Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar
Encyclopedia
Vishnushastri Chiplunkar (20 May 1850-17 March 1882)
(Devanagari: विष्णुशास्त्री चिपळूणकर) was a Marathi
writer, whose writings have had a decisive influence on modern Marathi prose style. He was the son of the writer and scholar Krushnashastri Chiplunkar.
in a Chitpavan Brahmin family. He obtained his B.A. from
Deccan College, Pune in 1872 and worked as a schoolteacher in government schools during the years 1872-1879. In 1880, he founded (together with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
) the newspapers Kesari (केसरी, in Marathi) and Maratha (in English). He was also a co-founder of 'The New English School' in Pune,
intended to provide a more patriotically inclined education as opposed to the schools run by the government in British India.
In 1878, Chiplunkar founded another monthly named Kavyetihas Sangraha (काव्येतिहास संग्रह) with the objective of better familiarizing the readers with the poetry and history of Maharashtra. The same year he established two printing presses, namely Aryabhushan Press (आर्यभूषण छापखाना) and Chitrashala (चित्रशाळा), the latter for the purpose of printing pictures of historical and spiritual figures and deities in Maharashtra. The next year, he opened a bookshop named Kitabkhana (किताबखाना), with the objective of making available inspirational books to Marathi readers.
He died of a bout of typhoid in Pune. An early biography was written by his brother Lakshmanshastri Chiplunkar
, and a later appraisal of his career by Madkholkar
.
poets Kalidas, Bhavabhuti
, Bana
, Subandhu
and Dandin
. These articles introduced his readers to the 'Western' tradition of literary criticism. They were later republished as Sanskrit Kavipanchak (संस्कृत कविपंचक ). Eventually he became the editor of this periodical, however some of his articles criticizing the conduct of the British Government and Christian Missionaries proved controversial, and the ensuing repercussions forced the closure of Shalapatrak in 1875.
In 1874, he started the monthly Nibandhamala (निबंधमाला, A Garland of Essays) for which he is principally remembered. Nearly all of the writing in the 84 issues of this periodical published in 12 years is due to him. His range is wide, and includes subjects such as the contemporary status of the Marathi language contrasted with that of English, Sanskrit and Marathi poetry, and the propriety of using foreign words in Marathi. Aamachya Deshachi Sthiti (अामच्या देशाची स्थिती, The state of our nation) and Mudranasvatantrya (मुद्रणस्वातंत्र्य, Freedom of the press) are two of his influential political articles.
He also translated the following works into Marathi in cooperation with his father:
A compilation of his selected writings has been edited by Buddhisagar
.
Vishnushastri's Marathi prose style was moulded on the one hand by his knowledge of Sanskrit, and on the other by his extensive reading into the works of Samuel Johnson
, Addison
and Macaulay
. His writing is characteristic of what is usually called the अव्वल इंग्रजी (high English) period, when Marathi written syntax shows the heavy influence of long, complex sentences incorporating several subordinate clauses, prevalent in 18th and 19th century English.
He is also commonly referred to as the Shivaji of the Marathi language. However, this honorific description was first applied to Vishnushastri by himself, and in fact, was spoken by him in English.
(Devanagari: विष्णुशास्त्री चिपळूणकर) was a Marathi
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
writer, whose writings have had a decisive influence on modern Marathi prose style. He was the son of the writer and scholar Krushnashastri Chiplunkar.
Life
Vishnushastri was born in PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
in a Chitpavan Brahmin family. He obtained his B.A. from
Deccan College, Pune in 1872 and worked as a schoolteacher in government schools during the years 1872-1879. In 1880, he founded (together with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was a social reformer from Maharashtra, India during the British Raj.-Early life:Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was born on 14 July 1856 in Tembhu , a village in Satara district now in Sangli district of Maharashtra. Agarkar had his primary education from Karad...
and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
) the newspapers Kesari (केसरी, in Marathi) and Maratha (in English). He was also a co-founder of 'The New English School' in Pune,
intended to provide a more patriotically inclined education as opposed to the schools run by the government in British India.
In 1878, Chiplunkar founded another monthly named Kavyetihas Sangraha (काव्येतिहास संग्रह) with the objective of better familiarizing the readers with the poetry and history of Maharashtra. The same year he established two printing presses, namely Aryabhushan Press (आर्यभूषण छापखाना) and Chitrashala (चित्रशाळा), the latter for the purpose of printing pictures of historical and spiritual figures and deities in Maharashtra. The next year, he opened a bookshop named Kitabkhana (किताबखाना), with the objective of making available inspirational books to Marathi readers.
