Rajnarayan Basu
Encyclopedia
Rajnarayan Basu (1826 – 1899) was a writer and intellectual of the Bengal Renaissance
. He was born in Boral in 24 Parganas
and studied at the Hare School
and Hindu College
, both premier institutions in Kolkata
, Bengal
at the time. A monotheist at heart, Rajnarayan Basu converted to Brahmoism
at the age of twenty. After retiring, he was given the honorary title of Rishi or sage. As a writer, he was one of the best known prose writers in Bengali
in the nineteenth century, writing often for the Tattwabodhini Patrika
, a premier Brahmo journal. Due to his defence of Brahmoism, he was given the title "Grandfather of Indian Nationalism"
, a prominent poet of the time, and the introducer of free verse
in Bengali
. Both were responsible for introducing classical Western elements into Bengali literature. He briefly tutored Asia's first Nobel prizewinner
, Rabindranath Tagore
and spent three years translating the Upanishads into English. As a member of Young Bengal
, Rajnarayan Basu believed in "nation-building" at the grassroots level. To do his part, after teaching at Vidyasagar
's Sanskrit College, he moved to Midnapore
to teach in the mofussil district town. He served as the headmaster of Midnapore Zila School which was both the forerunner of Midnapore Collegiate School
and Midnapore College
. He established a public library that is still in use, although now it is known as the Rishi Rajnarayan Basu Smriti Pathagar (Rishi Rajnaraya Basu Memorial Library). He was the first person to suggest using Bengali
at meetings of the Vangiya Sahitya Parishad
(Bengali literature society).
The Parishad was established to promote Bengali language
literature yet ironically conducted meetings in English until Basu's request.
As an intellectual, he founded the Brahmo Samaj
house and inaugurated Naba Gopal Mitra's Hindu Mela, an organization created to spread nationalist feelings among Indians. He was a member of the Indian Association and a member of a political group called the Sanjibani Sabha. He also lamented that there were no schools promoting the learning of Indian music among the middle-class and he himself started one in Midnapore. In 1868, he retired and moved to Deoghar
where he spent the last years of his life.
Bengal 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...
. He was born in Boral in 24 Parganas
24 Parganas
24 Parganas district is a former district of the Indian state of West Bengal. The district was split into two districts — North 24 Parganas district and South 24 Parganas district, with effect from 1 March 1986....
and studied at the Hare School
Hare School
Hare School is one of the oldest schools in Kolkata, India, teaching grades 1 to 12 under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education and the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. The boys-only school was established by the Scottish watch-maker David Hare with the help of social...
and 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...
, both premier institutions in Kolkata
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...
, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
at the time. A monotheist at heart, Rajnarayan Basu converted to Brahmoism
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo 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...
at the age of twenty. After retiring, he was given the honorary title of Rishi or sage. As a writer, he was one of the best known prose writers in Bengali
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...
in the nineteenth century, writing often for the Tattwabodhini Patrika
Tattwabodhini Patrika
Tattwabodhini Patrika [Tattwabodhini Patrika ] was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore on 16 th August, 1843, as a journal of the Tattwabodhini Sabha, and continued publication until 1883...
, a premier Brahmo journal. Due to his defence of Brahmoism, he was given the title "Grandfather of Indian Nationalism"
Career
Rajnarayan Basu was a close friend of Michael Madhusudan DuttMichael Madhusudan Dutt
Michael Madhusudan Dutt or Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a popular 19th century Bengali poet and dramatist. He was born in Sagardari , on the bank of Kopotaksho [কপোতাক্ষ] River, a village in Keshobpur Upozila, Jessore District, East Bengal . His father was Rajnarayan Dutt, an eminent lawyer, and...
, a prominent poet of the time, and the introducer of free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
in Bengali
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...
. Both were responsible for introducing classical Western elements into Bengali literature. He briefly tutored Asia's first Nobel prizewinner
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
, 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...
and spent three years translating the Upanishads into English. As a member of Young Bengal
Young Bengal
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....
, Rajnarayan Basu believed in "nation-building" at the grassroots level. To do his part, after teaching at Vidyasagar
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar CIE , born Ishwar Chandra Bandopadhyaya , was an Indian Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance....
's Sanskrit College, he moved to Midnapore
Midnapore
Midnapore is the district headquarters of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River . This area had taken a pioneering role in India's freedom struggle...
to teach in the mofussil district town. He served as the headmaster of Midnapore Zila School which was both the forerunner of Midnapore Collegiate School
Midnapore Collegiate School
Midnapore Collegiate School established in 1834, is one of the oldest schools in Bengal as well as India. The students and teachers of this school made contributions in Indian Freedom Movement during the British Rule. The environment here is very much conducive to academic excellence. Khudiram...
and Midnapore College
Midnapore College
Midnapore College , established in 1873 under the affiliation of the University of Calcutta and with the status of government-sponsored college in 1956, is the oldest and most renowned of all the colleges in the undivided district of Midnapore. It played the pioneering role in the spread of higher...
. He established a public library that is still in use, although now it is known as the Rishi Rajnarayan Basu Smriti Pathagar (Rishi Rajnaraya Basu Memorial Library). He was the first person to suggest using Bengali
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...
at meetings of the Vangiya Sahitya Parishad
Vangiya Sahitya Parishad
Bangiya Sahitya Parishad is a literary society in Bengal. Established during the time of the Raj, its goal is to promote Bengali literature, both by translating works in other languages to Bengali and promoting the production of original Bengali literature....
(Bengali literature society).
The Parishad was established to promote Bengali language
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...
literature yet ironically conducted meetings in English until Basu's request.
As an intellectual, he founded the Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo 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...
house and inaugurated Naba Gopal Mitra's Hindu Mela, an organization created to spread nationalist feelings among Indians. He was a member of the Indian Association and a member of a political group called the Sanjibani Sabha. He also lamented that there were no schools promoting the learning of Indian music among the middle-class and he himself started one in Midnapore. In 1868, he retired and moved to Deoghar
Deoghar
Deoghar is the headquarters city of Deoghar District in the Santhal Parganas division of the state of Jharkhand, India. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre, having in Baidyanath Temple one of the twelve Shiva Jyothirlingams in India and also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.-Origin of...
where he spent the last years of his life.
In Bengali
- Brahmo Sadhon (Serving Brahmoism)(1865)
- Dharmatatvo Dipika (The Light of Religious Theory) (1866–67)
- Hindudhormer srestotto (The superiority of Hinduism)(1873)
- Sekal aar eikaal (Then and now) (1873)
- Hindu othoba Presidency College-er itibritto (A history of the Hindu or Presidency College) (1876)
- Bibidho probondho (Various essays) (1882)
- Rajnarayan Basur Attocharit (Autobiography) (1909)
In English
- A defence of Brahmoism and the Brahmo Samaj (1863)
- Brahmic Advice, Caution, and Help (1869)
- The Adi Brahmo Samaj, its views and principles (1870)
- The Adi Brahmo Samaj as a Church (1873)