Young Bengal
Encyclopedia
The Young Bengal movement was a group of radical Bengali free thinkers
emerging from Hindu College
, Calcutta
in the early 19th century. They were also known as Derozians, after their firebrand teacher at Hindu College, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio.
Prominent Derozians and Young Bengal group members who left a distinct mark in Calcutta society of the 1830s and 1840s were:
The Young Bengals were inspired and excited by the spirit of free thought and revolt against the existing social and religious structure of Hindu
society. A number of Derozians were attracted to the Brahmo Samaj movement much later in life when they had lost their youthful fire and excitement. As one scholar characterized it:
The Young Bengal Movement peripherally included Christians such as Reverend Alexander Duff (1806–1878), who founded the General Assembly's Institution, and his students like Lal Behari Dey
(1824–1892), who went on to renounce Hinduism. Latter-day inheritors of the legacy of the Young Bengal Movement include scholars like Brajendra Nath Seal
(1864–1938), who went on to be one of the leading theologians and thinkers of the Brahmo Samaj.
. These are noted below:
After moving around for a place for its meetings, it settled down in Mainktala. Derozio was its president. One of his students, Uma Charan Basu, was its secreatry. The principal speakers in the association were: Rasik Krishna Mallick
, Krishna Mohan Banerjee
, Ramgopal Ghosh
, Radhanath Sikdar
, Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee
, and Hara Chandra Ghosh
. Amongst its organisers were Ramtanu Lahiri
, Sib Chandra Deb
and Peary Chand Mitra
.
The sessions of the Academic Association attracted attention to such an extent that amongst those who used to be present fairly regularly were. David Hare
, Col. Benson, private secretary of Lord William Bentick, Col. Beatson, later adjutant general, and Dr. Mills, principal of Bishop’s College. They applauded the youngsters for their brilliant oratory.
Haramohan Chatterjee has written as follows about the debates in the association”
its vice president and Peary Chand Mitra
its president. The society elected David Hare as honorary visitor. Some of the prominent papers it published were: Nature of Historical Stuudies and Civil and Social Reform by Krishna Mohan Banerjee, Interests of the Female Sex and the State of Hindustan by Peary Chand Mitra, Sketch of Bankuja by Hara Chandra Ghosh, Notice of Tipperah, A New Spelling Book, Notices of Chittagong by Gobinda Chandra Basak.
These associations of the Young Bengal group were forerunners of later organisations such as the Landholders’ Society, British India Society, and British Indian Association
with all of which the Young Bengal group had links.
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
emerging from 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...
, Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
in the early 19th century. They were also known as Derozians, after their firebrand teacher at Hindu College, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio.
Prominent Derozians and Young Bengal group members who left a distinct mark in Calcutta society of the 1830s and 1840s were:
- Krishna Mohan BanerjeeKrishna Mohan BanerjeeKrishna Mohan Banerjee was a prominent member of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio’s Young Bengal group, educationist, linguist and Christian missionary.-Early life:...
(1813–1885), whose conversion to ChristianityChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
raised a great storm - Tarachand Chakraborti (1805–1855), prominent in the Brahmo Sabha and Young Bengal
- Sib Chandra DebSib Chandra DebSib Chandra Deb was one of the leading Derozians, virtually the first generation of English-knowing Indians. He had joined Hindu College in 1825 and was subsequently drawn towards Derozio...
(1811–1890), a prominent Brahmo SamajBrahmo SamajBrahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
leader of Konnagar - Hara Chandra GhoshHara Chandra GhoshRai Bahadur Hara Chandra Ghosh was one of the prominent leaders of the Young Bengal group . He was the first Bengali to be a judge of the Calcutta Small Causes Court from 1854 to 1868. H.E.A...
(1808–1868), judge of the Small Causes Court. - Ramgopal GhoshRamgopal GhoshRamgopal Ghosh was an Indian businessman, social reformer, orator and one of the leaders of the Young Bengal group. He was called the Indian Demosthenes. Ghosh was one of the persons who helped John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune to establish his girls school.-Early life:The family hailed from Bagati,...
(1815–1868), a successful businessman and public speaker whose attacks on the Black Acts and criticism of the European protests against a well-intentioned government move to bring Europeans on a par with the natives in judicial treatment were landmarks - Ramtanu LahiriRamtanu LahiriRamtanu Lahiri was a Young Bengal leader, a renowned teacher and a social reformer. Peary Chand Mitra wrote about him, “There are few persons in whom the milk of kindness flows so abundantly...
