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Bankim Chandra and Sharat Chandra

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Bankim Chandra and Sharat Chandra

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838–1894) and Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1878–1938) represent two pillars of the Bengali novel tradition. Bankim Chandra created the modern Bengali novel and sparked the Bengali nationalist consciousness with Anandamath and his famous song “Vande Mataram.” Sharat Chandra carried the tradition forward into the 20th century, creating vivid portraits of Bengali society, particularly the lives of women. Together, these two novelists span the entire 19th century of Bengali literary achievement and remain essential reading for the DU Admission examination.

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Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838–1894):

  • Father of the modern Bengali novel
  • Famous works: Anandamath (আনন্দমঠ, 1882), Durgeshnandini (দুর্গেশনন্দিনী, 1865)
  • Wrote “Vande Mataram” — became India’s national song
  • Pioneer of psychological realism in Bengali fiction

Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1878–1938):

  • Master of social realism and romantic fiction
  • Famous works: Devdas, Srikanta series, Pallisamaj
  • Known for his sympathetic portrayal of women and the middle class
  • Wrote in a simple, accessible Bengali style

⚡ Exam Tip: Bankim Chandra is most famous for creating the novel as a literary form in Bengali and for “Vande Mataram.” Sharat Chandra is most famous for Devdas, which has been adapted into multiple films in several languages.

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1. Bankim Chandra — Father of the Bengali Novel

Durgeshnandini (1865):

  • First Bengali romance novel
  • Set in 16th-century Bengal during the path of Mughal expansion
  • Features the warrior Bhavani Singh and the Mughal general Jagat Singh
  • Romance across enemy lines — Bhavani falls in love with Jagat Singh
  • Pioneered the historical romance genre in Bengali literature

Anandamath (1882):

  • The most politically significant Bengali novel of the 19th century
  • Set during the Famine of 1770 in Bengal
  • Tells the story of the Sanyasis (Hindu ascetics) who rebelled against British East India Company rule
  • Written to inspire nationalist sentiment
  • Contains “Vande Mataram” (I bow to the Motherland) — the poem/song that became India’s national song

Vande Mataram:

  • Written in Sanskritised Bengali
  • Celebrates the motherland as the divine Mother Durga
  • Inspired the Indian independence movement
  • Set to music by Rabindranath Tagore’s brother, Jyotirindra Nath Tagore
  • Became a symbol of Indian nationalist consciousness

2. Sharat Chandra — Master of Social Realism

Life and Background: Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay was born in 1878 in Debanandpur, Bengal Presidency. His family’s financial struggles and his early exposure to rural Bengali life profoundly shaped his writing. He dropped out of school early but continued self-education, eventually becoming one of Bengal’s most beloved novelists.

Literary Style:

  • Simple, natural Bengali language (sadhu bhasha) — accessible to ordinary readers
  • Focus on human relationships and emotions
  • Detailed portrayal of Bengali middle-class and rural life
  • Sympathetic treatment of women and social outsiders
  • Nostalgia for traditional Bengali life against the encroaching modernity

Major Works:

Devdas (1915):

  • Sharat Chandra’s most famous novel
  • Tragic love story of Devdas, Paro, and Chandramukhi
  • Devdas is the sensitive, indecisive hero who cannot choose between his childhood love Paro and the courtesan Chandramukhi
  • Became the template for the tragic romantic hero in Bengali literature
  • Adapted into films in Bengali, Hindi, and other languages

Srikanta Series (4 novels):

  • Semi-autobiographical series
  • Narrated by Srikanta, a restless intellectual who wanders through Bengali society
  • Provides panoramic view of Bengali life from the late 19th to early 20th century
  • Themes: Education, social reform, tradition vs modernity

Pallisamaj:

  • Celebrates the ideals of rural self-governance
  • Advocates for social reform and education in villages
  • Represents Sharat Chandra’s reformist optimism

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3. Contribution to Bengali Society

Treatment of Women: Both Bankim Chandra and Sharat Chandra wrote women with complexity and sympathy, though in different ways:

Bankim Chandra:

  • Created strong female characters who defy convention
  • Durgeshnandini’s Bhavani is a warrior who challenges gender norms
  • Some critics argue his portrayal remained somewhat within patriarchal boundaries

Sharat Chandra:

  • Particularly renowned for his portrayal of women
  • Created female characters who are complex, emotional, and morally nuanced
  • His courtesans (especially Chandramukhi in Devdas) are depicted with dignity and depth
  • Wrote about women’s education, autonomy, and agency
  • Championed widow remarriage and women’s right to love

4. Legacy and Influence

On Bengali Literature:

  • Bankim Chandra established the novel as the dominant form of Bengali fiction
  • Sharat Chandra’s influence on subsequent Bengali writers (including those in Bangladesh) is profound
  • Both remain central to the Bengali literary canon

On Indian Nationalism:

  • Bankim Chandra’s “Vande Mataram” became inseparable from the Indian independence movement
  • His Anandamath provided a historical precedent for resistance against colonial rule
  • Both writers were read as nationalist texts even when they were not explicitly political

On Film and Popular Culture:

  • Devdas has been adapted into films multiple times (Bengali, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam)
  • The character of Devdas became a cultural archetype of the tragic romantic hero
  • Sharat Chandra’s works continue to be adapted and reinterpreted

Exam Watch: Bankim Chandra is most associated with Anandamath and Vande Mataram. Sharat Chandra is most associated with Devdas and the Srikanta series. Both are essential figures for understanding the development of the Bengali novel and the social themes that characterised Bengali literature in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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