Saquib Salim

My last article "Azizul Haque: the Indian who devised Fingerprint Classification" System discussed the role of Azizul Haque in devising the system of classification of the fingerprints. In this essay I will be discussing Hem Chandra Bose who seems to have played an even greater role in developing the system of which credit was taken by Sir Edward Henry.

The Henry System of Classification of Fingerprints, as we were wrongly made to believe, was pioneered by the then Inspector General (IG) of Bengal Police Sir Edward Henry. But recent researches have unearthed evidence which point towards two Indian Sub Inspectors of Police as the original pioneers of the system. Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose helped in the establishment of the world’s first fingerprints bureau at Kolkata in 1897. As was the norm, the British media and the government celebrated Henry as the man who devised this new system while completely whitewashing the roles of Haque and Bose. 

Henry did not mention their roles in developing the classification for almost three decades. He first acknowledged the role of Haque in 1926 and for Bose he took another four years. These acknowledgements did not give them full credit but still for the first time at least their names were mentioned as people who researched for the fingerprint classification system. Henry wrote, in 1930, “Bose has devoted his whole life to perfecting the methods by which search is facilitated and as his labour have contributed materially to the success achieved he is entitled to great credit.”

The greatest evidence in support of his role in developing the classification system comes from an official communication from the Government of Bengal to the Government of India made in 1929. It reads, 

“During his long service in the Bengal bureau he (Bose) acquired unique knowledge of the science and introduced various improvements in the methods of sub-classifying finger impressions of which following are deserving special mention:

1. The method of comparing imperfect impressions containing only a few naked ridges.
2. The sub-classification by the numerical method.
3. The method of estimating the probability of fixing identity by the ridge characteristic.
4. The sub-classification of the accidental type.
5. The improved system of indexing.
6. The introduction of a telegraphic code for finger impressions.
7. The classification system for a single digit impression.”  

P.C Bamford, an officer of intelligence bureau, and the Government of Bengal expressed the views, in 1929, that the contribution of Bose was greater than Haque. They believed that even though initially Haque devised a system of classification and provided its mathematical basis, its further development and evolution could only be credited to Bose. 

In the early 20th century when fingerprints were used to identify criminals the postal system might delay investigations. Police could not start the investigation until the fingerprints from one place did not reach the other through post. Bose published his first work in 1916 explaining the telegraphic codes of fingerprints. He devised a method to transmit the fingerprints in the form of telegraphic codes. Bengal police started solving the cases with the help of telegraphic codes from 1917. Once again the credit eluded Bose. Sir Charles Stockley Collins, an English officer of Scotland Yard, published a book on telegraphic codes of fingerprints in 1921. The Scotland Yard served its first case with the help of telegraphic codes in 1924. Still the whole credit was given to Collins. 

Bose devised a single digit classification instead of ten digits. Single digit classification helped in transmitting through telegraphs easily. 

Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose are only two of several Indian scientists whose discoveries were credited in the name of Europeans.

(Saquib Salim is a historian-writer)