Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on 26th June 1838 at the village of Kathalpara, near Naihati, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal of Jadabchandra Chatterjee & Durgadevi. Son of a deputy collector, he grew up to join civil service as the deputy magistrate and deputy collector of the district of Jessore as soon a he completed his law degree from Presidency college Calcutta in 1857.
He was a member of an illustrious family, his brother being Sanjib Ch. Chatterjee the famous nature writer and the author of "Palamou". Bengalis, for the 1st time got the taste of a real novel in the pre-Tagore era through Chatterjee. In 1864 his first novel in English, Rajmohon's wife started appearing on weekly basis in the Education Gazette. But somehow it was found missing the charm of the language. His Bengali novel, which he had already started writing in 1863, was soon published. "Durgesh Nandini" as it was called created a sensation in the Bengali literary arena. "Kopal Kundala" followed this in 1866, which was inspired by his rencontre with a 'kapalik' or a sadhu who believes in the worship of 'Shakti' while he was in Negua. In 1869, his 3rd novel 'Mrinalini' was published & the readers for the 1st time found the flavour of patriotism in his creations.
In 1872 he took over as the editor of the prestigious magazine Bangadarshan. In 1873 two new novels "Bishbriksha" and "Indira" were published which totally dealt with social problems. His next novel was "Jugalangurio" published in 1874. In 1880 while acting as the temporary PA of the commissioner of Burdwan, "Chandrashekher" and "Radharani" were published. "Rajani" followed these in 1877 and "Kirishnakanter will" in 1878. In 1882 his eleventh novel "Rajsingha" based on the royal families of Marwar came in the market. His most famous novel "Anandamath" was also published this year. "Anandamath" is termed, as his most political novel which was a source of inspiration to the patriots fighting for the freedom of their motherland.
The chant "Vande Mataram" which later was adopted by the patriots as their slogan in the fight for freedom was coined in this novel. In late 1882 when he was transferred to Judgepur Orissa he started writing his thirteenth novel "Devi Choudhurani". It was published in 1884. The last novel he wrote was "Sitaram", published in 1887. Not only did he write novels, he was also one of the most effective columnists. His collection of essays like " Lok Rahashya " and " Kamalakanter Daptar" criticized the meaningless Bengali customs in a manner that forced an immediate change.
The British Government honoured him with the title "Ray Bahadur" in 1892. He became a CIE in 1894.The great novelist passed away on 8th April 1894.
A COURTESY OF www.bangalinet.com
BANDE MATARAM
Translation by Sri Aurobindo
Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.
Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.
Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!
