Basu taught at Shivpur School, Calcutta where his students includedSuniti Kumar Chatterji and Sushil Kumar De. His writings were published in the Sakha O Sathi magazine. He served as the editor of the Sanjibani and Pallichitra magazines. He was involved with the Swadeshi movement and wrote a number of nationalistic plays such as Dada in 1922 and Brahmacharini in 1925. Two of his plays, Mirkashim and Raktayajna, were banned by the British Colonial government. He was arrested and imprisoned for four years for his story "Shikar". He was imprisoned again for taking part in nationalist movements in India in 1930. He was sued for his poem "Vote Ranga" by a zamindar. He founded schools and the local postoffice in his hometown. He also funded the construction of ponds. He lost his eyesight in his old age.