Madhusudan Dutta war born in Chittagong. He joined revolutionary organisation at the inspiration of Ramkrishna Biswas. When the leaders were sent to jail, he motivated the students by visiting those schools.He was sent to Jamshedpur the parents for service, he donated a portion of his salary to the revolutionary organisation. He handed over money and ornaments from his house to the organisation. He participated in Chjittagong Armoury Raid on 18th April 1930. In the fight of the Jalalabad hills on 22nd April he became one of the martyr of the victorious team.
Manoj Kahali was born in Bhola, Barisal. He was an important member of revolutionary Jugantar Dal. He joined in Non-cooperation movement in 1921. He was arrested in connection with Mechuabazar Bomb Case in 1930 and was released in 1938.He was again arrested in the Quit India movement of 1942.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
533. Maichael Madhusudan Dutta (1824-1873)
Michael Madhusudan Dutt
| |
| Born | 25 January 1824 Jessore, Bengal Presidency, (Now Bangladesh) |
|---|---|
| Died | 29 June 1873 (aged 49) Calcutta(now Kolkata), Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Ethnicity | Bengali |
| Genres | Poet, playwright |
| Subjects | Literature |
| Literary movement | Bengal Renaissance |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Mactavys Henrietta Sophia White (m. 1856–1873) |
| Children | Napoleon Sharmistha |
Michael Madhusudan Dutt, or Michael Madhusudan Dutta ( 25 January 1824 – 29 June 1873) was a popular 19th-century Bengali poet and dramatist. He was born in Sagordari (Bengali: সাগরদাঁড়ি), on the bank of Kopotaksho (Bengali: কপোতাক্ষ) River, a village in Keshabpur Upazila, Jessore District, Bengal Presidency, East Bengal (now inBangladesh). His father was Rajnarayan Dutt, an eminent lawyer, and his mother was Jahnabi Devi. He was a pioneer of Bengali drama.His famous work Meghnad Bodh Kavya (Bengali: মেঘনাদবধ কাব্য), is a tragic epic. It consists of nine cantos and is exceptional in Bengali literature both in terms of style and content. He also wrote poems about the sorrows and afflictions of love as spoken by women.
As a young student, Dutt was part of Young Bengal, a movement of rebellion against traditional Indian ways centered in Hindu College (now Presidency College) in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He aspired to be an English poet and longed to travel to England to make his name and fame. When his father, concerned by these trends, arranged his marriage, he rebelled. One aspect of his rebellion involved conversion to Christianity.
Dutt is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets in Bengali literature and the father of the Bengali sonnet. He pioneered what came to be called amitrakshar chhanda (blank verse). Dutt died in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency on 29 June 1873.
Early life and education
His childhood education started in a village named Shekpura, at an old mosque, where he went to learn Persian. He was an exceptionally talented student. Since his childhood, Dutt was recognised by his teachers and professors as being a precocious child with a gift of literary expression. He was very imaginative. Early exposure to English education and European literature at home and in Kolkata inspired him to emulate the English in taste, manners and intellect. An early influence was his teacher, Capt. D.L.Richardson at Hindu College. Richardson was a poet and inspired in Dutt a love of English poetry, particularly Byron.
Dutt's early works — poetry and drama — were mostly in English. They include translations plays including Sermistha and Ratnavali; and poems, including Captive Ladie, which was written about the mother of his close friend Sri Bhudev Mukhopadhyay, indicate a high level of intellectual sophistication.
In his own words
| “ | Where man in all his truest glory lives,
And nature's face is exquisitely sweet;
For those fair climes I heave impatient sigh, There let me live and there let me die. | ” |
Madhusudan embraced Christianity at the Old Mission Church in spite of the objections of his parents and relatives on 9 February 1843. He had to leave Hindu College so continued his education at Bishop's College. He later moved to Madras due to severe family tensions and economic hardship. He describes the day as:
| “ | Long sunk in superstition's night,
By Sin and Satan driven,
I saw not, cared not for the light That leads the blind to Heaven. But now, at length thy grace, O Lord! Birds all around me shine; I drink thy sweet, thy precious word, I kneel before thy shrine! | ” |
On the eve of his departure to England:
| “ | Forget me not, O Mother,
Should I fail to return
To thy hallowed bosom. Make not the lotus of thy memory Void of its nectar Madhu. | ” |
(Translated from the original Bengali by the poet.)