He died of a bout of typhoid in Pune. An early biography was written by his brother Lakshmanshastri Chiplunkar
, and a later appraisal of his career by Madkholkar
.
Writings
His career as a writer began in 1868, with his articles in the periodical Shalapatrak (शालापत्रक, The School Paper) founded by his father. Notable in this period are the critical appraisals of the SanskritSanskrit
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...
poets Kalidas, Bhavabhuti
Bhavabhuti
Bhavabhuti was an 8th century scholar of India noted for his plays and poetry, written in Sanskrit. His plays are considered equivalent to the works of Kalidasa...
, Bana
Bana
Bana may refer to:*Term for the Fali people, especially in Nigeria* Bana, Gabon* Bana, Guinea* Bana , a village in Rajasthan state of India* Bana , popular balladeer from Cape Verde* Bana, Hungary, village in Hungary...
, Subandhu
Subandhu
Vasavadatta is a Gupta period romantic akhyayika written in an ornate style of language that was in fashion at the height of Classical Sanskrit literature....
and Dandin
Dandin
Dandin can refer to:* Daṇḍin, 6th-7th century Sanskrit writer* The Dandin Group, a wireless internet thinktank* Dandin the Sword Carrier, a character appearing in Mariel of Redwall and The Bellmaker, two books from the fictional Redwall series by Brian Jacques....
. These articles introduced his readers to the 'Western' tradition of literary criticism. They were later republished as Sanskrit Kavipanchak (संस्कृत कविपंचक ). Eventually he became the editor of this periodical, however some of his articles criticizing the conduct of the British Government and Christian Missionaries proved controversial, and the ensuing repercussions forced the closure of Shalapatrak in 1875.
In 1874, he started the monthly Nibandhamala (निबंधमाला, A Garland of Essays) for which he is principally remembered. Nearly all of the writing in the 84 issues of this periodical published in 12 years is due to him. His range is wide, and includes subjects such as the contemporary status of the Marathi language contrasted with that of English, Sanskrit and Marathi poetry, and the propriety of using foreign words in Marathi. Aamachya Deshachi Sthiti (अामच्या देशाची स्थिती, The state of our nation) and Mudranasvatantrya (मुद्रणस्वातंत्र्य, Freedom of the press) are two of his influential political articles.
He also translated the following works into Marathi in cooperation with his father:
- Rasselas by Samuel JohnsonSamuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
- KadambariKadambariKādambari is a romantic novel in Sanskrit. It was substantially composed by Bānabhatta in the first half of the 7th century, who did not survive to see it through completion. The novel was completed by Banabhatta's son Bhushanabhatta, according to the plan laid out by his late father...
by BanabhattaBanabhattaBāṇabhaṭṭa , also known as Bāṇa, was a Sanskrit scholar and poet of India. He was the Asthana Kavi in the court of King Harshavardhana, who reigned in the years c. 606–647 CE in north India... - The Arabian Nights (loosely following the translation into English by Edward LaneEdward LaneEdward Lane was a representative from Illinois; born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 27, 1842; moved to Illinois in May 1858 with his parents, who settled in Hillsboro, Montgomery County; attended the common schools and was graduated from Hillsboro Academy; taught school for several years; studied law;...
)
A compilation of his selected writings has been edited by Buddhisagar
.
Vishnushastri's Marathi prose style was moulded on the one hand by his knowledge of Sanskrit, and on the other by his extensive reading into the works of Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
, Addison
Addison
-United States:*Addison, Alabama*Addison, Connecticut*Addison, Illinois*Addison, Kentucky*Addison, Maine*Addison, Michigan*Addison , New York**Addison , New York*Addison, Ohio*Addison, Pennsylvania*Addison, Tennessee*Addison, Texas...
and Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay PC was a British poet, historian and Whig politician. He wrote extensively as an essayist and reviewer, and on British history...
. His writing is characteristic of what is usually called the अव्वल इंग्रजी (high English) period, when Marathi written syntax shows the heavy influence of long, complex sentences incorporating several subordinate clauses, prevalent in 18th and 19th century English.
He is also commonly referred to as the Shivaji of the Marathi language. However, this honorific description was first applied to Vishnushastri by himself, and in fact, was spoken by him in English.