Dictionary of Indian Biography/Chatterji, Bankim Chandra
CHATTERJI, BANKIM CHANDRA (1838–1894)
Bengali novelist and prose writer : son of Jadab Chandra Chatterji, a Deputy Magistrate : born June 27, 1838 : educated at the Midnapur School, Hughli and Presidency Colleges : in 1858 he was the first native of India to take the B.A. degree, Calcutta : at once appointed to be a Deputy Magistrate, and became a prominent member of the Provincial service, acting for a time as Assistant Secretary to the Bengal Government. His reputation was made in literature, as the Bengali novelist of his time : his novels were numerous, and are said to be still popular : he brought out a literary magazine, 1872, and wrote the first Bengali historical novel, under the title of Durges Nandini. This was followed by Kapala Kandala, Mrinalini, and Bisha Brikka, which was translated into English and very favourably criticised by Professor Darmesteter : Debi Chandurani, Ananda Matha, and Krishna Kanter Will : wrote also on Hindu religion, Kirshna, the Vedas, and Hindu literature : made Rai Bahadur and C.I.E : retired from Government service in 1891 : died April 8, 1894.