Literary life
Influences
Dutt was particularly inspired by both the life and work of the English Romantic poet Lord Byron. Dutt was a spirited bohemian and Romantic. Dutt's heroic epic was Meghnadh Badh Kabya, although his journey to publication and recognition was far from smooth. However, with its publication, the Indian poet distinguished himself as a serious composer of an entirely new genre of heroic poetry, that was Homeric and Dantesque in technique and style, and yet so fundamentally Indian in theme. To cite the poet himself: "I awoke one morning and found myself famous." Nevertheless, it took a few years for this epic to win recognition all over the country.
Linguistic abilities
Work with the sonnet
He dedicated his first sonnet to his friend Rajnarayan Basu, which he accompanied with a letter: "What say you to this, my good friend? In my humble opinion, if cultivated by men of genius, our sonnet in time would rival the Italian."
When Dutt later stayed in Versailles, the sixth centenary of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri was being celebrated all over Europe. He composed a poem in honour of the poet, translated it into French and Italian, and sent it to the king of Italy. Victor Emmanuel II, then monarch, liked the poem and wrote to Dutt, saying, "It will be a ring which will connect the Orient with the Occident."
Work in blank verse
Sharmistha (spelt as Sermista in English) was Dutt's first attempt at blank verse in Bengali literature. Kaliprasanna Singha organised a felicitation ceremony to Madhusudan to mark the introduction of blank verse in Bengali poetry.
Praising Dutt's blank verse, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, observed: "As long as the Bengali race and Bengali literature would exist, the sweet lyre of Madhusudan would never cease playing." He added: "Ordinarily, reading of poetry causes a soporific effect, but the intoxicating vigour of Madhusudan's poems makes even a sick man sit up on his bed."
In his The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian, Nirad C. Chaudhuri has remarked that during his childhood days in Kishoreganj, a common standard for testing guests' erudition in the Bengali language during family gatherings was to require them to recite the poetry of Dutt, without an accent.
In France
Dutt went to England to study law to escape his poverty, but English weather and racism make it unbearable. By the time he shifter to Versaillesduring the 1860s, Dutt was desperately poor. Funds were not arriving from India according to his plans. He was only able to complete his law course and return home due to the munificent generosity of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. For this, Dutt was to regard Vidyasagar as Dayar Sagar(meaning the ocean of kindness) for as long as he lived. But he never got established in legal practice in Calcutta and died impoverished.
He wrote to his friend Gour Bysack from France:
| “ | If there be any one among us anxious to leave a name behind him, and not pass away into oblivion like a brute, let him devote himself to his mother-tongue. That is his legitimate sphere his proper element. | ” |
Marriage and family
Dutt had refused to enter into an arranged marriage which his father had decided for him. He had no respect for that tradition and wanted to break free from the confines of caste-based endogamous marriage. His knowledge of the European tradition convinced him of the superiority of marriages made by mutual consent (or love marriages). While in Madras he married Rebecca McTavish, of English descent. They had four children together. He wrote to Gour in December 1855:
| “ | Yes, dearest Gour, I have a fine English Wife and four children. | ” |
Dutt returned from Madras to Calcutta in February 1856, after his father's death, abandoning his wife and children in Madras. He had two children by Henrietta Sophia White, who was also ethnic English. This relationship lasted until the end of his life, Henrietta pre-deceasing him by three days. They had a son Napoleon and daughter Sharmistha.
The tennis player Leander Paes is a direct descendant of his.
দাঁড়াও পথিক-বর, জন্ম যদি তব
বঙ্গে! তিষ্ঠ ক্ষণকাল! এ সমাধিস্তলে
(জননীর কোলে শিশু লভয়ে যেমতি
বিরাম) মহীর পদে মহানিদ্রাবৃত
দত্তোকুলোদ্ভব কবি শ্রীমধুসূদন!
