Bengali Novelists of the Colonial Period

Bengali Novelists of the Colonial Period

• Bankim Chandra Chatterji (1838-94): Prominent Bengali novelist, known for historical novels. Anandamath (1882) is notable for the powerful lyric "Vandemataram" and its depiction of the Sanyasi Revolt. Rajasimha concludes his career.

• Icharam Suryaram Desai (1853-1912): Gujarati scholar and novelist, known for Hind ane Britannia, one of India's early novels with political themes.

• Girija Devi and Ramatirthammal: Tamil novelists. Girija Devi wrote Mohana Rajani (1931) and Ramatirthammal wrote Dasikalin Mosavalai (1936). Both used novels to explore social issues.

• G.V. Krishna Rao: Telugu writer, author of Keelubommalu (The Puppets, 1956), focusing on rural morality.

• Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1910-1994): Eminent Malayalam writer, author of the tragic love story Balyakalasakhi (The Childhood Friends, 1944).

• Thakazhi Siva Sankara Pillai: Malayalam writer known for Tottiyude Makan (Son of a Scavenger, 1948) and Chemmeen (Shrimps, 1956).

• Similar Social Outlooks: Despite diverse backgrounds, these writers shared a commitment to realism and explored marginalized societal issues through their novels.

Paintings as Historical Sources

• Company Paintings ("Patna Kalam"): Paintings commissioned by the East India Company, vividly depicting colonial India. These works show people, trades, festivals, and attire.

• Popularity and Longevity: Popular throughout the 19th century, these historical paintings lasted until the arrival of photography in India.

• Diverse Pictorial Record: British and Indian-produced paintings, drawings, etchings, and prints record the 1857 revolt in detail, offering varying perspectives.

• British Artist Motivations: British paintings often portrayed British heroes and the suppression of the revolt.

British Expansion in India

• Motivations for Expansion: British conquest of India's diverse regions; whether accidental or intentional is debatable.

• Timeline: Discusses starting dates of British rule in India.

• British Success Factors: Superior arms, military strategy, discipline, salaries, leadership, financial capacity, and nationalist pride are cited as factors.

Specific Regions and Conflicts

• Bengal Conquest: Examines Alivardi Khan, Siraj-ud-daula, and the battles of Plassey and Buxar, culminating in the Treaty of Allahabad.

• Mysore's Resistance: Explores the Wodeyar dynasty, Haidar Ali, and the Anglo-Mysore wars (1st-4th), culminating in Tipu Sultan's fate.

• Maratha Conflict: Traces the rise of the Marathas, Anglo-Maratha wars (1st, 2nd, 3rd), and reasons for the Maratha decline.

• Sindh and Punjab Conquest: Explores the rise of Talpuras, conflicts, and the Sikh rulers.

• Anglo-Sikh Wars (1st and 2nd): Deals with the wars.

Methods of Expansion

• Ring-Fence Policy: A method of securing British dominance.

• Subsidiary Alliance: A strategic alliance between British India and regional powers.

• Doctrine of Lapse: Policy regarding princely states.

• Relations with Neighboring Countries: Analyses relationships with Bhutan, Nepal, Burma, Tibet, and Afghanistan.

• John Lawrence: Policy of "Masterly inactivity".

• Lytton: "Proud reserve" policy on India.

Resistance to British Rule

• People's Resistance Meaning, Genesis, and Causative Factors: Examines the forms, causes, and circumstances leading to opposition against the British.
• Civil Uprisings, Peasant Movements, Tribal Revolts, Major Causes, General Characteristics, and Important Examples: Explores different types of native resistance, the general causes and factors involved and significant examples.
• Sepoy Mutinies: Describes the causes and important uprisings of Indian soldiers (sepoys).
• Weaknesses: Lists weaknesses inherent in the resistance efforts.

Revolt of 1857

• Simmering Discontent: Explores the growing dissatisfaction leading to the 1857 revolt.

• Major Causes: Presents economic, political, administrative, socio-religious, and external factors as the key reasons for the 1857 rebellion.

• Spread, Suppression, and Failures: Describes the outbreak, spread and leaders of the 1857 rebellion, strategies to suppress it, and what factors contributed to its failure.

• Hindu-Muslim Unity Factor: Examines the role of Hindu-Muslim unity during this period or its lack thereof.

• Nature and Consequences: Analyzes and summarizes the nature and outcome of the 1857 revolt.

