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1838–1894 · Naihati, Bengal

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was a Bengali novelist, essayist, and civil servant. His fiction helped establish the modern Bengali novel and shaped public debate. His song Vande Mataram became a consequential patriotic anthem.

“He gave the Bengali novel a durable narrative form and helped shape modern Bengali prose.”

Selected writings

Vande Mataram (opening)

Public domain

বন্দে মাতরম্। সুজলাং সুফলাং মলয়জশীতলাম্ শস্যশ্যামলাং মাতরম্।

Mother, I bow to thee. Rich with waters, rich with fruit, cool with southern breezes, dark with the crops of the harvest, Mother.

Source: Anandamath, 1882

Life & times

  1. 1838

    Born at Naihati

  2. 1858

    Graduated from Calcutta University

  3. 1865

    Published Durgeshnandini

  4. 1882

    Published Anandamath

  5. 1894

    Died in Kolkata