Anandamath

This is one in a series of avowedly nationalist novels published by Chattopadhyay (1838-1894), perhaps the single most fundamental figure in Bengali literature. I have read and enjoyed many of his stories and novels but this is quite different in style and intent: the story begins in the Great Bengal famine of 1770 and revolves around the Sannyasi Rebellion. That revolt occurred in the last quarter of the 18th century against British revenue policies and it was one of the first significant nationalist struggles in Bengal. Anandamath is often considered one of the most important novels in all of Indian literature; it includes a poem, “Vande Mataram,” that depicted India as a mother goddess and inspired activists during the movement show more for Indian independence. (It has also been co-opted by modern militant Hindu nationalists who rely upon that depiction to portray themselves as bearing the mantle of “true” Indian nationalism.) So powerful was his narrative that India adopted this poem as its national song in 1950, soon after achieving independence. The novel is a somewhat stylized alternative history in which a highly organized group of Hindu nationalists successfully revolt against the powerful East India Company. The novel is quite dependent on an understanding of local culture and religious practices and I would not have understood or appreciated the novel but for the extensive notes in my edition. The novel is also viciously bigoted in its portrayal of Muslims; too many incidents employ abusive language and depictions and celebrate the destruction of Muslim property and murder. Although the novel is less than convincing or successful as a literary work, it cannot be read with that expectation; understood in its frankly political context, however, it is easily appreciated as a foundational text in Indian history. show less

“আত্মোপকারীকে বনবাসে বিসর্জন করা যাহাদিগের প্রকৃতি, তাহারা চিরকাল আত্মোপকারীকে বনবাসে দিবে – কিন্তু যতবার বনবাসিত করুক না কেন, পরের কাষ্ঠাহরণ করা যাহার স্বভাব, সে পুনর্বার পরের কাষ্ঠাহরণে যাইবে। তুমি অধম – তাই বলিয়া আমি উত্তম হইবো না কেন?”
― Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
----------(2014