Abala Bose Biography 
Abala Bose was an educationalist and Bengali social worker known for her efforts in the field of women’s education as well as her efforts for uplifting the living conditions of widows. She was born as the second daughter of renowned Brahmo reformer Durga Mohan Das on 8 April 1864 at Barisal. She is the sister of noted Bengali figures, Satish Ranjan Das and Sarala Roy and cousin of Sudhi Ranjan Das and Chittaranjan Das. She was the wife of famous Indian scientist, Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. She is also known as one of earliest Indian feminists.
She did her schooling at Banga Mahila Vidyalaya and Bethune School and was one of earliest students. She passed entrance with a scholarship in 1881, but couldn’t get a seat at Kolkata Medical College. Later she was sent to Chennai with a scholarship. But she couldn’t complete medicine due to her ill health and later got married to J. C. Bose in 1887. When J. C. Boss received knighthood in 1916, she became Lady Bose. She took up the administration of Brahmo Balika Vidayala after her elder sister, Sarala Roy gave up this charge. She emphasized the significance of women’s education and in 1925 established, she ‘Mahila Shilpabhavan’ with the aim of teaching needle work and tailoring to women.
She set up Nari Shiksha Samiti for the spread of women’s education and for providing financial assistance to widows. Now this organization has established more than 200 schools in rural areas. Vidyasagar Bani Bhaban, Mahila Shilpa Bhaban and Bani Bhaban Training School are other organizations set up by Abala Bose for the uplift of women including young widows. After the death of J. C. Bose, she donated 1 lakh Indian rupees to set up the Sister Nivedita Women’s Education Fund. She has also served as the secretary of Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya (1910 -1936).
Published: N/A
Updated: January 24, 2014
