Reticuli]]''
| education =
| employer = [[Madras Observatory]]
| occupation = astronomer
| title =
| height =
| weight =
| religion =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Chinthamani Ragoonatha Chary''' (1822 or "17 March" 1828 – 5 February 1880) was an Indian [[astronomer]] who worked at the [[Madras Observatory]] along with [[N.R. Pogson]]. He was the first Indian Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and is known for his studies of [[variable star]]s and the discovery of ''[[R Reticuli]]'' in 1867.

== Early life ==

Little is known about Chary's personal life. It is believed that he was born in [[Madras]] in about 1822.<ref name="cornelluniv">{{cite journal | first1=N. Kameswara | last1=Rao | first2=A. | last2=Vagiswari | first3=Priya | last3=Thakur | first4=Christina | last4=Birdie | title=C. Ragoonatha Chary and his variable stars | date=2009 | journal=[[Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage]] | volume=12| issue=3| pages=201–210 | url=http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2009JAHH...12..201R | bibcode = 2009JAHH...12..201R | accessdate = 25 February 2016 |arxiv=0908.3081}}</ref> However, in official records, his birthdate has been recorded as 1828 and given in some sources as 17 March.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> Chary's ancestors were Hindu astronomers who prepared Hindu astrological almanacs called ''[[Panchangam]]''s.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> He lived in [[Nungambakkam]] and joined the [[Madras Observatory]] in 1840 as a "[[coolie]]" under [[Thomas Glanville Taylor]].<ref name="cornelluniv" />

== Career ==
By 1864, Chary had gathered enough knowledge of [[mathematics]] to be appointed as [[astronomer]] at the observatory.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> He forged a productive partnership with [[N. R. Pogson]], director of the Madras observatory.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> His main responsibility at the observatory was to observe stars and determine their positions for the Madras Catalogues.<ref name="cornelluniv" /><ref name="obit_mnras">{{cite journal
| title = Chintamanny Ragoonatha Chary
| journal = [[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
| volume = 41
| number = 4
| pages = 180–183
| publisher = [[Royal Astronomical Society]]
| date = 1881
| bibcode = 1881MNRAS..41..180.
| url = http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1881MNRAS..41..180.
| accessdate = 25 February 2016
| doi=10.1093/mnras/41.4.180
| doi-access = free
}}</ref>

During the [[solar eclipse]] of 18 August 1868, Chary was given the task of conducting observations from a village called [[Wanaparthy]] situated to the north of [[Kurnool]], in the district of Mehaboobnagar.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> He was also a part of the team which observed the eclipse of 12 December 1871 at [[Avanashi]].<ref name="cornelluniv" /> In 1874, Chary wrote a [[treatise]] on the transit of [[Venus]] which was published in several local languages.<ref name="currentscience">{{cite journal|title=Chintamani Ragoonathachari and contemporary Indian astronomy|first=B. S.|last=Shylaja|journal=Current Science|volume=96|issue=9|date=10 May 2009|pages=1271–1273|url=http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/may102009/1271.pdf}}</ref>

== Discoveries ==
[[File:Transit_of_Venus_Urdu_1874.jpg|thumb|Urdu translation on the transit of Venus (1874)]]
Chary discovered the [[variable star]] ''[[R Reticuli]]'' in 1867.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> He was the first Indian in modern history to make a significant astronomical discovery. Chary noted that the star which was observed by astronomer T. Moottooswamy Pillai with a [[Meridian Circle]] on 9 February 1864 was not visible when observed in January 1866 but could be spotted on 18 January 1867.<ref name="cornelluniv" />

Some sources also attribute the discovery of another variable star ''V Cephei'' or ''U Cephei'' to him but same has not been confirmed by the Madras Observatory.<ref name="cornelluniv" />

== Death ==

Chary fell ill and died on 5 February 1880.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> In an obituary to Chary, ''[[The Madras Mail]]'' wrote

{{quote|His... ready skill as an observer, combined with accuracy and speed in computation, and a fair and useful amount of self-acquired mathematical knowledge, rendered him, until disabled by impaired health, invaluable in the Observatory, and the chief share in the catalogue of stars in hand, with the Transit Circle, since 1862, comprising already of over 38,000 separate observations, is due to his personal exertions.<ref name="obit_mnras"/>}}

== Family ==

One of Chary's sons Chinthamani Raghava Chary was also an astronomer and helped Chary in preparing a ''Drigganita Panchang'' for the year 1880.<ref name="cornelluniv" /> One of Chary's relatives P. Raghavachari served as third assistant at the Madras Observatory in 1877.<ref name="cornelluniv" />

== Honours ==

Chary was elected [[fellow]] of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] on 12 January 1872 - the first Indian to be elected to the society.<ref name="cornelluniv" />

== Publications ==

Chary had three papers published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (all before his election to the Society)

Volume 19 (1859), p.337, On the Determination of Personal Equation by Observations of the Projected Image of the Sun. (letter to [[William Stephen Jacob|W S Jacob]] (Madras Observatory Director, 1848-1859))<ref>{{Cite web |title=1859MNRAS..19..337C Page 337 |url=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1859MNRAS..19..337C |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=articles.adsabs.harvard.edu}}</ref>

Volume 28 (1867), p.193, Occultations visible in the Month of August, 1868, at Madras, and along the Shadow Path of the Total Eclipse of the Sun in India. (communicated by N R Pogson)<ref>{{Cite web |title=1868MNRAS..28..193C Page 193 |url=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1868MNRAS..28..193C |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=articles.adsabs.harvard.edu}}</ref>

Volume 31 (1871), p.137, On the Total Eclipse of the Sun, on December the 11th, 1871, as visible in the Madras Presideency. (communicated by N R Pogson)<ref>{{Cite web |title=1871MNRAS..31..137R Page 137 |url=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1871MNRAS..31..137R |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=articles.adsabs.harvard.edu}}</ref>

In 1874, Chary wrote a book on the transit of [[Venus]] in English and six Indian languages, Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu in the form of a ''vivada'' or dialogue between two individuals.<ref name="cornelluniv" />

==See also==
*[[Drigganita]]

== Notes ==

{{Reflist}}

== References ==

* {{cite journal|title=Madras Meridian Circle Observations of Fixed Stars during 1862 to 1887|journal=Indian Journal of History of Science|first=S. N.|last=Sen|volume=24|issue=4|pages=257–283|year=1989|url=http://202.41.82.144/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b60_257.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402120800/http://202.41.82.144/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b60_257.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-04-02}}
* {{cite web|last=Venkateswaran T. V.|title=Chinthamani Ragoonathachary and Secularisation of Time During the Late Nineteenth Century Madras Presidency|url=http://web.gnowledge.org/episteme3/pro_pdfs/04-tvv.pdf|work=Proceeding No 521 of March 26, 1878, Fr St George.|accessdate=30 May 2013}}
*{{cite DNB|wstitle=Chary, Chintamanny Ragoonatha|first=Agnes Mary |last=Clerke|volume=10}}

== See also ==
* [[Indian astronomy]]
* [[Visvanatha Sastriyar]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chary, Chinthamani Ragoonatha}}

[[Category:19th-century Indian astronomers]]
[[Category:1820s births]]
[[Category:1880 deaths]]
[[Category:Scientists from Chennai]]

Apra village

2026-06-02T12:25:43Z

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