News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram highlighted how Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s powerful song became a rallying cry for India’s freedom movement against British colonial rule.
About Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
- Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was born on June 27, 1838, in North 24 Parganas, Bengal, into a family with strong intellectual roots.
- Early life: He became one of the first two graduates of the newly established Calcutta University in 1858, earning degrees in arts and law. Following his graduation, he joined the colonial administration as a deputy collector in Jessore.
- Literary Contribution: Bankim initially wrote in English, but he soon switched to Bengali, believing that a national awakening in India could only be achieved through a language connected to the people.
- His early novels Durgeshnandini (1865) and Kapalkundala (1866) were successful and established him as a significant voice in Bengali literature.
- In 1872, Bankim founded the literary journal Bangadarshan, which played a crucial role in the Bengal Renaissance.
- Bankim’s novel Anandamath, published in 1882, was inspired by the Sanyasi–Fakir rebellion of the 18th century.
- The poem Vande Mataram, embedded in Anandamath, became a rallying cry for India’s independence movement.
- It was banned by the British, but Vande Mataram spread rapidly and became a symbol of resistance.
- Role in India’s National Movement
- Vande Mataram became an anthem for the Swadeshi movement during the 1905 partition of Bengal, symbolizing unity and national pride.
- The poem was popularized by Rabindranath Tagore, who set it to music, and was later adopted as India’s national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1951.
- Cultural and Intellectual Influence
- Bankim was a cultural critic who rejected the colonial portrayal of India’s history, arguing that India’s legacy could not be defined by invaders or foreign rulers.
- He sought to revive India’s indigenous traditions and believed that Eastern and Western ideas could coexist without erasing India’s cultural foundations.
- Philosophical Views
- Bankim believed that India’s identity was rooted in its civilisational heritage, not just political boundaries. He emphasized the importance of a shared memory, language, and devotion to the motherland.
- He viewed Vande Mataram as a way to unite Indians emotionally and create a collective national identity, transcending regional, caste, and class divisions.
- Legacy and Recognition
- Bankim’s contributions to Bengali literature earned him the title of Sahitya Samrat (Emperor of Bengali Literature).
- His works, including Anandamath, continued to influence generations of writers and thinkers, and were later adapted into films and other media.
- Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay passed away on April 8, 1894, at the age of 55.
