Why in the News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Saratchandra Chattopadhyay on his 150th birth anniversary, highlighting his enduring contribution to Bengali literature and social consciousness.
Who was Saratchandra Chattopadhyay?
- Born: 15 September 1876, Debanandapur, Bengal Presidency
- Died: 16 January 1938
- One of the most widely read Bengali novelists and short-story writers.
- His simple, emotionally powerful writing brought the lives of ordinary people, women and socially marginalised groups into mainstream literature.
- His works have been translated into Indian and foreign languages, giving him a wider literary influence.
Literary & Social Significance
1. Social realism
- Portrayed social inequalities, caste and class distinctions, poverty and conservative social practices.
- Particularly captured the complexities of Bengal’s rural and semi-urban society.
2. Women’s emancipation
- Female characters often challenge restrictive social norms.
- Explored issues such as widowhood, child marriage, patriarchy, education and women’s autonomy.
- Women are not merely passive characters but often represent moral agency and resistance to social conventions.
3. Nationalism
- His writings reflected the intellectual and emotional atmosphere of the Indian nationalist movement.
- Pather Dabi is particularly associated with anti-colonial nationalism and revolutionary politics.
4. Language and accessibility
- Used relatively simple, colloquial Bengali, making literature accessible to a broad readership.
- Helped bridge the gap between elite literary culture and ordinary readers.
| Work | UPSC Relevance |
|---|---|
| Devdas | Social conventions, class and emotional conflict |
| Parineeta | Gender, marriage and social hierarchy |
| Biraj Bau | Women’s condition and patriarchy |
| Srikanta | Social conventions, individual freedom and society |
| Charitraheen | Gender morality and social hypocrisy |
| Pather Dabi | Nationalism, colonialism and revolutionary politics |
| Grihadaha | Marriage, relationships and social norms |
[2020] With reference to the book ‘Desher Katha’ (1904) written during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements:
1.It warned against the Colonial State’s “hypnotic conquest of the mind,” explaining how the British successfully colonized the Indian psyche.
2.It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays, folk songs, and the “Yatras” in Bengal.
3.The use of the word ‘desh’ by Deuskar was specifically meant to refer only to the region of Bengal and its linguistic identity.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2, and 3
