Born: November 5, 1870, Kolkata ; Died : June 16, 1925, Darjeeling Deshabandhu C. R. Das was an Indian politician and Founder-leader of the Swaraj Party in Bengal under British rule. Educated at London Missionary society's school and Presidency College, Calcutta he later joined the Middle Temple, London and was called to Bar (1892). On return he started practice at the Calcutta high Court and first came into prominence as a Counsel for defence in the Alipore Bomb Case. He joined the Indian National Congress as a delegate in 1906. his active part in politics began in 1917 when he was invited to preside over the Bengal Provincial Conference.

Two years later he served on the committee set up by the Congress to enquire into the reign of terror in Amritsar. In 1920 he threw himself, heart and soul, into the Non-Cooperation movement initiated by Gandhiji and gave up his immensely lucrative profession as a lawyer. He was elected President of Gaya session of the Congress in 1922. After Gandhiji had suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement Chittaranjan organised the Swarajya Party and by planned obstructionist tactics within the Bengal council, paralysed the constitution introduced by the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.

Endowed with literary talents of a high order, he was the author of several volumes of poems- Malancha, Mala, Sagar Sangit. his acts of superb sacrifice in the service of the country- the giving up of everything he possessed- won for him the loving epithet of 'Deshabandhu'.