Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

        Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, an Indian author, whose novels firmly established prose as a literary vehicle for the Bengali language and helped to create in India a school of fiction on the European model. He was a brilliant student, administrator, writer, philologian, philosopher and lawyer. But above all he was a patriot who paid tribute to his motherland through the hymn Bande Mataram. This later became the slogan of the freedom struggle and after independence, the national song of India.

     Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on 26^th June, 1838, at Kathalpara in the district of North 24 Pargana in Bengal. His father Jadabchandra Chatterjee was in government service under the British rule. Bankim Chandra was a member of an orthodox Brahmin family and was educated at Hooghly College and Presidency College, Calcutta, and become one of the first graduates of the newly established Calcutta University. After this he was offered the post of a Deputy Magistrate in the Executive Services. He was unwilling to accept government service, but did so on his father’s request. In this capacity as Deputy Magistrate, he ensured that peace prevailed in his area of jurisdiction, even if this meant conflict with the British. This aroused the suspicion of the British. This aroused the suspicion of the British who doubted his loyalty to their rule. So, he was subjected to frequent transfers and finally all his promotions were withheld.

      Bankim Chandra had a literary bent of mind from his early childhood. But, his first major work came about when he wrote Durgeshanandini. It was the first major workin an Indian language, Bengali. Bankim Chandra had initially written a novel in English titled Rajmohan’s Wife, but was not satisfied with himself. Durgeshanandini published in 1865, created a stir throughout the country. It was a historical novel and seemed to echo Bankim Chandra’s thoughts during college days – “Our past is glorious.” This novel was followed by four others: Kapalkundala, Mrinalini, Chandrasekhar, and Radharani. Kapalkundala was hailed as one the classics of Indian and even world literature. The everyday language of the common people had been elevated to literature. Bankim’s next novel Bisabrksawas serialised in his epoch making newspaper Bangadarshan. In it, some of his later novels were also serialzed which poses the problem of widow marriage like Indira (1873), Yugalanguriya (1874), Rajani (1877) and Krisnakanter Uil (1878), which the author considered his greatest novel. In his editorials, he expressed his views on politics, society and comparative literature. He was the first to write essays on science in Bengali.

    But the greatest of them was yet to come – Anandamath. It had in its background the Sanyasi revolt which had taken place in Bengal against the Muslim forces of East India Company in the years 1763-1800. The famous song Bande Mataram is the visualisation of the geographical entity of India as a mother. Bande Mataram echoed throughout the country. As if by common choice the people selected it as a national song, calling all to break the chains that bound India. However, the spirit of nationalism was further reiterated in the novels that followed – Debi Choudhurani and Sitaram.

      Bankim Chandra’s novels are considered exciting to read but structurally faulty. Serial publication was partly responsible for imperfect integration of various episodes. But his achievements, however outweigh these technical imperfections. To his contemporaries his voice was that of a prophet; his valiant Hindu heroes aroused their patriotism and pride of race. In him nationalism and Hinduism merged as one and his creed was epitomized in his song Bande Mataram. In his last days he was seriously ill but still continued his intellectual pursuits. He developed an interest in Hindu philosophy. Bankim Chandra breathed his last on April 8, 1894.

   Bankim Chandra Chatterjee will always live in our song and our thoughts. His Bande Mataram was given a tune by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. It became the clarion call for our freedom fighters. After independence in 1947, it was chosen as our national song. Lyrical and evocative, it continues to light the lamp of nationalism even today.

   Bankim Chandra Chatterjee will be remembered as a patriot and for his awareness of the plight of the women. His contributions towards Indian literature, and elevating the language of common people to the level of classical literature have immortalised him.