Prasanna Coomar Tagore
Encyclopedia
See Tagore for disambiguation
Prasanna Coomar Tagore (also spelt Prosunno Coomar Tagore, Prasanna Kumar Tagore) (1801-1886) was son of Gopi Mohan Tagore, one of the founders of Hindu College
. He belonged to the Pathuriaghata
branch of the Tagore family
and was one of the leaders of the conservative branch of Hindu society.
campaign for the abolition of sati. He was one of the original trustees (by the 1830 Trust deed of Brahmo Sabha
) of the Brahmo Samaj. Derozio severely criticized the celebration of Durga Puja by Prasanna Coomar, who called himself a follower of the theistic Rammohan.
He was actively associated with many organisations of the period. Along with Dwarkanath Tagore
he was actively involved in setting up Landholders' Society and British Indian Association
. He became president of the latter in 1867.
He played a leading role in the spread of education. The famous Tagore Law professorship of Calcutta University was maintained from the interest earned from his donation. As the spokesman of the landholders, he opposed the Sepoy Mutiny in principle and the British government bestowed the title of CSI on him in 1866. His writings include An Appeal to Countrymen and Table of Succession according to Hindu Law of Bengal.
The first Bengali plays had been staged by the remarkable Russian scholar adventurer Gerasim Lebedev
in 1796, but his pioneer efforts bore no fruit. Prasanna Coomar picked up the thread. In 1832, he built a makeshift auditorium in his house at Narkeldanga. Although only a few English plays were staged there, it was a new beginning that was followed up by others.
He opposed the activities of Christian missionaries all his life, but his son Gnanendramohan Tagore
(1826-1890), a brilliant student, converted to Christianity in 1851 and later married Kamalmani, daughter of Rev Krishna Mohan Banerjee
. He went to England and was professor of Hindu Law and Bengali in London. He was the first Indian barrister and returned to India to practice law.
Prasanna Coomar Tagore (also spelt Prosunno Coomar Tagore, Prasanna Kumar Tagore) (1801-1886) was son of Gopi Mohan Tagore, one of the founders of Hindu College
Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
. He belonged to the Pathuriaghata
Pathuriaghata
Pathuriaghata is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the oldest residential areas in what was Sutanuti. Once the abode of the Bengali rich, the neighbourhood and its surrounding areas are now dominated by Marwaris...
branch of the Tagore family
Tagore family
The Tagore family, with over three hundred years of history, has been one of the leading families of Kolkata, and is regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance...
and was one of the leaders of the conservative branch of Hindu society.
Early life
He was educated at home, in Sherborne's school and Hindu College, when it was established in 1817. With his knowledge of traditional smriti and western law, he started practicing law in the Dewani Adalat (civil court). Within a short period he was appointed the government lawyer, but left that job in 1850, to look after family property. When the Viceroy’s Council was formed in 1854, he joined as clerk-assistant. At that time he was respected as one of the rich Bengalis.Achievements
Although he was founder-secretary of the conservative Gaudiya Samaj (1823), he had participated in Raja Rammohun Roy’sRam Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
campaign for the abolition of sati. He was one of the original trustees (by the 1830 Trust deed of Brahmo Sabha
Trust deed of Brahmo Sabha
The modern religious philosophy of Brahmoism is based in part on the foundations of reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy's humanitarian philosophy, as exemplified by the Trust Deed of Brahmo Sabha, known to Brahmos as the 1830 Brahmo Trust Deed.-Brief history:...
) of the Brahmo Samaj. Derozio severely criticized the celebration of Durga Puja by Prasanna Coomar, who called himself a follower of the theistic Rammohan.
He was actively associated with many organisations of the period. Along with Dwarkanath Tagore
Dwarkanath Tagore
Dwarkanath Tagore , was one of the first Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs, was the founder of the Jorasanko branch of the Tagore family, and is notable for making substantial contributions to the Bengal Renaissance.-Childhood:...
he was actively involved in setting up Landholders' Society and British Indian Association
British Indian Association
The British Indian Association was established on 31 October 1851. Its formation was a major event of 19th century India. Its establishment meant Indians had come together and could no longer be ignored...
. He became president of the latter in 1867.
He played a leading role in the spread of education. The famous Tagore Law professorship of Calcutta University was maintained from the interest earned from his donation. As the spokesman of the landholders, he opposed the Sepoy Mutiny in principle and the British government bestowed the title of CSI on him in 1866. His writings include An Appeal to Countrymen and Table of Succession according to Hindu Law of Bengal.
The first Bengali plays had been staged by the remarkable Russian scholar adventurer Gerasim Lebedev
Gerasim Lebedev
Gerasim Stepanovich Lebedev, also spelled Herasim Steppanovich Lebedeff , was a Russian adventurer, linguist, pioneer of Bengali theatre , translator, musician and writer. He was a pioneer of Indology.-Early life:...
in 1796, but his pioneer efforts bore no fruit. Prasanna Coomar picked up the thread. In 1832, he built a makeshift auditorium in his house at Narkeldanga. Although only a few English plays were staged there, it was a new beginning that was followed up by others.
He opposed the activities of Christian missionaries all his life, but his son Gnanendramohan Tagore
Gnanendramohan Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationGnanendramohan Tagore was the first Asian to be called to the bar in England, in 1862.- Early life :...
(1826-1890), a brilliant student, converted to Christianity in 1851 and later married Kamalmani, daughter of Rev Krishna Mohan Banerjee
Krishna Mohan Banerjee
Krishna Mohan Banerjee was a prominent member of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio’s Young Bengal group, educationist, linguist and Christian missionary.-Early life:...
. He went to England and was professor of Hindu Law and Bengali in London. He was the first Indian barrister and returned to India to practice law.