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Girindra Mukerji

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Girindra Mukerji
Born1879 or 1880
Calcutta, British India
EducationCalcutta University
Tokyo Imperial University
University of California, Berkeley
EmployerBengal National College
Notable workThe Hindu in America

Girindra Mukerji (born 1879 or 1880) was an Indian anti-British activist, organizer, and agriculturist. His article "The Hindu in America"[1] has been widely cited as a document describing early Indian immigration to the United States.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Early life

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Mukerji was born in Calcutta, India in 1879 or 1880.[8] He was, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the son of a "Judge of one of the higher courts."[9]

In 1901, he received an AB degree from Calcutta University,[8] then briefly studied in Japan, at the Imperial University in Tokyo, before deciding to study in the United States.[8][10][11]

Life in the United States

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Mukerji moved to the United States in 1904,[12] becoming a student at Oregon Agricultural College.[8][13] While in Oregon, according to Gopal Stavig, he represented the Vedanta Society at the Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland in summer 1905.[14]

He moved to Berkeley, California in April 1904, hoping to study at the University of California, Berkeley; he started working to fund his education, and was a student by 1905.[10][15][16]

Mukerji was a student leader among Indian students at UC Berkeley, described in the media as "having charge of the colony."[17] His time at UC Berkeley was widely covered by American newspapers.

Student activism

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Around 1906, according to British surveillance, Mukerji and Tarak Nath Das worked together as "agitators against British rule." Subsequently, wrote William C. Hopkinson, "Mookerjee and Dass then got together some five or six other students and formed a society called the Samiti, which is considered the most secret among all the societies with Hindu affiliations."[18] The local media would subsequently describe him as a socialist.[19]

In 1907, Mukerji co-founded the Association of Oriental Students at UC Berkeley, the first Asian American organization at the university, with members from India, Japan, China, and Thailand.[20] He served as the organization's president during at least 1907–1908.[9][21][22] While a student, Mukerji also worked as a United States immigration officer from March 1907 to March 1908, interviewing immigrants from India and learning about their labor conditions.[1][15][23] He also helped mediate between working class South Asians and the police in the San Francisco Bay Area.[24]

In November 1907, he published a booklet on American colleges focused on an Indian audience; the release was covered in newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle.[9][22][25] British surveillance reported that his pamphlets were "circulated…widely through India, Japan, China, and other parts where there were Hindu students…"[18] A subsequent article, "The Hindu in America," was published in the Overland Monthly in April 1908,[7] and he was interviewed on "The Condition of Hindu Students in America" in The Modern Review in 1909.[26][27]

In December 1907, Mukerji gave a scathing lecture on the British empire in India to UC Berkeley's Economics Club, which was covered in the San Francisco Chronicle, in an article titled "Hindu Arraigns Britons for the Ruin of India: Calcutta Graduate Scores England for Overtaxing of His People."[28][29]

In January 1908, after his graduation, he led a student protest against J. Lovell Murray, a Christian evangelist who was in Berkeley to give a talk titled "Awakening the Orient" organized by the local Y.M.C.A. Just before Murray was about to enter Stiles Hall to give his lecture, 16 Indian students at UC Berkeley, including Mukerji, asked Murray to remove from his talk any references to the immorality of Hindu priests, and its use in the justification of the occupation of India by the British. Murray refused. Once Murray was finished speaking, Mukerji was invited to respond to the speaker. He spoke against the British occupation, followed by six other students from the group, until the organizers decided to shut down the event.[30][31][32]

Agricultural research

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Mukerji was a student of Professor Eugene W. Hilgard, an expert on agricultural chemistry.[33][34] In 1907–1908, he received a Master of Science from the College of Agriculture at UC Berkeley; his thesis was entitled "A Comparative Study of Soil Columns in the San Joaquin Valley."[35][36][37][38]

University President Benjamin Ide Wheeler, who was present at his farewell, spoke highly of his work and cited him as a role model for other Indians.[39][40] He hoped to be able to apply his learnings, including Utah dry farming techniques, in India.[41][42]

Leaving California, and return to India

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In 1907, the Berkeley Daily Gazette and San Francisco Examiner reported that Mukerji was to take the chair of agriculture at Calcutta University.[43][44]