যশোরে সাগরদাঁড়ি কবতক্ষ-তীরে
জন্মভূমি, জন্মদাতা দত্ত মহামতি
রাজনারায়ণ নামে, জননী জাহ্নবী[12]
বঙ্গে! তিষ্ঠ ক্ষণকাল! এ সমাধিস্তলে
(জননীর কোলে শিশু লভয়ে যেমতি
বিরাম) মহীর পদে মহানিদ্রাবৃত
দত্তোকুলোদ্ভব কবি শ্রীমধুসূদন!
যশোরে সাগরদাঁড়ি কবতক্ষ-তীরে
জন্মভূমি, জন্মদাতা দত্ত মহামতি
রাজনারায়ণ নামে, জননী জাহ্নবী[12]
 |
|
| Problems playing this file? See media help. | |
Legacy and honours
Dutt was largely ignored for 15 years after his death. The belated tribute was a tomb erected at his gravesite.
His epitaph, a verse of his own, reads:
| “ | Stop a while, traveller!
Should Mother Bengal claim thee for her son.
As a child takes repose on his mother's elysian lap, Even so here in the Long Home, On the bosom of the earth, Enjoys the sweet eternal sleep Poet Madhusudan of the Duttas. | ” |
| “ | Meghnad Badh is a supreme poem. | ” |
In the words of Sri Aurobindo:
| “ | All the stormiest passions of man's soul he [Madhusudan] expressed in gigantic language. | ” |
Major works
- Tilottama, 1860
- Meghnad Bodh Kavya (Ballad of Meghnadh's demise), 1861
- Birangana
- Choturdoshpodi kobitaboli
- Brajangngana
- Sharmishtha
- Ekei Ki Bole Sovyota (Is this is called a civilisation)
- Buro Shaliker Ghare Rown
- Ratnavali
- Rizia, the sultana of Inde.
- The Captive Lady
- Visions of the Past
- Rosalo Sornolatika
- Bongobani
- Sonnets and other poems.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
532. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946)
Born in an educated orthodox Hindu family at Prayag (Allahabad) in 1861, Madan Mohan Malaviya name to be recognized as an outstanding and noble son of India.
His multifaceted personality made him, at the same time, a great patriot, an educationist with a vision, a social reformer, an ardent journalist, reluctant but effective lawyer, a successful parliamentarian and an outstanding statesman. Among Malaviyaji's many achievements, the most monumental was the establishment of the Banaras Hindu University or Kashi Hindu Vishvidyalaya. In the course of his lifetime Banaras Hindu University came to be known as a Capital of Knowledge acknowledged across India and the World.
His multifaceted personality made him, at the same time, a great patriot, an educationist with a vision, a social reformer, an ardent journalist, reluctant but effective lawyer, a successful parliamentarian and an outstanding statesman. Among Malaviyaji's many achievements, the most monumental was the establishment of the Banaras Hindu University or Kashi Hindu Vishvidyalaya. In the course of his lifetime Banaras Hindu University came to be known as a Capital of Knowledge acknowledged across India and the World.
25.12.1861 Born in Allahabad
1878 Marriage with Kundan Devi in Mirzapur
1884 B.A. from Calcutta University
July 1884 Teacher in Allahabad District School
December 1886 IInd Congress in Calcutta under
chairmanship of Dadabhai Nouroji. Speech on the issue of representation in Councils
chairmanship of Dadabhai Nouroji. Speech on the issue of representation in Councils
July 1887 Editorship of the Hindosthan in Kalakankar. Founding conference of Bharat Dharma Mandal
July 1889 Leaving editorship joins LL.B. in Allahabad
1891 Passing LL.B. starts practice in Allahabad District Court
December 1893 Practice at Allahabad High Court
March 1898 Submits memorandum about Hindi to U.P. Lt. Governor
1902-1903 Construction of Hindu Boarding House in Allahabad
1903-1912 Service to province as member of Provincial Council
1904 Proposal of establishing university under chairmanship of Kashi Naresh
January 1906 Convened Sanatan Dharma Mahasabha on Kumbh in Allahabad.