• Significance of the Revolt: Explains the historical impact of the revolt as a turning point.

Socio-Religious Reform Movements

• General Features and Factors Giving Rise to Reform: Outlines common traits and the influences behind the emergence of reform movements.
• Impact of British Rule, Social Conditions, Opposition to Western Culture, New Awareness: Explores factors that stimulated reform movements, including the societal and political changes under British rule, societal conditions as well as social and religious ideas from outside India.
• Social and Ideological Bases: Describes the middle class, intellectual, and social changes.
• Direction of Social Reform: Details campaigns for women's rights, caste-based issues, as well as a general desire for social well-being.
• Overview of Reform Movements and Leaders: Provides a survey including Raja Rammohan Roy, Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Young Bengal, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and many others.

Emergence of Modern Nationalism

• Factors Influencing Nationalism: Explores factors contributing to organized nationalistic views in India.
• Indian and Colonial Interests, Political, Administrative, and Economic Unification, Western Thought and Education, Press and Literature, Rediscovery of India's Past, Socio-religious Reform Movements, Middle Class, and Contemporary World Movements: Reviews the influences in modern nationalism's development.
• Political Associations Before the Congress: Discusses and surveys specific political associations.
• Early Campaigns: Explores activities of political associations preceding the Indian National Congress.

Indian National Congress (Moderates and Extremists)

• Foundation and Stages: Describes the foundation of the Indian National Congress.
• Era of Moderates (1885-1905) and its Leaders: Explores these features.
• Contributions: Reviews the contributions of this era.
• Evaluation: Assesses the role of the Indian masses or lack thereof.
• Government Responses: Shows the attitude of the government towards the congress.

Other (Nationalist) Movements and Eras

• National Movement (1905-1918)

• Revolutionary Activities (1907-1917)

• Home Rule League Movement

• Lucknow Session, Montagu's Statement, and First World War

• Gandhi

• Early Career, Experiments, South Africa, and Satyagraha

• Making of Gandhi; Non-cooperation; Khilafat Aandolan;

• Emergence of Swarajists, Socialist Ideas, Youth Power, Trade Unionism

• Revolutionary Activity, Simon Commission, Nehru Report,

• Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences in detail

• Debates on Future Strategy and Government of India Act, 1935

• Congress Rule in Provinces: Outlines general policy under this stage.

Towards Freedom and Partition

• Nationalist Response in WWII
• Congress Crisis on Method of Struggle
• Gandhi and Bose
• WWII: Congress Responses, Government's Hidden Agenda, August Offer Responses, Individual Satyagraha, Quit India Movement, Famine of 1943
• Different Forms of Movements: Rajagopalachari Formula. Wavell Plan
• INA, Subhash Bose, Second World War
• Post-War National Scenario - Congress Election Campaign - Cabinet Mission -Communal Holocaust, Interim Government
• Evolution of Communalism
• Independence with Partition
  • Attlee's Statement (February 20, 1947)
  • Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947)
  • Integration of States
  • Inevitability of Partition; Gandhi's Stance,

British India: Governance and Other Aspects

• Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments (1773-1947): Outlines various acts and reforms.
• Civil Services, Police, Military, and Judiciary Evolution under British rule
• British Policies (Administrative, Social and Cultural, Princely States, Foreign) overviewed.
• The Economic impact of British rule on India
• Destruction of industry, Poverty, Famines, Commercialization of agriculture, Nationalist Critique: Evaluates this impact comprehensively.
• Press Development (Early Regulations, Vernacular Press Act, WWI and WWII periods)
• Development of Education (Early Efforts, Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy, Lord Macaulay, Wood's Despatch, Post-1858, and Later Developments)
• Peasant Movements (1857-1947) Overview and details of important movements
• Working Class Movement (Early Efforts, Swadeshi Upsurge, WWI, WWII, Later Developments)

Independence and After

• Challenges Before India
• First Government After Independence,
• Challenges related to Division
• Challenges Associated with Division
• Communal Riots and Refugees
• Communist Response to Independence
• Indian experiences of Travellers, Missionaries, and Civil Servants

Explore the contributions of prominent Bengali novelists during the colonial period. Learn about their notable works and the social and political themes they addressed, including Bankim Chandra Chatterji, Icharam Suryaram Desai, and others. This quiz will enhance your understanding of the literary landscape of colonial India.