Mukerji left for New York City in March 1908,[34][45] where he was associated with the Society for the Advancement of India, supporting Indian students.[41] He worked with Myron Phelps, a supporter of Indian freedom; a London Daily Express article critical of the Indian freedom movement described Mukerji as a "clever Hindu agitator" and Phelps' "major-domo."[46][47][48] By 1909, he was living in Massachusetts, developing ideas to create a new library in India.[49] He would later stay at Sister Nivedita's apartment in London.[50]

Sarangadhar Das wrote that after graduating from UC Berkeley in 1908, Mukerji "worked as the Superindending (sic) Chemist in a sugar factory in Porto Rico, Cuba, and now is employed in the Bengal National College."[15]

British surveillance records from 1911 placed Mukerji in the "mills of Cawnpore, United Provinces," where he was "still carrying on, although quite secretly, his agitation against Britain," while remaining in correspondence with students at UC Berkeley.[18]

In 1914, the Hindusthanee Student reported that he was "prospecting in the Central Provinces."[51]

Published works

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Mukerji, Girindra (April 1908). "The Hindu in America". Overland Monthly. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  2. ^ Jane Singh (1988). South Asians in North America: An Annotated and Selected Bibliography. Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies, University of California, Berkeley. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-944613-03-0.
  3. ^ Melendy, Howard Brett (1977). Asians in America: Filipinos, Koreans, and East Indians. Twayne Publishers. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-8057-8414-5.
  4. ^ Chandrasekhar, Sripati (1 April 1982). From India to America: a brief history of immigration, problems of discrimination, admission, and assimilation. Population Review Publications. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-9609080-0-4.
  5. ^ Malik, Iftikhar Haider (1988). US-South Asia relations, 1784-1940: a historical perspective. Area Study Centre for Africa, North & South America, Quaid-i-Azam University. p. 371. ISBN 978-969-8013-02-8.
  6. ^ Gosine, Mahin (1994). The East Indian odyssey: dilemmas of a migrant people. Windsor Press. p. 195. ISBN 9780963931856.
  7. ^ a b McDannell, Colleen, ed. (2001). Religions of the United States in practice. Volume two. Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press. p. 421. ISBN 978-0-691-18813-3.
  8. ^ a b c d "To Raise India From Caste Life". The Oregon Daily Journal. 15 May 1904. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c "HE WANTS MORE HINDOO STUDENTS TO COME HERE: President of Association of Oriental Students Writes Booklet on American Colleges". San Francisco Chronicle. 28 November 1907. p. 11. ProQuest 251664657.
  10. ^ a b "Gives Up Caste for Learning". Oakland Tribune. 22 April 1904. p. 10. Retrieved 5 May 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Outcast for Sake of Study". Berkeley Gazette. 22 April 1904. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Francisco, CA, 1893–1953 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1410, roll 10, line number 11, record id 004893284_00334_10).
  13. ^ "List of Students". Annual catalogue of the Agricultural College of the State of Oregon and Announcements for 1905–1906. Agricultural College bulletin (Corvallis, Or.). Oregon Agricultural College. 1905. p. 139.
  14. ^ Stavig, Gopal (2 October 2010). Western Admirers of Ramakrishna and His Disciples. Advaita Ashrama. p. 751. ISBN 9788175053342.
  15. ^ a b c Das, Sarangadhar (July 1911). "Why Must We Emigrate to the United States of America?". Modern Review: 72. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Renounces Country to Gain Education". The San Francisco Examiner. 24 April 1904. p. 44 – via ProQuest.
  17. ^ "Hindu Students Leave Berkeley". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 17 January 1907. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c Hopkinson, William C. (13 October 1911). "I left Seattle on the 6th instant…". Letter to William W. Cory, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Canada. San Francisco, California. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Starts on a Trip Around the World". Berkeley Daily Gazette. 17 October 1907. p. 2 – via NewspaperArchive. There, he expects to meet Mr. Mukkajee, a Hindoo student, at present in the University of California, who is also a socialist.
  20. ^ "Oriental Students at U.C. Form Association". The Berkeley Daily Gazette. 11 February 1907. pp. 1, 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Chatterjee, Ramananda (March 1908). "Information about American Universities for Oriental Students". The Modern Review. 3: 269–270. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  22. ^ a b "Oriental Student Issues Circular". Berkeley Daily Gazette. 4 December 1907. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Singh, Saint Nihal (January 1909). "The History of Indian Immigration on the Pacific Coast of America". The Modern Review. 5: 55–57 – via Hathitrust.
