BENGAL RENAISSANCE – DETAILED NOTES
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PART 1: HISTORICAL FIGURES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
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1. RAJA RAM MOHAN ROY:
- Known as the “Father of Indian Renaissance.”
- Founder of Brahmo Samaj (1828), which promoted monotheism
and social reform.
- Played a vital role in the abolition of Sati in 1829.
- Strong advocate of modern Western education, especially
English and science.
- Started journals like ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ to spread reformist
ideas.
2. ISWAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR:
- A great social reformer and educationist.
- Championed widow remarriage; led to the passing of the
Widow Remarriage Act (1856).
- Reformed Bengali prose and introduced the Bengali primer
‘Barnaparichay.’
- Promoted women’s education and opened many schools for
girls.
3. JOHN ELLIOT DRINKWATER BETHUNE:
- Established Bethune School in 1849, the first girls’
school in India.
- Strong proponent of women’s education and supported by
Vidyasagar.
4. RAJA RADHAKANTA DEB:
- Orthodox Hindu reformer who supported female education.
- Helped establish Calcutta School Book Society.
- Supported Sanskrit learning and promoted cultural
heritage.
5. OTHER REFORMERS:
- Keshab Chandra Sen: Led a progressive wing of Brahmo
Samaj.
- Debendranath Tagore: Helped develop the Brahmo Samaj and
founded Tattwabodhini Sabha.
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PART 2: EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONS
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1. HINDU COLLEGE (1817):
- Key institution for spreading English education.
- Center of liberal thinking and produced many Young Bengal
leaders.
2. KOLKATA MEDICAL COLLEGE (1835):
- First institution to teach Western medicine in India.
- Landmark in scientific and rational education.
3. MACAULAY’S MINUTE (1835):
- Proposed English as the medium of instruction in Indian
education.
- Aimed to create a class of English-educated Indians.
4. YOUNG BENGAL MOVEMENT:
- Led by Henry Vivian Derozio, a teacher at Hindu College.
- Encouraged rationalism, freedom of thought, and social
reform.
- Followers were called “Derozians.”
5. UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA (1857):
- One of the first modern universities in India.
- Became a hub for nationalistic and intellectual
development.
6. WOOD’S DISPATCH (1854):
- Blueprint for modern education in India.
- Recommended vernacular education, female education, and
teacher training.
- Emphasized state responsibility for education.
7. DOWNWARD FILTRATION THEORY:
- Policy of educating upper classes hoping education would
filter down.
- Criticized for ignoring mass education.
8. OTHER INSTITUTIONS:
- Calcutta School Book Society (1817): Promoted publishing
of textbooks.
- Bethune School (1849): First women’s school in India.
- General Assembly’s Institution: Now known as Scottish
Church College.
- Academic Association: Founded by Derozio to discuss liberal
ideas.
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PART 3: RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT
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1. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA:
- Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
- Spoke at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago (1893),
emphasizing religious tolerance and unity.
- Believed in “Service to Mankind is Service to God.”
- Founded Ramakrishna Mission (1897) for spiritual and
social welfare.
2. SRI RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHANSA:
- Spiritual teacher who emphasized unity of all religions.
- Advocated for inner purity, devotion, and truth.
3. BRAHMO SAMAJ:
- Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy; later developed by
Debendranath Tagore and Keshab Chandra Sen.
- Opposed idol worship, caste system, and promoted
monotheism and social reforms.
4. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:
- Vivekananda promoted religious harmony and respect for all
faiths.
- Emphasized practical Vedanta and national pride.
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PART 4: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS
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1. SOCIAL REFORM MOVEMENTS:
- Brahmo Samaj: Campaigned against social evils like Sati,
child marriage, and caste inequality.
- Young Bengal Movement: Advocated liberty, equality, and
women's education.
- Naba Banga Movement: Promoted modern literature and
cultural revival.
2. CONTRIBUTION OF DEROZIO:
- Encouraged questioning of tradition and critical thinking.
- Inspired students to work for reform and rationalism.
3. POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS:
- Reformers used print media and education to build early
nationalism.
- Academic institutions became centers of political debate.
4. COLONIAL POLICIES AND IMPACT:
- Macaulay’s Minute promoted Western learning but ignored
traditional knowledge.
- Wood’s Dispatch laid groundwork for modern education.
- Spread of English created a class aware of rights,
justice, and reform.
These detailed notes summarize the socio-cultural
transformation that occurred in 19th-century Bengal, laying the foundation for
modern India.