Barrackpore was home to a number of significant members of the Indian independence movement, many of whom have memorials in the subdivision. Surendranath Banerjee, who was called the father of Indian Nationalist Movement, lived in Barrackpore. The house of Surendranath at Monirampur of Barrackpore has been converted into the Mahadevananda Mahavidyalaya and Netaji Subhas Open University. Bengali author Bharat Chandra Ray Gunakar, known for writing "Annada Mangal" in the medieval period, lived at Mulajore. Ramprasad Sen, who authored many religious songs, was born at Halisahar in this subdivision. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, the author of India's national song "Vande Mataram", was born at Naihati, in Barrackpore subdivision. Shaurya Chakra (posthumous) awardee Captain Sekhar Ghosh was from Barrackpore.