Kanak Mukherjee

She was the Convener of Bengal Women's Sub-Committee of CPI. When the party was divided in 1964, she joined CPI(M). She was a member of CPI(M) West Bengal State Committee from 1978 to 1998 and a member of CPI(M) Central Committee from 1989 to 1998. In 1943, she joined the first Party Congress of CPI at Bombay as a representative. She worked as a Party Whole-timer for some time. In 1941 Kanak Dasgupta married Saroj Mukherjee who was also a Communist leader.^[4] She was elected twice (in 1978 and 1984) to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian Parliament) from 1978 to 1990.^[3]

In 1942-43 famine in Bengal, she worked as a leader of the Bangiyo Mahila Atmaraksha Samity. At the same time she became an activist of women's movement. Later she became a leader of the Ganatantrik Mahila Samity, she also helped to found this organization.^[1] From 1957 to 1967, she was the editor of "Ghare-Baire" magazine. In 1968, she was the founder-editor of "Eksathe" magazine.^[3]

She graduated with B.A. degree and taught in a school for sometime. From 1967 to 1981, she was a Professor of English in Calcutta Women's College. In 1998 she was awarded the title of "Bhubanmohini Dasi" award by Calcutta University for her contribution in the field of literature.^[3]

She died in Kolkata after being ill for days on 9 March 2005.^[2]

• Saroj Mukherjee
• Communist Party of India (Marxist)