Propagation of liberal Sanatan Dharma. Decision to open university in Banaras
Propagation of liberal Sanatan Dharma. Decision to open university in Banaras
1907 Editorship of the Abhyudaya. Propagation of Sanatan Dharma and democratic principles
1909 Ediotrship of the English daily Leader. Chaired the Lahore Congress
October 1910 Presidential address in Ist Conference of Hindi Sahitya Sammelan
22.11.1911 Formation of the Hindu University Society
December 1911 At 50 gave up practice. Decision to serve country and work for establishing the university
February 1915 Formation of Prayaga Seva Samiti under his chairmanship
October 1915 The Banarans Hindu University Bill passed
04 Feb- 1916 Foundation ceremony of the university
March 1916 Bill against Indentured Labour system in Councils
1916-18 Member, Industrial Commission
1918 Formation of Scout Association by Seva Samiti
December 1918 Chaired Annual Congress Conference in Delhi
Feburary 1919 Debate on the Rowlett Bill in Council. Resignation from Council
Feburary 1919 Debate on the Rowlett Bill in Council. Resignation from Council
Nov. 1919-Sep. 1939 Vice Chancellor, B.H.U.
19 April 1919 Chaired Hindi Sahitya Sammelan in Bombay
January 1922 Convened all party conference
16 December 1922 Speech on Hindu Muslim goodwill in Lahore
1924 Formation of Independent Party in District and Assembly .
Satyagraha on Sangam [Confluence of rivers] in Allahabad. Debate on the Steel Conservation Bill
Satyagraha on Sangam [Confluence of rivers] in Allahabad. Debate on the Steel Conservation Bill
August 1926 Formation of Congress Independent Party with Lala Lajpat Rai
February 1927 Statement before Agriculture Commission
December 1929 Convocation address in BHU. Asked students to serve nation and be patriot
1930 Resigns from Assembly. Arrested in Delhi. Six months sentence
5 April 1931 Speech on Hindu Muslim Unity in Kanpur
1931 Took part with Gandhi in the London Round Table Conference
March 1932 Formation of All India Swadeshi Union in Banaras
20 April 1932 Nominated President of Delhi Congress. Arrested
September 1932 Chaired meeting on emancipation of outcasts in Bombay
April 1932 As Calcutta Congress President arrested in Asansole
August 1934 Speech on emancipation of the outcasts in Gandhi's meeting in Banaras
January 1936 Convened Sanatan Dharma Mahasabha Conference in Allahabad. Proposal for emancipation of outcasts
1938 K??alpa [Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy]
November 1939 Appointed life Rector of BHU
1941 Founded Goraksha Mandal
January 1942 Gandhi's convocation address on Silver Jubilee of BHU
12 November -1946 Passed Away
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861–1946) was an Indian educationist and politician notable for his role in the Indian independence movement and his espousal of Hindu nationalism (being one of the initial leaders of the far-right party Hindu Mahasabha). Later in life, he was also addressed as 'Mahamana'.
He was the President of the Indian National Congress on four occasions and today is most remembered as the founder of the largest residential university in Asia and one of the largest in the world, having over 12,000 students across arts, sciences, engineering and technology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) at Varanasi in 1916, of which he also remained the Vice Chancellor, 1919–1938 Pandit Malviya was one of the founders of Scouting in India. He also founded a highly influential, English-newspaper, The Leader published fromAllahabad in 1909.
On his 150th birth anniversary (25 December 2011), Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced that a Centre for Malviya Studies will be set up at the Banaras Hindu University apart from establishment of scholarships and education related awards in his memory, and UPA chairperson released a biography of Madan Mohan Malaviya.
He was also the Chairman of Hindustan Times from 1924 to 1946. His efforts resulted in the launch of its Hindi edition in 1936.
