BANKIM CHANDRA CHATTERJEE
- Born: June 27, 1838
Died: April 8, 1894
Achievements: Author of Vande Mataram, the national song of India
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee also known as Bankim
Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the greatest novelists and poets of India. He
is famous as author of Vande Mataram, the national song of India.
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on June 27,
1838 in the village Kantalpara of the 24 Paraganas District of Bengal. He
belonged to a family of Brahmins. The word 'Bankim Chandra' in Bengali means
'the moon on the second day of the bright fortnight'. Bankim Chandra's father
Yadav Chandra Chattopadhyaya was in government service. After his birth he was
posted to Midnapur as Deputy Collector.
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee had his early
education in Midnapur. He was a brilliant student. After his early education in
Midnapur Bankim Chandra Chatterji joined the Mohsin College at Hoogly and
studied there for six years. Apart from his textbooks, Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, used to read other books in his leisure time. He was very much
interested in the study of Sanskrit. His study of Sanskrit stood him in good
stead. Later, when he wrote books in Bengali his knowledge of Sanskrit helped
him immensely.
- In 1856, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee joined the
Presidency College in Calcutta. In 1857, there was a strong revolt against the
rule of East India Company but Bankim Chandra Chatterjee continued his studies
and passed his B.A. Examination in 1859. The Lieutenant Governor of Calcutta
appointed Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as Deputy Collector in the same year.
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was in Government service for thirty-two years and
retired in 1891. He was a very conscientious worker.
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was married when he
was only eleven . At that time his wife was only five years old. Bankim Chandra
Chatterjee was only twenty two when his wife died. After some time he married
again. His second wife was Rajlakshmi Devi. They had three daughters but no
son.
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee began his literary
career as a writer of verse. He then turned to fiction. Durgeshnandini, his
first Bengali romance, was published in 1865. His famous novels include :
Kapalkundala (1866),
Mrinalini (1869),
Vishbriksha (1873),
Chandrasekhar (1877),
Rajani (1877),
Rajsimha (1881), and
Devi Chaudhurani (1884).
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee most famous novel was
Anand Math (1882). Anand Math contained the song "Bande Mataram",
which was later adopted as National Song.
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wanted to bring about
a cultural revival of Bengal by stimulating the intellect of the Bengali
speaking people through literary campaign. With this end in view he brought out
monthly magazine called Bangadarshan in 1872.
- Bankim Chatterjee was superb story-teller, and
a master of romance. No Bengali writer before or since has enjoyed such
spontaneous and universal popularity as Chatterjee. His novels have been
translated in almost all the major languages of India. He passed away on April
8, 1894.
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