Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

The family of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author and composer of “Vande Mataram”, recently appreciated the Prime Minister’s gesture to commemorate 150 years of India’s national song. The occasion highlighted Bankim Chandra’s enduring contribution to India’s freedom movement and cultural nationalism.

About Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Introduction

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, also known as Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was one of the greatest novelists, poets, and essayists of India. He is most renowned as the author of “Vande Mataram”, which later became the national song of India. He is widely regarded as the “Sahitya Samrat” (Emperor of Literature) in Bengali literature.

Early Life and Education

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was born on 27 June 1838 in Kantalpara village of the 24 Parganas district of Bengal. He was born into a family of a government official during British rule. He was among the first two graduates of the University of Calcutta and later obtained a degree in law.

Literary Career

Bankim Chandra began his literary career as a writer of verse, but later turned to fiction, where he made his most significant contributions.

• His first Bengali romance, “Durgeshnandini”, was published in 1865.

• He went on to write several influential novels that shaped modern Bengali prose.

Major Literary Works

Some of his notable novels include:

• Kapalkundala (1866)

• Mrinalini (1869)

• Vishbriksha (1873)

• Chandrasekhar (1877)

• Rajani (1877)

• Rajsimha (1881)

• Devi Chaudhurani (1884)

His most famous novel, “Anand Math” (1882), occupies a central place in Indian literary and nationalist history.

Anand Math and Vande Mataram

The novel Anand Math was set against the backdrop of the Sannyasi Rebellion of the late 18th century. It contained the song “Vande Mataram”, written in Sanskrit, which became a powerful symbol of Indian nationalism.

• In 1896, Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram for the first time at the Kolkata session of the Indian National Congress.

• The song was officially adopted as India’s national song by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.

Death

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay passed away on 8 April 1894, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that deeply influenced Indian thought and nationalism.

Contribution and Legacy

As a novelist, poet, and essayist, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay played a crucial role in:

• The development of modern Bengali prose

• The articulation of early Indian nationalism

• Inspiring patriotic sentiment through literature

His writings continue to be regarded as a foundation of nationalist literature in India.