Prasanta Sur
| Prasanta Sur প্রশান্তচন্দ্র সুর |
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| Minister of Health & Urban Development | |
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In office 1977–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Zainal Abedin |
| Succeeded by | Dr. Surjya Kanta Mishra |
| MLA | |
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In office 1977–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Jyotish Joarder |
| Succeeded by | Pankaj Banerjee |
| Constituency | Tollygunge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1923 Barisal, East Pakistan |
| Died | 29 February 2008 (aged 85) Tollygunge, West Bengal |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
| Residence | Tollygunge |
| Alma mater | University of Calcutta |
| Profession | Politician, social worker |
| Religion | Hindu |
Prasanta Sur (Bengali: প্রশান্ত শূর) (January 1,1923 – February 29,2008) was the convenor of the Kolkata district Left Front committee and became the first Left Front Mayor of Kolkata in 1969. A member of the state committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sur was the urban development minister in the first Left Front government in 1977. Later, he also held key portfolios like health and refugee rehabilitation. He died on 29 February 2008, aged 85. after suffering from age-related problems.
Sur's father was Rai Saheb Nagendra Nath Sur, a member of the landed gentry of (erstwhile) east Pakistan. The Rai Saheb disowned him after Prasanta Sur joined the Communist movement in Kolkata. An obstinate and proud man, the Rai Saheb continued to live at his home in East Pakistan until he was assassinated by the Pakistani Army in 1971. He Was one of great leaders like Saroj Dutta, Jyoti Basu, Geeta Mukherjee and Hare Krishna Konar.
Sur qualified as a lawyer but never practiced law as he became a full-timer in the CPI.
Sur joined the Communist Party of India in 1949. After some trade union work, he plunged himself into organising the unending stream of the refugees from East Pakistan, who crossed the border in search of new life in West Bengal. He looked after the initial settlement of the refugees in what came to be known as jabar dakhal colonies (or squatters’ enclaves). There was practically no support from the state government.
Sur and his colleagues in the CPI built up the united council of refugees that led the movement for recognition of the rights of the refugees. He succeeded, almost single-handedly, in building up the large and bustling Netaji Nagar colony of Tollygunj. It was the decade of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
When CPI split up, he joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
During the repression of the Communists in the late sixties Sur had to remain underground and was also in prison. In 1969 he became the first Communist Mayor of Kolkata.
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