“Indian Literature History “The beginnings; Rammohan Roy”

“Indian Literature History “The beginnings; Rammohan Roy”

            Indian literature existed since long. We shall see the beginning of India literature with a reasonable mind. If we have to inquire, we must see three factors: the race, the milieu, and the moment. ‘Our race’ is mixed Indian race because of invasions, conquests and occupation within a period of five thousand year. ‘Milieu’ is various because of vast subcontinents. Geographically and culturally there is a great variety. While moment’ covers the meeting of the west and India.

            During 17^th and 18^thcentury Indiawas chaos. Many westerners came and began to rule while the Indians themselves were divided. It was the waste-land. Neither vitality of life nor intellectual activity was found so life was miserable. Economy and trade flourished, social system of cast and creed was maintained. Decadence was there but not.

(1) Transition of India:-

            In a miserable time some of the events changed India. The battle of Plessey was fought in 1757. Revenue administration took place in 1772. Warren Hastings established the Calcutta Madras in 1781. Sir William Jones organized the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784. He and Sir Thomas Munro are prominent persons. They were called ‘Brahmianised Britons’ East India Company began to have commercial and political powers. Missionaries wanted religions domain. Divided Indiaitself was in a miserable condition.

            Towards the end of 18^thcentury missionaries began to pay attention to education. They promoted oriental learning. They brought Printing Press and established in various parts of the country. Boos in vernacular languages and in English were coming out. Grammar, dictionaries and translations were the fruits. India’s first news paper came out in 1780. In the early decade (1710-30) some private schools and colleges has been established. Raja Rammohan Roy established the Hindu Collegeat Calcutta in 1817. Up to 1855 there were some colleges at Banaras, Serampore, Madras, Mumbai and Pondicherry. Western education flourished. Rammohan Roy demanded education of science and literature and English Macaulay and Lord William Bentik’s efforts directed education for all.

(2)Anglicizing Period:-

            From 1835 this period began and in 1855 it brought de-orientalization and many evils. Macaulay and Wood Despatch were the leaders. Though English was good, brought knowledge, new life, children should learn through their mother tongues. I became ‘pride’ to learn English. Artificiality began to enter but by 1854 it was decided to teach English at higher levels. More English books were sold than other languages. English manners and customs in dress, eating began to be noticed. Lucknow became postal system. Distance was bridged, communication became possible and it was the beginning of dynamic modernism. No doubt it was surfacial. Newly educated accepted English ways but at their homes lived in very old age.

            At this moment India learnt at first to read and speak and comprehend English and they son started writing also. One this started Indian writing in English had to range from the most utilitarian prose to the most ambitious verse epics. This led for new creative impulse. Ultimately it resulted in literary renaissance in India. The native soil received the new reach fertilizer from the west. Bengali led the way. But soon the study of English literature stimulated literary creation in Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and others. The writers were also bilingual: writing in English and their own mother tongue.

Raja Rammohan Roy (1772-8133) : -

            “The renaissance in modern Indian literature begins with Raja Rammohan Roy …” He became the bridge between the east and the west. At very early age he learnt and mastered many languages: Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Hindustani and Bengali. He served under British official. He completed his mastery of the English language. Leaving his job, he stared in 1814 ‘Atmiya Sabha’ and began the work of society, and for few tears remained busy to removed rigidity of the society. The condition of the windows, ignorance and superstition, backwardness of the country made him to work for the country. He also found mistakes in Christianity as well as in Hinduism and challenged them. In 1821 he started a weekly paper ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ and attacked on prejudices. He spent last ten years of his life into great works.

            He was an intensely religious man, a Hindu and a Brahmin. HE found that foundation of all the religious were same. So his work was constructive rather than dividing and bringing unity. In 1828 he established Brahmo Samaj. He believed in one supreme soul – a worship of the heart not of the hands. He was a great humanitarian and with the help of Bentick the removed the terrible custom of ‘Sati.

            Rammohan’s role is considered as the father of great builder of modern India. He showed interest in women rights, press-freedom, judicial-system, religious tolerance and farmer welfare. Whenever if it was necessary to fight, beg, plead, argue or demand he did it. His efforts were dedicated to regenerate India with strength of economy, political, cultural, educational, and spiritual awakening. That’s why he is a seer, idealist and reformer.

            Roy’s contribution to writing is also notable. He is considered as the first of the Indian masters of English prose. He wrote autobiography and set the tradition and many leaders including Gandhi, Nehru and Surendranath Benerjee, Rajendra Prasad followed him. His was forceful English before even Macaulay insisted used of English.

After Roy (pre-Macaulay period):-

            After Roy there were many Anglo-Indian writer trying their hands on prose and verse. They were: the Cavalry Brothers, Derozio, Kashiprasad Ghosh, Hasan Ali, P.Rajagopani, Mohan Lal, and Michael Madhusudan Dutt also joined soon. But out of them three writers are very important:-

Derozio, Ghosh and Dutt.

(A) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-31)

            Derizio’s mother was Indian and father a Portuguese. At the age of 14 he became a clerk but later no left it. He was a talented man. With the help of Dr. John Gravt, he became a teacher of English literature in the Hindu college at the age of only 18; Henry had poetic talent as well. He began to write. His poetry shows love for India and nature. Romantic influence was clearly seen on him. His sonnets and lyrics are woven finely. But narrative poem ‘The Fakir of Jugheera’ was an ambitious work. Byronic effect and zeal of social reformation could be noticed there. Later on he left teaching and became journalism. Derozio’s life was simple, courageous and noble one. He died in the same manner.

(B)Kashiprasad Ghosh:-

            He was educated at the Hindu College. He began to contribute literary works. In 1828 he edited an English weekly ‘The Hindu Intelligence’. ‘The Shair and other Poems’ running in 200 pages came out in 1830. He was one of the first Indian to publish a regular volume of English verse. His poetry was imitative, conventional, moralizing but has flashes of originality.

(C) Michael Madhusudan Dutt:-

            He was a Hindu converted into Christianity. He married to a European Lady. In the beginning he worked on an English paper in Madras. He studied law and got the degree. He was a gifted writer. He became famous because of his Bengali epic ‘Meghnad Badha’.  He wrote English prose, verse and drama. HE was also influenced by Romantics. “Captive Lady’ (1849) is a narrative poem. ‘Vision of the Past’, ‘Ratnavali’, ‘Sarmista’ are translations and the farce ‘Is This Called Civilization are his works.