(1813–1898), publicly removed his sacred threadUpanayanamUpanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
in 1851 and as a teacher became a centre of progressive thoughts - Rasik Krishna MallikRasik Krishna MallickRasik Krishna Mallick was an Indian journalist, editor, reformer, educationist and a leading member of Young Bengal group. He had shocked the court in British India in the 1820s with the statement that he did not believe in the sacredness of the Ganges.-Early life:Son of Naba Kishore Mallick, he...
(1810–1858), refused to swear by the holy Ganges water and ran away from his orthodox home - Peary Chand MitraPeary Chand MitraPeary Chand Mitra , was an Indian writer, journalist and a member of Derozio’s Young Bengal group, who played a leading role in the Bengal renaissance with the introduction of simple Bengali prose...
(1814–1883), founded the Monthly Magazine in Bengali that set a non-journalistic style of writing intelligibly to all, including average women, and also took part in establishing the Calcutta Public Library in 1831 which became an intellectual forum - Dakshinaranjan MukherjeeDakshinaranjan MukherjeeRaja Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee Taluqdar of the formerly confiscated taluq of Shankarpur in the United Provinces was one of the leaders of the Young Bengal group in 19th-century India...
(1818–1887), donated the site for the Bethune CollegeBethune CollegeBethune College is a women's college in India. It was founded as a school in 1849 by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune and in 1879 developed as the first women's college in India. It is located at 181, Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata -700006, just opposite the current campus of Scottish Church College,...
for women - Radhanath SikdarRadhanath SikdarRadhanath Sikdar was an Indian mathematician who, among many other things, calculated the height of Peak XV in the Himalaya and showed it to be the tallest mountain above sea level. Peak XV was later named Mount Everest.-Early life:Radhanath was born as youngest child of Tituram, a resident of...
(1813–1870), caused a sensation by refusing to marry a child bride and thereafter rose to be a surveyor, mathematician, diarist, writer and public speaker
The Young Bengals were inspired and excited by the spirit of free thought and revolt against the existing social and religious structure of Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
society. A number of Derozians were attracted to the Brahmo Samaj movement much later in life when they had lost their youthful fire and excitement. As one scholar characterized it:
- "The Young Bengal movement was like a mighty storm that tried to sweep away everything before it. It was a storm that lashed society with violence causing some good, and perhaps naturally, some discomfort and distress."
The Young Bengal Movement peripherally included Christians such as Reverend Alexander Duff (1806–1878), who founded the General Assembly's Institution, and his students like Lal Behari Dey
Lal Behari Dey
The Revd Lal Behari Dey was a respected Bengali Indian journalist, who converted to Christianity, and became a missionary himself....
(1824–1892), who went on to renounce Hinduism. Latter-day inheritors of the legacy of the Young Bengal Movement include scholars like Brajendra Nath Seal
Brajendra Nath Seal
Sir Brajendra Nath Seal KCIE was a renowned Bengali Indian humanist philosopher. He was one of the greatest original thinkers of the Brahmo Samaj and did work in comparative religion and on the philosophy of science. He systematized the humanism of the Brahmo philosophical thought...
(1864–1938), who went on to be one of the leading theologians and thinkers of the Brahmo Samaj.
Organisations
Derozio and the Young Bengal group set two establishments and published journals which played a role in the Bengal RenaissanceBengal Renaissance
The Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform movement during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the region of Bengal in Undivided India during the period of British rule...
. These are noted below:
Academic Association
Derozio joined Hindu College in 1828 and within a short period attracted students. The Academic Association, established in 1828 under the guidance of Derozio, arranged discussions on subjects such as:- free will, free ordination, fate, faith, the sacredness of truth, the high duty of cultivating virtue, and the meanness of vice, the nobility of patriotism, the attributes of God, and the arguments for and against the existence of the deity as these have been set forth in HumeDavid HumeDavid Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
on one side, and ReidThomas ReidThe Reverend Thomas Reid FRSE , was a religiously trained Scottish philosopher, and a contemporary of David Hume, was the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense, and played an integral role in the Scottish Enlightenment...
, Dugald StewartDugald StewartDugald Stewart was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and mathematician. His father, Matthew Stewart , was professor of mathematics in the University of Edinburgh .-Life and works:...
and Brosn on the other, the hollowness of idolatry and the shames of priesthood.
After moving around for a place for its meetings, it settled down in Mainktala. Derozio was its president. One of his students, Uma Charan Basu, was its secreatry. The principal speakers in the association were: Rasik Krishna Mallick
Rasik Krishna Mallick
Rasik Krishna Mallick was an Indian journalist, editor, reformer, educationist and a leading member of Young Bengal group. He had shocked the court in British India in the 1820s with the statement that he did not believe in the sacredness of the Ganges.-Early life:Son of Naba Kishore Mallick, he...
