Gopal Patha (Gopal Chandra Mukhopadhyay) — Biography

Gopal Chandra Mukhopadhyay (Bangla: গোপালচন্দ্র মুখোপাধ্যায়) or Gopal Chandra Mukherjee (Bangla: গোপালচন্দ্র মুখার্জি), also known as Gopal Patha (বাংলা: গোপাল পাঁঠা), 1913–2001 was an Indian business person (shop owner, butcher by profession) and social activist who played a prominent role in the communal tensions and retaliatory violence during the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946. He is primarily known for leading organised Hindu resistance during the Direct Action Day riots, which erupted in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in August 1946.

Early life

Gopal Chandra Mukherjee was born
in 1913 and belonged to a traditional 
Hindu Brahmin family

Gopal Chandra Mukherjee was born in 1913 into a Hindu Brahmin family in Calcutta, in the Bengal Presidency of British India. He belonged to a traditional Hindu family and grew up in the Bowbazar area of central Kolkata. He was a butcher by profession. His family business dealt in meat, especially goat meat, which earned him the nickname Patha (meaning “goat” in Bengali).

He was not involved in any political party but was associated with local self-defence groups and had connections with neighbourhood youths and leaders.

Role in 1946 Calcutta Riots

In response to the Muslim League's call for Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946, which led to widespread rioting and bloodshed, Gopal Patha emerged as a key figure among Hindu youths seeking to defend their communities. When news of killings of Hindu people began to spread, he quickly mobilised local networks to organise counter-attacks, with the stated goal of retaliating and protecting Hindu neighbourhoods.

He coordinated with several small groups across Calcutta, supplying weapons such as iron rods, knives, and makeshift bombs. His actions, while condemned for fuelling retaliatory violence, were hailed by some as self-defence amid a breakdown of law and order. His leadership contributed to the tit-for-tat communal violence that engulfed the city for several days.

Later in 1946, Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Kolkata urging non‑violence. Gopal Patha reportedly refused, saying: “I won't lay down even a nail if it was used to defend Hindus”. His defiance underscored adherence to self‑defence over pacifism.

Gopal Chandra Mukherjee or Gopal Patha played a crucial role
to protect the Hindu people on the "Direct Action Day"
Image source: Anuj Dhar's 𝕏 post

Later life

Following the Independence and the Partition of India in 1947, Gopal largely withdrew from public life. He continued his business in Calcutta and maintained a low profile, avoiding political engagement. He was remembered by some locals as a figure of strength during a chaotic time. He died in Kolkata in 2001.

Legacy

Gopal Chandra Mukherjee or Gopal Patha remains an important figure in Indian history. Supporters view him as a community protector during a time of administrative collapse, while critics point to the escalation of violence his actions contributed to. His story is often referenced in the broader historical discussion of partition-era violence in Bengal.

In the upcoming movie "The Bengal Files" (2025), directed by Vivek Agnihotri, actor Sourav Das will play the role of Gopal.

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This page was last updated on: 8 July 2025
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