Indian Renaissance

Indian Renaissance

            In the very early nineteenth century renaissance came to India. New life and a new thought began to be noticed. Old spirit and national ideas were revived. This renaissance is not to English but to Irish one. English Renaissance is marked by Christianity, Teatonised and Greek influence. As Irelandawakened her national spirit, spiritual force. India did the same.

            “The shaping of a new body of new philosophical, artistic, literary, cultural, political social forms by the same soul rejuveneseent was the type of the Indian Renaissance.” Beginning of education and study of western literature and publication of news papers are the chief causes of renaissance.

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.

The rope of Missionaries:-

            The Christian missionaries helped very much to improve educational scenario. Basic aim of them was to convert other communities into Christians. Besides they did pioneering work in the field of education and social service. There were three Protestant Missionaries: Carey, Mashman and Word. They were working in Serampore Bengal in 1793. They are known as the Serampore Trio. Carey was great propagandist; Word was a printer and Mashman was a school teacher. As they did it very forcefully the East India Company had to intervene for neutrality. Charter Act of 1813 for education brought some of good. English people like Lord Minto supported education. He favoured oriental learning and encouraged Indian culture but after 1813 one party Charles Grant thought that for Indians it is necessary to educate them in English through missionaries.

            Grant and Lord Minot’s twenty years effort now proved successful which brought English education (1813). This was a turning point in the history of Indian education. The company accepted the duty to educate Indians and for the same fair amount was given annually to establish schools and colleges. The period from 1813-1838 remained very useful. In 1838 it was decided that no Indian should be refused holding any post under the company by reason of his caste or creed. This opened doors for other missionaries to come and work in India.

The Role of Macaulay (from 1835)

            Thomas Babington Macaulay’s role in Indian education has a great significance. He wanted to make Indians scholars of English. He thought that vernacular language was not suitable for higher studies. There was a choice between Sanskrit and Arabic on one side and English on the other. Macaulay had no knowledge of earlier two so he favoured the latter. He greatly appreciated and then forcefully advocated English language. This led the closing of funds for oriental learning as well as of money for spreading English. This policy was adopted in February 1835 and approved after a month. William Bentick passed the resolution for the same purpose and implemented. There was dispute about it but which was solved by Lord Auckland bringing neutrality but Macaulay’s policy continued. Later on Charles Word created many created many various educational posts including education inspector. This provided background and resource for learning. English was spreading quickly. Higher class accepted it gladly and they began to take great interest in it. Macaulay had thought that higher class would influence to lower class and there would be great reforms. This filtration theory but it was a deception. Newly educated became artificial. Their work and life became imitative and artificial. Thus, they became ‘an absurd copy of his western contemporary. The balance between the mother tongue and English seesawed.

“Indian Literature History Role of Reformers:-

1. Brahmo Samaj (1828-calcutta)

            Raja Ram Mohan Roy decided to build the nation once again. He had a vision of modern India. The aim of this sect to bring awareness, remove ignorance and bring reforms. We know him as a seer, an idealist and a reformer. A man like great organization did a huge work for the welfare of India people. Along with his own book he had some men to contribute in different fields. For education Ishwar Chandra Vidhayasagar was the man doing the job. He was the most determined social reformer. But Keshab Chandra Sen and Debendranath Tagore worked together for ten years during 1857 to 1866. But Sen was attracted towards Christianity which ultimately brought separation of the two. The Brahmo Samaj split into two. One is led by Sen and supported by Pratap Chandra Mazoomdar. They were called liberal. The other was known then as Adi Brahmo Samaj or Sadharana Brahmo Samaj led by Debendranath Tagore and followed by Anand Mohan Bose, Akshaya Kumar Dutta and later on Ravindranath Tagore. Those people are know as of conservative line. Tagore had worked to tie- up these two but in vain. The Samaj worked or a long time but it had no deep mark no any sect but certainly did give color to other community leaders. It also played very vital role in the history of 19^th century Bengaland India.

2. Prathana Samaj (1867-Mumbai):-

            It was established in Mumbai by Dr. Amarnath Pandurang. This sect was also aimed at religious reforms. This Samaj began its Centers at Poonaas well. Learned men like Kasinath Telang, Mahadev Ranade, G.V. Joshi, and G.K. Gokhle continued to contribute their services. These men had purposes took seriously. They tried to eliminate age old rigidity. Social, educational and religious reforms had to go together. This would lead to economic progress which ultimately brings liberty.

3. Arya Samaj (1875 Mumbai)

            Dayanand Saraswati was a leader from Punjab. He established Arya Samaj in 1875 in Mumbai. He was a brilliant man who tried to bridge and brings the best of two east and west word. he emphasized Vedas as source of Knowledge. Purify action of religion and to preserve Hinduism were his main objectives. This Sect had deeper roots Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Hansraj, Swami Sharaddhanand were the followers.

4. Theosophical Society (1818 Madras)

            This is quite new. The attempts of improving Indian Conditions were made form the soil. There was a western attempt to fuse with the springs of Indian spirituality. Theosophical society was founded in New Yorkin 1875 by Madame Blavatsky. She sent Annie Besant in India. Annie set up Theosophical Society in Madras1878. She was also responsible for starting Central Hindu College at Banaras and others.

(5) Ramkrishna Mission:-

            Ramakrishna Paramahans was simple and illiterate man but he had knowledge. He had answers to question. His wife Sharda Devi, who was also a kind hearted woman. Swami Vivekananda came into contact with Paramahans and made him his Guru. Ramkrishna Mission was set up by Vivekananda for a spiritual humanitarian cause. He also tried to spread knowledge.

            These all missionaries changed the Indian social, cultural, religious situations.

Birth of New literature:-

            In the beginning Indian literature was influenced by Anglo-Indian writers. Newly educated young men were attracted towards western culture and literature. They began either to copy imitate or translate. Poetry did not come quickly but prose did. These men wrote letters, memoranda, monographs, translations etc. They also tried their hands on journalism, political affairs, economic issues, short biographies, short skits and stories. Sir William Jones, Henry Derozio, John Leydan, Meredith Parker, D.L. Richardson, Sir Edusin Arnold, Lawrence Hope and other were administrative orient list and writers. They were fascinated to Indian culture and added like themes in their works which inspired our writers of poetic composition. Past English masters Milton, wordsworth, Tennyson and others continued to inspire yet the literature seemed to be chaotic, unclear, undecided. But that condition did not remain long, soon this discovery widened and clouds began to go. 

Poetry & Drama:-

            In the beginning a few writers contribution helped much to inspire and lead the next generation. The following writers must be remembered in the field of poetry.

(1) Raja Rammohan Roy

“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.

             

            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.

 (2)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.

 (3) 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.