Early life and education
Pandit Malviya was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India on 25 December 1861, in a Sri Gaud (Malviya) Brahmin family of Brijnath and Moona Devi. He was the fifth child in a family of five brothers and two sisters. His ancestors, known for their Sanskrit scholarship, originally hailed from Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and hence came to be known as 'Malviyas'. His father Pandit Brijnath was also a learned man in Sanskrit scriptures, and used to recite the Bhagvat Katha to earn a living.
Pandit Malviya's education began at age five in Sanskrit, when he was sent to Pandit Hardeva's Dharma Gyanopadesh Pathshala, where he completed his primary education and later another school run by Vidha Vardini Sabha. He then joined Allahabad Zila School (Allahabad District School), where he started writing poems under the pen name Makarand which were published in journals and magazines. Pandit Malviya matriculated in 1879 from the Muir Central College, now known as Allahabad University. Harrison College's Principal provided a monthly scholarship to Pandit Malviya, whose family had been facing financial hardships, and he was able to complete his B.A. at the University of Calcutta. Although he wanted to pursue an M.A. in Sanskrit, his family conditions did not allow it and his father wanted him to take his family profession of Bhagavat recital, thus in July 1884 Madan Mohan Malviya started his career as teacher in Allahabad District School.
Personal life
As was the tradition in those days, he was married in 1878, when he was about sixteen years of age to Kundan Devi of Mirzapur. The couple had five sons and five daughters, out of which four sons, Ramakant, Radhakant, Mukund, Govind and two daughters Rama and Malati survived.
Mahamana's youngest son Pt. Govind Malaviya (1902–1961) (Freedom Fighter), was a Member of India's Parliament till his death in 1961. He was the only one from Mahamana's family who became Vice-Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University. At the stroke of the midnight hour when India was granted freedom on 15 August 1947, it was Pandit Govind Malaviya who blew the conch three times to herald the coming of the new age and freedom for India. One of Madan Mohan Malaviya's grand daughter in-law Smt Saraswati Malviya (Freedom Fighter), wife of Late Shri Shridhar Malaviya (Freedom Fighter, and eldest son of Mahamana's eldest son Shri Ramakant Malviya) lives in Allahabad with her daughters. The house in which she currently resides has hosted numerous political luminaries including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Feroz Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi to name a few.
Political career
In December 1886, Malaviya attended the 2nd Indian National Congress session in Calcutta under chairmanship of Dadabhai Naoroji, where he spoke on the issue of representation in Councils. His address not only impressed Dadabhai but also Raja Rampal Singh, ruler of Kalakankar estate near Allahabad, who started a Hindi weekly Hindustan but was looking for a suitable editor to turn it into a daily. Thus in July 1887, he left his school job and joined as the editor of the nationalist weekly, he remained here for two and a half years, and left for Allahabad to join L.L.B., it was here that he was offered co-editorship of The Indian Union, an English daily. After finishing his law degree, he started practising law at Allahabad District Court in 1891, and moved to Allahabad High Court by December 1893
Malviya became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1909, 1918, 1930 and 1932. He was a moderate leader and opposed the separate electorates for Muslims under theLucknow Pact of 1916."mahamana" title given by Mahatma Gandhi.
To redeem his resolve to serve the cause of education and social-service he renounced his well established practice of law in 1911, for ever. In order to follow the tradition of Sannyasathroughout his life, he pursued the avowed commitment to live on the society's support. But when 177 freedom fighters were convicted to be hanged in the Chouri-choura case he appeared before the court, despite his vow and got acquitted 156 freedom fighters.
He remained a member of the Imperial Legislative Council from 1912 and when in 1919 it was converted to the Central Legislative Assembly he remained its member as well, till 1926.
Malaviya was an important figure in the Non-cooperation movement. However, he was opposed to the politics of appeasement and the participation of Congress in the Khilafat movement.
In 1928 he joined Lala Lajpat Rai, Jawaharlal Nehru and many others in protesting against the Simon Commission, which had been set up by the British to consider India's future. Just as the "Buy British" campaign was sweeping England, he issued, on 30 May 1932, a manifesto urging concentration on the "Buy Indian" movement in India.
