Topic: Young Bengal Movement (యంగ్ బెంగాల్ ఉద్యమము)

 

Topic: Young Bengal Movement (యంగ్ బెంగాల్ ఉద్యమము)

Context & Speaker's Notes:

• Part of Socio-Religious Reform Movements (SRRM).

• Key Characteristic: The first movement within SRRM considered to have Radical (రాడికల్) views.

• Exam Relevance:

  • For PC (Police Constable) / Group 4: Knowing the founder's name (Henry Vivian Derozio) and the movement's name is often sufficient. His title might also be asked.

  • For Group 2 / UPSC Prelims: More depth is needed (details below).

Leader: Henry Vivian Derozio (హెన్రీ వివియన్ డిరాజియో)

1. Identity: Anglo-Indian.

2. Role: Lecturer/Principal (joined at a young age) at Hindu College, Calcutta (హిందూ కళాశాల, కలకత్తా - established 1817).

3. Influence:

   • His radical ideas greatly attracted young students ('Young Bengal').

   • Inspired by the French Revolution (ఫ్రెంచ్ విప్లవం) and its ideals: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity (స్వేచ్ఛ, సమానత్వం, సోదరభావం).

4. Title: Considered the "First Nationalist Poet of Modern India" (తొలి జాతీయవాద కవి).

5. Famous Poem: "To India – My Native Land" (ద ఇండియా : మై నేటివ్ ల్యాండ్) - This work contributes to his title as a nationalist poet.

6. Newspaper: "The East Indian" (ద ఈస్ట్ ఇండియన్) - An English daily newspaper associated with him. (Speaker notes this is mentioned in the 'Ambedkar Pragati' book, may not be in other standard texts).

7. Fate: Died very young, around age 22, due to Cholera (కలరా) (around 1831).

The Movement & Followers (Derozians - డెరాజియన్స్):

1. Core Group: Followers/students of H.V. Derozio.

2. Nature: Radical thinkers inspired by Derozio.

3. Activities After Derozio's Death: The Derozians continued the movement's spirit for some time.

   • Newspaper: Started "The Bengal Spectator" (ద బెంగాల్ స్పెక్టేటర్). (Important: Started by Derozians, not Derozio himself).

   • Association: Formed the "Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge" (ద సొసైటీ ఆఫ్ అక్విజిషన్ ఆఫ్ జనరల్ నాలెడ్జ్).

     • Founder (of this Society): Tarachand Chakraborti (తారాచంద్ చక్రవర్తి) - a prominent Derozian.

4. Quote by Surendranath Banerjee (S.N. బెనర్జీ):

   • Described the Derozians / Young Bengal group as: "The Pioneers of the Modern Civilization of Bengal" (బెంగాల్ యొక్క ఆధునిక నాగరికతకు మార్గదర్శకులు). (Highlights their role in bringing modern thought).

Overall:

• A short-lived but impactful movement led by the young, radical thinker H.V. Derozio in Calcutta.

• Inspired by Western rationalism and the French Revolution.

• Challenged existing social and religious norms radically.

• Though Derozio died young, his followers (Derozians) carried on his intellectual legacy for a period, establishing societies and publications.

• Remembered for introducing radical thought and nationalist sentiment (through Derozio's poetry) into the Bengali intellectual scene.