Anandamath, a story of Monastic Movement

Anandamath

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

👉 Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay & his Contribution

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (26 June 1838 - 8 April 1894) was a prominent Bengali novelist of the nineteenth century. He is notably remarkable in the history of Bengali literature as he had contributed to the development of Bengali prose and novels. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was a novelist, essayist and pioneer of the Hindu renaissance.

However, he is also well known as a literary critic as his first endeavor to comment on the Gita, the holy Hindu scriptures. He was an official of the British Raj in his livelihood. He was the founding editor of Bangadarshan, the original literary journal of Bengali language. He had composed many literary genres under the name Kamalakanta as his pseudonym. He is called the father of Bengali novels. He is also known as the literary emperor of Bengali literature.

"Bande Mataram" - Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

👉 Bande Mataram (Mother, I bow to you mother)

The poem Bande Mataram by Bankim Chandra's novel Anandamath (1882) was recognized as the national anthem of India by the Indian National Congress in 1937. The song Bande Mataram is sung in this novel. Bande Mataram means "Mother, I bow to you mother". It inspired the freedom fighters in the twentieth century and its first two stanzas became the national anthem of India after independence.

👉 Anandamath (Introduction)

Anandamath is a Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, a nineteenth century novelist. It was published in 1882 AD. It has a special role in the freedom struggle of India. The British government passed a law banning the publication of the novel, but a secret manuscript was circulated. The novel is somewhat controversial for its anti-Muslim views. The story of this novel is based on the monastic movement of North Bengal which took place in 1773 AD. It is in this novel that Bankim Chandra wrote the song, Bande Mataram. Later, Indian patriots adopted the phrase "Bande Mataram" as a nationalist slogan.

👉 Anandamath (Summary)

The novel begins with the introduction of a couple named Mahendra and Kalyani, who are stuck in their village footsteps without food and water during a famine. They have decided to leave their village and move to the nearest town where there is a good chance of survival. During the incident, the couple separated and ran to avoid being caught by the robbers and at a point lost consciousness on the river bank. A Hindu monk named Satyananda took Kalyani and her infant daughter to her ashram (hermitage) and took care of her and her child until she and the other monks were reunited with her husband.

Mahendra is currently attracted to join the monks' ashram and serve the motherland. Kalyani tries to help him achieve his dream by trying to kill himself, so that he is freed from earthly duties. Satyananda joined him at this time but was arrested by the British troops before he could help him, as many other monks had started a revolt against the British rule. As he was being dragged away, he noticed another monk who was not wearing his monk's clothes. Satyananda sang a song aimed at him.

Another monk realizes the meaning of the song and rescues Kalyani and the baby girl and takes them to the rebellious monks' dormitory. At the same time, the monks also gave shelter to Kalyani's husband Mahendra. Kalyani and Mahendra reunite. Mahendra, the leader of the rebels, notices the three faces of Mother India that three goddesses are being worshiped in three consecutive houses: Jagadhatri, Kali and Durga.

Gradually, the rebel influence increased and their membership increased. Being encouraged, they moved their headquarters to a small brick castle. The British attacked the fort with a huge force. The rebels blockaded a bridge over a nearby river but lacked artillery and military training. In the battle, the British made a strategic retreat from the bridge. The unprepared army of monks traps the British despite their lack of military experience. When the bridge was filled by rebels, British artillery fired and many were seriously injured.

However, some rebels seized some cannons and returned the fire to the British line. The British were forced to retreat. The rebels won their first battle. Mahendra and Kalyani return home. The story ends with them rebuilding their home. Mahendra continued to support the rebels.

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👉 Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Contribution in Indian English Literature

👉 Sri Aurobindo : contribution in Indian English Literature

👉 Old English Lyric Poetry – British Literature

👉 Freedom to the Slave : by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio - Central Theme

👉 A Poem for Mother : by Robin S. Ngangom - autobiographical elements

👉 Clear Light of Day : Bim and Tara relationship

👉 Night of the Scorpion : by Nissim Ezekiel - Critical appraisal

👉 An Introduction reveals Kamala Das as a poet of rebellion