Malaviya was a delegate at the First Round Table Conference in 1930. However, during the Civil Disobedience Movement, he was arrested on 25 April 1932, along with 450 other Congress volunteers in Delhi, only a few days after he was appointed the President of Congress after the arrest of Sarojini Naidu.
In protest against the Communal Award which sought to provide separate electorates for minorities, Malaviya along with Madhav Shrihari Aney left the Congress and started theCongress Nationalist Party . The party contested the 1934 elections to the central legislature and won 12 seats.
Malaviya was also the Chairman of Hindustan Times from 1924 to 1946. His efforts resulted in the launch of its Hindi edition in 1936. The paper was saved from an untimely demise when he stepped in to realise his vision of a newspaper in Delhi." Malaviya raised Rs.50,000 rupees to acquire the Hindustan Times along with the help of nationalist leaders Lala Lajpat Rai and M. R. Jayakar and industrilist Ghanshyam Das Birla, who paid most of the cash. The paper is now owned by the Birla family.
Benaras Hindu University
In April 1911, Annie Besant met Malaviya and they decided to work for a common Hindu University at Varanasi. Besant and fellow trustees of the Central Hindu College, which she has founded in 1898 also agreed to Government of India's precondition that the college should become a part of the new University. Thus Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was established in 1916, through under the Parliamentary legislation, 'B.H.U. Act 1915', today it remains a prominent institution of learning in India.
In 1939, he left the Vice chancellorship of BHU and was succeeded by S. Radhakrishnan, who later became the President of India.
Social work
He worked for the eradication of caste barrier in temples and other social barriers. He is believed to have undergone a rejuvenation.Because of his Social works in Dalit areas, Sri Gaud Brahmins had expelled him initially but after understanding their mistakes the elite people has taken back Malviyaji's in Shi Gaud Brahmin samaj. Also, he organised a mass of 200 Dalit peoples, including the Hindu Dalit (Harijan) leader P. N. Rajbhoj to demand entry at the Kalaram Temple on a Rath Yatra day. All those who participated in this event took a dip in the Godavari River and chanted Hindu mantras. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya made massive efforts for the entry into any Hindu temple.
Scouting
Though, Scouting in India was officially founded in British India in 1909, at the Bishop Cotton's Boys School in Bangalore, Scouting for native Indians was started by Justice Vivian Bose, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Pandit Hridayanath Kunzru, Girija Shankar Bajpai, Annie Besant and George Arundale, in 1913, he also started a Scouting inspired organisation called Seva Samithi.
Legacy
Malviya popularised the slogan Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone will triumph).
Malviya Nagar in Allahabad, Lucknow, Delhi, Bhopal, Durg and Jaipur are named after him. A postage stamp has been printed in India in his honour in 1961. Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) at Jaipur is named after him, as is Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College inGorakhpur, UP. The Hostels of IIT Roorkee Saharanpur Campus and BITS Pilani,Pilani campus are also named Malviya Bhawan after him, He started the tradition of Aarti at Har ki Pauri Haridwar to the sacred Ganges river which is performed till date, the Malviya Dwipa, a small island across the ghat, named after him. This was inline with the Ganesha Festival started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Maharashtra to organise the masses. A square in main city at Jabalpur is named after him and is called Malviya chowk.
Mahamana's life size portrait was unveiled in the Central Hall of India's Parliament by the then President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and his life-size statue was unveiled in 1961 by the then President of India Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in front of the BHU main gate on the occasion of his birth centenary. This year 2011 is being celebrated as his 150th birth centenary by the Government of India under the Chairmanship of India's prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh. In front of the main Gate leading to the Assembly Hall and outside the porch, there exists a bust of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya, which was inaugurated by the former Lt. Governor of Delhi, Dr. A.N. Jha on 25 December 1971. Pt. On 25 December 2008, on his birth anniversary, the national memorial of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya was inaugurated by the then president A P J Abdul Kalam at 53, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, in Delhi.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)