Ramram Basu
Encyclopedia
Ramram Basu was a notable early scholar and translator of the Bengali language
(Bangla), and credited with writing the first original work of Bangla prose written by a Bengali.
Basu first appears in western history in 1787 as the Bangla teacher for Englishman Dr. John Thomas, a Christian missionary at Debhata in Khulna
, and then from 1793 to 1796 for noted scholar William Carey (1761–1834) at Madnabati in Dinajpur
. In 1800 he joined Carey's Serampore Mission with its celebrated printing press, and in May 1801 was appointed Munshi
, assistant teacher of Sanskrit
, at Fort William College
for a salary of 40 rupees per month. As college pundits were charged not only with teaching, but also with developing Bangla prose, there he began to produce a respected series of translations and new works, and continued to hold that post until his death.
Basu created a number of original prose and poetical works, including Christastava, 1788; Harkara, 1800, a hundred-stanza poem; Jnanodaya (Dawn of Knowledge), 1800, arguing that the Vedas were fundamentally monotheist, and that the departure of Hindu society from monotheism to idolatry was the fault of the Brahmins; Lippi Mātā (The Bracelet of Writing), 1802, a miscellany; and Christabibaranamrta, 1803, on the subject of Jesus Christ.
In 1802 his Bangla text book Rājā Pratāpāditya-Charit (Life of Maharaja Pratapaditya), written for the college's use, received a cash prize of 300 rupees. It was printed at the Serampore Mission Press
, and is now credited as the first original Bangla book in prose written by a Bengali. Basu also created Bangla versions of the Ramayana
and Mahabharata
, and aided in Carey's Bangla translation of the Bible.
Despite his active engagement with western missionaries and Christian texts, Basu remained a Hindu
, and died in Kolkata
on August 7, 1813.
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...
(Bangla), and credited with writing the first original work of Bangla prose written by a Bengali.
Basu first appears in western history in 1787 as the Bangla teacher for Englishman Dr. John Thomas, a Christian missionary at Debhata in Khulna
Khulna
Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. It is the divisional headquarters of Khulna Division and a major industrial and commercial center. It has a seaport named Mongla on its outskirts, 38 km from Khulna...
, and then from 1793 to 1796 for noted scholar William Carey (1761–1834) at Madnabati in Dinajpur
Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
Dinajpur is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.- Geography :Dinajpur is bounded by Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts in the north, Gaibandha and Joypurhat districts in the south, Nilphamari and Rangpurdistricts in the east, and the state of West Bengal, India...
. In 1800 he joined Carey's Serampore Mission with its celebrated printing press, and in May 1801 was appointed Munshi
Munshi
Munshi was the Hindi-Urdu name of a contractor, writer or secretary, used in Mughal Empire and later British India of the native language teachers or secretaries employed by Europeans....
, assistant teacher of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, at Fort William College
Fort William College
Fort William College was an academy and learning centre of Oriental studies established by Lord Wellesley, then Governor-General of British India. It was founded on July 10, 1800 within the Fort William complex in Calcutta...
for a salary of 40 rupees per month. As college pundits were charged not only with teaching, but also with developing Bangla prose, there he began to produce a respected series of translations and new works, and continued to hold that post until his death.
Basu created a number of original prose and poetical works, including Christastava, 1788; Harkara, 1800, a hundred-stanza poem; Jnanodaya (Dawn of Knowledge), 1800, arguing that the Vedas were fundamentally monotheist, and that the departure of Hindu society from monotheism to idolatry was the fault of the Brahmins; Lippi Mātā (The Bracelet of Writing), 1802, a miscellany; and Christabibaranamrta, 1803, on the subject of Jesus Christ.
In 1802 his Bangla text book Rājā Pratāpāditya-Charit (Life of Maharaja Pratapaditya), written for the college's use, received a cash prize of 300 rupees. It was printed at the Serampore Mission Press
Serampore Mission Press
The Serampore Mission Press was established in Serampore in 1800 by William Carey, William Ward and other British Baptist missionaries as an auxiliary of the Serampore Mission. The press produced 212,000 books between 1800 and 1832. The British government highly suspicious of missionaries...
, and is now credited as the first original Bangla book in prose written by a Bengali. Basu also created Bangla versions of the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, and aided in Carey's Bangla translation of the Bible.
Despite his active engagement with western missionaries and Christian texts, Basu remained a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, and died 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...
on August 7, 1813.