DEROZIO AND THE YOUNG BENGAL MOVEMENT

DEROZIO AND THE YOUNG BENGAL MOVEMENT

Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-1831), appointed as a young teacher at the Hindu College, inspired a radical trend which gained great support from the Hindu College stu­dents. He edited the papers, the Hesperus and The CalcUi Library Gazette and was connected with the India Cazet Derozio's intellect and per:;onality drew young educatl Bengalis. Armed with a firm belief in truth, freedom ar reason, the Young Bengalis began attacking the vices of tl society. The movement included Rasikkrishna Mullic Tarachand Chuckervati and Krishnamohan Banerjee. TI journal, lnanavesan, and the Society for the Acquisition t General Knowledge served as their main organs of prop. gation. The movement existed only from 1826 to 1831. S.!' Banerjee termed the leaders of the movement as the 'pic neers of modem civilisation of Bengal'.

VIDYASAGAR

A well-known and active social reformer of the 19th centur was Vidyasagar. A Sanskrit scholar, his was a struggle fo securing women their rights. He opposed caste evils ani priestly domination as well. In 1850, he protested agains child marriage and in 1856, in Calcutta, he supervised th. first lawful widow re-marriage. He ran as many as 35 girl: schools, most of them at his own expense.

THE PRARTHANA SAMAJ

Founded in 1867, the Samaj had Mahadeo Govind Ranad{ as its chief mentor. M.G. Ranade prepared, "A Theist'~ Confession of Faith", 39 articles explaining his thoughts on theism. Its prominent leaders included Dr. Atmaram Pandarung and R.G. Bhandarkar. Its two main concerns, worship and reform of society, were promoted through emphasis on monotheism, upliftment of women, abolition
of caste discrimination and religious orthodoxy.