Young Bengal

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As Young Bengal , also known as Young Calcutta , Hindu College Students or Derozios , is defined as a student movement in the early 19th century in Calcutta , India .

The movement consisted mainly of intellectuals who called for free thinking and wanted to break free from social guidelines and traditions. It was a crucial part of the Bengali Renaissance . Its founder was the free thinker Henry Louis Vivian Derozio.

Role models and motivation

The Young Bengal originated in the late 1820s and lasted into the 1840s. Decisive for their foundation was the different perception of the colonial influence on their country, their culture and politics. While on the one hand economic security and Western influence were enjoyed with anticipation, on the other hand the desire for resistance against foreign rule was formed. Influential ideas came not only from English radicalism and the French Revolution , which welcomed the declaration of human and civil rights in 1789, but also from Raja Rammohan Roy , the reformer of Hinduism who, among other things, promoted the caste system, child marriage and the sati cult (Widow burning) criticized. When he set out for England in 1830, he did not become a member of the Young Bengal movement, but his ideas were motivating.

Important members

Bust of Dreozios in Kolkata
  • Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809–1831) is considered the founder of Young Bengal. He attended an English private school in the Dharamtola district, where he was profoundly influenced by a Scotsman named Drummond; his teacher presented himself not only as a poet, philosopher and free thinker, but also as an admirer of the French Revolution. In Derozio's work, he began reading sophisticated literature as a boy. He turned out to be an excellent thinker and writer, as well as a patriotic poet. Reference is often made to his criticisms of Kant's theories. Because of his fame, he was hired at the recently founded Hindu College, now Presidency College , at the age of 19 in 1828 as a teacher of English literature and history. A group of fans who admired him quickly formed. His free spirit and ideas spread quickly, students visited him at home and maintained a friendly relationship with him. That same year, a round of debates known as the Academic Association was formed , which lasted until 1839. Due to his influence, Derozio was expelled from his office by directors of the Hindu college who feared an uprising. He died of cholera in the same year , but made a deep impression on his students.
  • David Hare (1775–1841) took over the office of President of the Academic Cooperative after Derozio's death.

Goals and ideals

  • "Down with Hinduism Down with othodoxy"
  • Education
  • Improvements in the situation of women
  • Improvement of the situation of the farmers (economic and social)
  • patriotism
  • Politically and administratively

Organizations and Actions

The Academic Association was convinced that Western knowledge and science were essential for India. In addition, they were deliberately conspicuous by mocking ancient traditions and questioning the divine existence; In addition, they criticized religious and social rites and demanded more educational opportunities for women. As a symbol of their emancipation, they drank wine and ate beef; Some of the Young Bengals' followers converted to Christianity as early as 1832, others followed later. They owned several press organs and published numerous papers, the most famous newspapers were the Enquirer and the Bengali Jnananvesan , which appeared weekly. Although they rejected Hinduism and were thus negatively received by the population, they were nonetheless open to new ideas and not interested in a collective crowd attached to Young Bengal. Rather, the aim was independent development in freedom and development of the spirit.

After Derozio's death, David Hare (1775–1841) took over the office of President of the Academic Association and represented a kind of father figure for the Young Bengal. Although he had no special academic education, he was a very wealthy merchant from England, whose foundation contributed to the construction of the Hindu College (there is now even another David Hare school in Kolkata). The development of the Young Bengal ran slowly after the death of its founder due to the lack of a uniform ideology and so they were more characterized by the establishment of several institutions to represent interests. The Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge , founded in 1838 with Tarachand Chakravarti as President, served mainly as a meeting place for readings. In addition, political, social and cultural issues were discussed and the interests of women were given more attention. Several publications followed.

The short-lived Mechanical Institute, which was founded by David Hare in 1839, addressed, among other things, human rights and freedom of the press and calls for the right to trial, as well as English as the court language. In the early 1840s the Young Bengal began to take a turn and the focus shifted from Bengali culture to increasingly focus on economic and political issues. This was particularly evident in the new Bengal Spectator newspaper.

Failure and end

Despite many ideals and progressive ideas, the Young Bengal movement ultimately "failed". A pervasive positive content was lacking. Too much has been criticized and the students have been unable to produce an independent, evolving ideology. They did not manage to establish a continuation of the movement outside of their circles. The Young Bengal movement was, according to the strongest judgment, only a temporary and scanty movement.

Another point of criticism starts with the focus on everything Western. The Young Bengal categorically praised European ideas and viewed indigenous values ​​with suspicion. However, the European ideologies could not be transferred undistorted and limited to India or Bengal. Often they were also alone with their points of view and couldn't organize proper campaigns that advocated social issues. In their desire to always join the novelty of bourgeois liberalism , they lost sight of the local opportunities. The increasing alcohol consumption of many fellow campaigners is also criticized. They may have lost the focus on the ideals and thoughts of the founders.

As soon as they came into being, the Young Bengal disappeared again from the public. The movement did not survive and "they faded out like a generation without fathers and children"

Effects

Politically speaking, the Young Bengal movement was both moderate and extremist. On the one hand, they wanted to improve conditions in India in cooperation with the British. This line continued until the Nehru - Gandhi era of 1928. The extremist side of the movement, which fought for independence from British rule (if necessary with violence), found its survival in the revolts of 1857, terrorist groups in Congress and the communist, socialist and other left movements of the 20th century. In today's Kolkata you can hardly feel the spirit of Young Bengal. Most college and university students are fixated on career and money. Only highlighting the western lifestyle (with positive and negative facets) seems to be important again today. In addition, the Derozio Award , a prize for education and human enrichment, is given to directors and teachers to honor Derozio's struggle for freedom.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bhattacharjee, KS (1986): The Bengal Renaissance, Social and Political Thoughts . Classical Publishing Company, New Delhi. P. 103ff.
  2. ↑ Sen, A. (1957): Notes on the bengal renaissance . National Book Agency (Private) Ltd., Kolkata. 2nd Edition. P. 20.
  3. ^ Gupta, A. (1958): Studies in the Bengal Renaissance . National Council of Education, Kolkata. P. 27.
  4. ↑ Sen, A. (1957): Notes on the bengal renaissance . National Book Agency (Private) Ltd., Kolkata. 2nd Edition. P. 22.
  5. ↑ Sarkar, Susobhan. Bengal Renaissance and Other Essays . 1970. People's Publishing House. New Delhi. P. 20ff.
  6. ^ Sarkar, p. (200) A Critique of Colonial India . Papyrus. Calcutta. P. 32ff.
  7. ^ Sarkar, S. (1970) Bengal Renaissance and Other Essays . . People's Publishing House. New Delhi. P. 21.

literature

  • Sarkar, S. (1970) Bengal Renaissance and Other Essays . People's Publishing House. New Delhi.
  • Sarkar, S. (2000) A Critique of Colonial India . Papyrus. Calcutta.
  • Sen, A. (1957): Notes on the bengal renaissance . National Book Agency (Private) Ltd., Kolkata. 2nd Edition.
  • Gupta, A. (1958): Studies in the Bengal Renaissance . National Council of Education, Kolkata.
  • Bhattacharjee, KS (1986): The Bengal Renaissance, Social and Political Thoughts . Classical Publishing Company, New Delhi.