, 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:...
, Ramgopal Ghosh
Ramgopal Ghosh
Ramgopal Ghosh was an Indian businessman, social reformer, orator and one of the leaders of the Young Bengal group. He was called the Indian Demosthenes. Ghosh was one of the persons who helped John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune to establish his girls school.-Early life:The family hailed from Bagati,...
, Radhanath Sikdar
Radhanath Sikdar
Radhanath Sikdar was an Indian mathematician who, among many other things, calculated the height of Peak XV in the Himalaya and showed it to be the tallest mountain above sea level. Peak XV was later named Mount Everest.-Early life:Radhanath was born as youngest child of Tituram, a resident of...
, Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee
Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee
Raja Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee Taluqdar of the formerly confiscated taluq of Shankarpur in the United Provinces was one of the leaders of the Young Bengal group in 19th-century India...
, and Hara Chandra Ghosh
Hara Chandra Ghosh
Rai Bahadur Hara Chandra Ghosh was one of the prominent leaders of the Young Bengal group . He was the first Bengali to be a judge of the Calcutta Small Causes Court from 1854 to 1868. H.E.A...
. Amongst its organisers were Ramtanu Lahiri
Ramtanu Lahiri
Ramtanu Lahiri was a Young Bengal leader, a renowned teacher and a social reformer. Peary Chand Mitra wrote about him, “There are few persons in whom the milk of kindness flows so abundantly...
, Sib Chandra Deb
Sib Chandra Deb
Sib Chandra Deb was one of the leading Derozians, virtually the first generation of English-knowing Indians. He had joined Hindu College in 1825 and was subsequently drawn towards Derozio...
and Peary Chand Mitra
Peary Chand Mitra
Peary Chand Mitra , was an Indian writer, journalist and a member of Derozio’s Young Bengal group, who played a leading role in the Bengal renaissance with the introduction of simple Bengali prose...
.
The sessions of the Academic Association attracted attention to such an extent that amongst those who used to be present fairly regularly were. David Hare
David Hare (philanthropist)
David Hare was a Scottish watchmaker and philanthropist in Bengal. He founded many important and prestigious educational institutions in Kolkata, such as the Hindu School, and Hare School and helped in founding Presidency College.-Early life:...
, Col. Benson, private secretary of Lord William Bentick, Col. Beatson, later adjutant general, and Dr. Mills, principal of Bishop’s College. They applauded the youngsters for their brilliant oratory.
Haramohan Chatterjee has written as follows about the debates in the association”
- “The principles and practices of Hindu religion were openly ridiculed and condemned, and angry disputes were held on moral subjets; the sentiments of HumeDavid HumeDavid Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
had been widely diffused and warmly patronised.” The accusation of being irreligious is not entirely correct. The Derozian aim was in truth “to summon Hindusim to the bar of reason.” When Derozio was dismissed he wrote back, “That I should be called a sceptic and infidel is not surprising, as these names are always given to persons who think for themselves in religion…” Derozio died in 1831, but the Academic Association was kept alive till about 1839. David Hare accepted the presidentship after Derozio.
Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge
The Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge was established on 20 February 1838. It had 200 members in 1843. Trachand Chakrabarti was its president, Ramgopal GhoshRamgopal Ghosh
Ramgopal Ghosh was an Indian businessman, social reformer, orator and one of the leaders of the Young Bengal group. He was called the Indian Demosthenes. Ghosh was one of the persons who helped John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune to establish his girls school.-Early life:The family hailed from Bagati,...
its vice president and Peary Chand Mitra
Peary Chand Mitra
Peary Chand Mitra , was an Indian writer, journalist and a member of Derozio’s Young Bengal group, who played a leading role in the Bengal renaissance with the introduction of simple Bengali prose...
its president. The society elected David Hare as honorary visitor. Some of the prominent papers it published were: Nature of Historical Stuudies and Civil and Social Reform by Krishna Mohan Banerjee, Interests of the Female Sex and the State of Hindustan by Peary Chand Mitra, Sketch of Bankuja by Hara Chandra Ghosh, Notice of Tipperah, A New Spelling Book, Notices of Chittagong by Gobinda Chandra Basak.
These associations of the Young Bengal group were forerunners of later organisations such as the Landholders’ Society, British India 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...
with all of which the Young Bengal group had links.
Further reading
- Chattopadhyay, G. 1965. Awakening in Bengal in Early Nineteenth Century, Progressive Publishers, Calcutta.
- Chaudhuri, R. 2000. Young India: A Bengal Eclogue: Or Meat-eating, Race, and Reform in a Colonial Poem, Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies, Routledge, Volume 2, Number 3, 424-441.