Bangadarshan
Encyclopedia
Bangadarshan was a Bengali
literary magazine, founded initially by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
in 1872, and resuscitated in 1901 under the editorship of Rabindranath Tagore
. The magazine had a defining influence on the emergence of a Bengali identity and the genesis of nationalism in Bengal.
Many of Bankim's novels were serialized in this magazine, which also carried work by writers such as the Sanskrit scholar Haraprasad Shastri
, the literary critic Akshay Chandra Sarkar
, and other intellectuals. It carried many articles on the Puranas, the Vedas and the Vedanta
, reflecting a reaction within Bengali intellectual community (the bhadralok culture) to "negotiate with the set of ideas coming in the name of
modernity by incorporating and appropriating the masses."
Bankim articulated his objectives in creating the magazine as one of
Haraprasad Shastri also echoed this spirit: "What is the purpose of Bangadarshan? Knowledge has to be filtered down.".
But the magazine was far more than a mere dispenser of intellectual knowledge. It was the intoxicating mix of stories that readers waited with bated breath, particularly for the next serialization of a novel by Bankim. Besides the readership among Bengali intelligentsia, the magazine was also widely read among the bengali-literate women.
The first novel to be serialized here was the stunning
vishabrikSha (poison tree, 1873). It was followed by indirA in the same year and yugalanguriya in 1874. Indeed nearly all of Bankim's subsequent novels were published in this magazine.
In 1876, after rAdhArANI and chandrashekhar had come out, the magazine faced a hiatus. After a short period though, Bankim's brother Sanjibchandra Chattopadhyay resuscitated the magazine, and Bankim remained a major contributor. His novels
rajanI, kriShNakAnter will and the rAjput novel rAjasiMha were featured between 1877 and 1881. Particularly notable is the publication of Anandamath
(1882), the story of a revolt by a group of ascetic warriors; though the battle is against the Muslim forces, the British power lurks in the background.
This novel also contains the song Bande mAtaram.
The impact of the magazine in 19th century Bengal can be gauged from Rabindranath Tagore
's recollections of reading it as a boy - he was only eleven when Bangadarshan was launched. "It was bad enough to have to wait till the next monthly number was out, but to be kept waiting further till my elders had done with it was simply intolerable."
In the late 1880s, the magazine was eventually shuttered.
as its editor. This magazine carried a large number of Tagore's writings; while he had been writing short stories until now, the pressures of the magazine got him into the genre of the novel: his first full-length novel, Chokher Bali
was written for serialization in the magazine, and remains one of the landmark psychological novels in Bengali literature.
The philosophy of the magazine was similar to that of the earlier, and the aim was to fuel a budding nationalistic spirit. The publisher's office, called "Majumdar Agency", became a meeting point for many intellectuals and literary spirits.
During the bangabhanga Andolan (Partition of Bengal (1905)
), the magazine became a hotbed of protest. A large number of poems from Tagore's Gitanjali period (and earlier) also came out in the magazine; this included AmAr shonAr bAnglA
, today the national anthem of Bangladesh
.
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
literary magazine, founded initially by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was a famous Bengali writer, poet and journalist. He was the composer of India’s national song Vande Mataram, originally a Bengali and Sanskrit stotra personifying India as a mother goddess and inspiring the activists during the Indian Freedom Movement...
in 1872, and resuscitated in 1901 under the editorship of Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
. The magazine had a defining influence on the emergence of a Bengali identity and the genesis of nationalism in Bengal.
Many of Bankim's novels were serialized in this magazine, which also carried work by writers such as the Sanskrit scholar Haraprasad Shastri
Haraprasad Shastri
Haraprasad Shastri , also known as Haraprasad Bhattacharya, was an Indian academic, Sanskrit scholar, archivist and historian of Bengali literature...
, the literary critic Akshay Chandra Sarkar
Akshay Chandra Sarkar
Akshay Chandra Sarkar was a poet, an editor and a literary critic of Bengali literature. He was an editor weekly Sadharani .-References:...
, and other intellectuals. It carried many articles on the Puranas, the Vedas and the Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
, reflecting a reaction within Bengali intellectual community (the bhadralok culture) to "negotiate with the set of ideas coming in the name of
modernity by incorporating and appropriating the masses."
Bankim articulated his objectives in creating the magazine as one of
- "making it the medium of communication and sympathy between the educated and the uneducated classes... the English language for good or evil has become our vernacular; and this tends daily to widen the gulf between the higher and lower ranks of Bengali society. Thus I think that we ought to disanglicise ourselves so as to speak to the masses in the language which they may understand."
Haraprasad Shastri also echoed this spirit: "What is the purpose of Bangadarshan? Knowledge has to be filtered down.".
But the magazine was far more than a mere dispenser of intellectual knowledge. It was the intoxicating mix of stories that readers waited with bated breath, particularly for the next serialization of a novel by Bankim. Besides the readership among Bengali intelligentsia, the magazine was also widely read among the bengali-literate women.
The first novel to be serialized here was the stunning
vishabrikSha (poison tree, 1873). It was followed by indirA in the same year and yugalanguriya in 1874. Indeed nearly all of Bankim's subsequent novels were published in this magazine.
In 1876, after rAdhArANI and chandrashekhar had come out, the magazine faced a hiatus. After a short period though, Bankim's brother Sanjibchandra Chattopadhyay resuscitated the magazine, and Bankim remained a major contributor. His novels
rajanI, kriShNakAnter will and the rAjput novel rAjasiMha were featured between 1877 and 1881. Particularly notable is the publication of Anandamath
Anandamath
Anandamath is a Bengali novel, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji and published in 1882. Set in the background of the Sannyasi Rebellion in the late 18th century, it is considered one of the most important novels in the history of Bengali and Indian literature...
(1882), the story of a revolt by a group of ascetic warriors; though the battle is against the Muslim forces, the British power lurks in the background.
This novel also contains the song Bande mAtaram.
The impact of the magazine in 19th century Bengal can be gauged from Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
's recollections of reading it as a boy - he was only eleven when Bangadarshan was launched. "It was bad enough to have to wait till the next monthly number was out, but to be kept waiting further till my elders had done with it was simply intolerable."
In the late 1880s, the magazine was eventually shuttered.
New Bangadarshan
In 1901, a "new" Bangadarshan was published by Saileshchandra Majumdar, with Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
as its editor. This magazine carried a large number of Tagore's writings; while he had been writing short stories until now, the pressures of the magazine got him into the genre of the novel: his first full-length novel, Chokher Bali
Chokher Bali
Chokher Bali , literally Sand of the Eye, equivalent to eyesore, is a Bengali novel written by Rabindranath Tagore in the early twentieth century.-Plot:...
was written for serialization in the magazine, and remains one of the landmark psychological novels in Bengali literature.
The philosophy of the magazine was similar to that of the earlier, and the aim was to fuel a budding nationalistic spirit. The publisher's office, called "Majumdar Agency", became a meeting point for many intellectuals and literary spirits.
During the bangabhanga Andolan (Partition of Bengal (1905)
Partition of Bengal (1905)
The decision of the Partition of Bengal was announced on 19 July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The partition took effect on 16 October 1905...
), the magazine became a hotbed of protest. A large number of poems from Tagore's Gitanjali period (and earlier) also came out in the magazine; this included AmAr shonAr bAnglA
Amar Shonar Bangla
Amar Shonar Bangla is a 1905 song written and composed by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore , the first ten lines of which were adopted in 1972 as the Bangladeshi national anthem...
, today the national anthem of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.