Kamini Kumar Dutta: A legal Juggernaut

Abdullah Al Arif
Kamini Kumar Dutta was a professionally committed lawyer of his time. He profoundly
performed both in civil as well as in criminal cases and also political cases. Mr. Dutta was born
in 1879 at Srikail village, P.S. Muradnagar, Comilla North sub divison. Mr. dutta had a srong
academic background as he passed B.A. examination with distinction. On obtaining B.L. degree
he served as Munsif in his early career. Later on he left the service and embraced the glorious
uncertainties of the legal profession as an advocate.
His political life is characteriseed by liberal and totally non communal approach to politics which
earned him the faith, trust of both Hindu and Muslim communities. He played an active role in
the non-cooperation movement of the Indian National congress. He was a true revolutionary
lawyer of his time. His ford car was used during the Chittagong Armoury raid for which he was
arrested but on release he defended the accused in the Chittagong Armoury raid case and helped
them financially enduring displeasure and threats of the authorities.
Very few lawyers of his time became a legend in the profession that he was in his own lifetime.
Mr. Simpson, an ICS District Judge of the then Tipperah District once said of him:
If I would have ever been made an accused ion a murder case, I would have felt like engaging
Kamini Babu in defending me properly. If I was ever involved in a Civil suit in with a
complicated question of Civil law, I would have felt engaging Kamini Babu to represent me.
Kamini Kumar was a member of the Bengal Legislative Council and upon partition of India
refused to leave his motherland for India and decided to dedicate his life to the service of his
people at home.
Kamini Kumar has made immense contribution in the framing of the Pakistan Constitution of
1956 as a member of the Constituent Assembly. Later Kamini Kumar was appointed Health
Minister in the Pakistan Cabinet of Chowdhury Mohammad Ali. He was universally respected
for his ability, quality and honesty. The then President of Pakistan Ayub khan gave him a medal
to his widow Mrinalini Dutta in the dedication of his service to the country.
As in life, so in death Kamini Kumar remains charity personified. Following his wishes his entire
moveable and immoveable properties, those of his brothers Captain Narendranath Dutta and
those of his ancestors were dedicated after his death to the cause of education and welfare of the
people of the then East Bengal irrespective of cast, creed or religion under a deed of Trust
executed by his widow Mrinalini Dutta and their children. The Dutta Family established Srikail
School and College at their ancestral village which are still functioning. The ancestral home is
being used for education. The residential house of late Kamini Kumar Dutta at Comilla town is
being used as Mrinalini Dutta hostel for school and college girls. Kamini Kumar Dutta Memorial
Law Lecture at Dhaka University is also a part of that Trust scheme.

His end came on the January 4, 1959. He was so well loved and respected by all that his Sradh
(last rites) ceremony became a meeting ground for Hindus and Muslims of all ages.