  24. ^ "Abdella Khan Was Wiley". Oakland Enquirer. 21 October 1907. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Oriental Students Issue Circular". The Daily Californian. 4 December 1907. p. 1 – via HathiTrust.
  26. ^ Singh, Saint Nihal (January 1909). "The Condition of Hindu Students in America". The Modern Review. 5: 53–55 – via Hathitrust.
  27. ^ Gould, Harold A. (3 October 2006). Sikhs, Swamis, Students and Spies: The India Lobby in the United States, 1900–1946. SAGE Publishing India. p. 81. ISBN 978-93-5280-346-0.
  28. ^ "Hindu Arraigns Britons for the Ruin of India: Calcutta Graduate Scores England for Overtaxing of His People". San Francisco Chronicle. 5 December 1907. p. 13. ProQuest 251642649.
  29. ^ "Declares the British are Destroying India". Oakland Enquirer. 5 December 1907. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Hindu Students Flay Missionary". San Francisco Call. 18 January 1908. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ "Hindus and Y.M.C.A. in Altercation". The Berkeley Gazette. Berkeley, California, United States. 11 February 1907. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Hindoo Students Try to Break up Lecture". San Francisco Examiner. 19 January 1908. p. 25. Retrieved 5 May 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Soil Brought From India". Oakland Enquirer. 26 July 1907. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b "Bid Farewell to Calcutta Student". San Francisco Call. 16 March 1908. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  35. ^ Mukerji, Girindra (1907). Comparison of Soils in Arid and Humid Climates. University of California.
  36. ^ Directory of graduates of the University of California, 1864–1916. Berkeley, California: University of California. 1916. p. 245. hdl:2027/uc1.b3239863.
  37. ^ Bulletin: University of California (1868–1952). University of California. 1892. p. 17. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  38. ^ "Sheepskins are Presented to Successful Candidates". Berkeley Daily Gazette. 13 May 1908. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Will Establish Hindu School". The Berkeley Gazette. 16 March 1908. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Ovation for Hindu". Oakland Tribune. 17 March 1908. p. 4 – via NewspaperArchive.
  41. ^ a b "Young Hindus to Study Here: Society for the Advancement of India Aiding Them". The Sun. 3 June 1908. p. 12. ISSN 1940-7831. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  42. ^ Singh, Saint Nihal (January 1909). "Dry Farming for Parts of India". The Modern Review. 5: 52–53 – via Hathitrust.
  43. ^ "Successful Students Rewarded". Berkeley Daily Gazette. 23 December 1907. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  44. ^ "Students of U. of C. Awarded Degrees". The San Francisco Examiner. 23 December 1907. p. 5.
  45. ^ Manhattan and Bronx, 1909. Trow Directory. 1909. p. 1032. Mukerji Girindra lawyer 1142 Park Av
  46. ^ Ganachari, Aravind Gururao (1991). "Myron H. Phelps (1856–1916) : An Early American Advocate of India's Freedom". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 52: 650–657. JSTOR 44142670 – via JSTOR.
  47. ^ Samanta, Amiya K. (1995). Terrorism in Bengal: Terrorists outside Bengal deriving inspiration from and having links with Bengal terrorists. Vol. 5. India: Government of West Bengal. p. 78.
  48. ^ "Mysterious Leader of Hindoos". Vancouver Daily World. 6 July 1909. pp. 1, 8 – via Newspapers.com. …India House in New York and Phelps was appointed President…he appointed as his major-domo a clever Hindu agitator, one Girindra Mukerji, a graduate of Calcutta University, who traveled from California to New York literally living on sedition as the easiest means of support. Into Mukerji's hands passed all the loyal young students who reached New York, and it is safe to believe that most of them were corrupted and sent back to India full of revolutionary ideas and seditious impulses.
  49. ^ Mukerji, Girindra (9 March 1909). "May I take the liberty…". Letter to Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Newburyport, Massachusetts: Schlesinger Library.
  50. ^ Silvestri, Michael (2009). "Notes". Ireland and India: Nationalism, Empire, and Memory. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 229. ISBN 9780230216747. When she returned to London due to health problems, a prominent Bengali revolutionary named Girindra Nath Mukherjee stayed at her flat there. C.A. Tegart, 'A Note on the Ramakrishna Mission' (1914) in TIB IV: 1350-1352
  51. ^ "News Notes: Activities of Some Hindusthanee Students Who Have Returned Home". The Hindusthanee Student. Chicago, Illinois: Hindusthan Association of America: 53. April 1914 – via South Asian American Digital Archive. Girindranath Mukerji, prospecting in the Central Provinces.
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