BANKIM CHANDRA CHATTERJEE. Among the makers of Bengali literature none stands higher than Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Born at Kantalpara in the 24-Parg. on the 27th June, 1838, in a high Brahmin family, his father a Deputy Magistrate, he showed at a very early age,' both in his village school and at the Midnapore High English School that thirst for knowledge and penetration of judgment for which he was marked all through his life. He then joined the Hoogly College, and after a distinguished career there, came to the' Presidency College with a senior scholarship, where he graduated in the first class. He was one of the first two graduates of the then newly established Calcutta Uni- versity, and the Government was not slow to recognize his merits. He was at once made a Deputy Magistrate. As an executive officer, he had an honourable career and did much good service to the many dis- tricts in which he served. For some time he acted as Assistant Secre- tary to the Government of Bengal, a prize post, which he lost on account of his independence of character. He reverted to the exe- cutive service where he rose to the first grade in 1885. He retired in 1891. WLen he was the Sub- Divisional officer at Khulna, he began a novel in English named "Rajmohan's Wife" in the Indian Field ihen edited by Rishorichand Mitra, But with his usual good sense he §oon* found out, what Michael M. S. Dutt found out rather late, that it was impossible for a person, however gifted he might be, to find a permanent place in foreign literature, and he then began to turn his attention to a neglected field. Durgesnandini, his first Bengali novel, was an important departure from customary novel-writing in India, both in respect of the style and the manner of handling the story. The public were agreeably surprised to find a brilliant luminary in the horizon, which was to outshine its predeces- sors. Kapalakundala and Mrinalini followed in quick succession, and maintained the high standard of their forerunner. In 1872, aided by a devoted band of workers, Bunkim Chandra attempted a new venture in Bengali. He started the Eangadarshan, a monthly magazine devoted to original subjects of every descrip- tion — philosophical, scientific, historical, literary and critical. He was the edi f or and chief contributor of this periodical. some of 7
