Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on 27th June 1838 in the village Kantalpara of the Twenty-four Paraganas District of Bengal. He belonged to a family of Brahmins. The family was well known for the performance of yagas (sacrifices).

Bankim Chandra's father Yadav Chandra Chattopadhyaya was in government service. In the very year of his son's birth he went to Midnapur as Deputy Collector. Bankim Chandra's mother was a Pious, good and affectionate lady.

The word 'Bankim Chandra' means in Bengali 'the moon on the second day of the bright fortnight'. The moon in the bright half of the month grows and fills out day by day. Bankim Chandra's parents probably wished that the honor of their family should grow from strength to strength through this child, and therefore called him Bankim Chandra.

Bankim Chandra's education began in Midnapur. Even as a boy he was exceptionally brilliant. He learnt the entire alphabet in one day. Elders wondered at this marvel. For a long time Bankim Chandra's intelligence was the talk of the town. Whenever they came across a very intelligent student, teachers of Midnapur would exclaim, "Ah, there is another Bankim Chandra in the making".

At College

Bankim Chandra finished his early education at Midnapur. He joined the Mohsin College at Hoogly and studied there for six years. Even there he was known for his brilliance. His teachers were all admiration for his intelligence. With the greatest ease Bankim Chandra passed his examinations in the first class and won many prizes.

He was not very enthusiastic about sports. But he was not a student who was glued to his textbooks. Much of his leisure was spent in reading books other than his texts. He was very much interested in the study of Sanskrit. He would read and understand Sanskrit books on his own. He was struck by the beauty of that language. Bankim Chandra's study of Sanskrit stood him in good stead. Later when he wrote books in Bengali this background of Sanskrit was of great help to him.

There was no set rule for his study of books. It was enough that a particular book attracted his attention. He would pore over it for hours on end in some corner of the college library. He used to spend most of the academic year in this way, reading books other than his texts. And as the examinations drew near he would race through the texts. But it made nodifference for, as usual, he would pass in the first class, and win prizes. And then again he would keep away from texts.

In 1856 he joined the Presidency College in Calcutta. The next Year, in 1857, soldiers of the Indian army rose in mutiny; the mutiny was bid to gain freedom. Calcutta was all confusion during this time. But Bankim Chandra's studies went on as usual. He sat for the B.A. Examination along with eleven candidates. Both Bankim Chandra and his friend Yadunath Bose passed. The Lieutenant Governor of Calcutta appointed Bankim Chandra as Deputy Collector in the same year. We may recall that his father Yadav Chandra had also rendered service as Deputy Collector. According to his father's wishes Bankim Chandra accepted the appoint- ment. He was then twenty years old.Having developed an interest in the study of Law he got through effortlessly in the B. L. Degree examination, too. An Undaunted Officer

Bankim Chandra was appointed Deputy Magistrate. He was in Government service for thirty-two years and retired in 1891. He was a very conscientious worker. Most of his officers were Engl&men. They were a proud lot for they were the ruling power of this country. Bankim Chandra never sub- mitted to their proud, unjust or stubborn behavior. Wasn't he the author of the inspiring and patriotic 'Anandamatha' and the song Vande Mataram'? He was true to their spirit. He would resist any unjust person and teach him a lesson. Because of this some of the British officers were displeased with him and he had to face their hostility. They harassed him. Bankim Chandra bore everything with patience. He worked hard and with integrity. Yet he never got the high position that he so much deserved!

Bankim Chandra would never sacrifice justice or self-respect. The arrogance of the white men never frightened him. When he was a Deputy Magistrate there was a superior officer named Munro, who was the Commissioner (the head of the province). Bankim Chandra met Munro near Eden Garden once. A British officer in those days expected any subordinate Indian official to show him respects by bowing modestly before him. But Bankim Chandra just walked past Munro. Munro was enraged. He transferred Bankirn Chandra to a different place.

There were many such incidents during his service. His self-respecting behavior angered the British officer. As a result he was often transferred from place to place and much harassed.

Unhappy at Home, Too

His official career was full of such troubles. There were also some unhappy incidents in his personal life. Bankim Chandra was married when he was only eleven and his wife was five years old! Within a year-or two of his appointment as a Deputy Collector at Jessore he lost his wife. Bankim Chandra was only twenty-two then. The death of his young and beautiful wife made him very unhappy. After some time he married again. His second wife was Rajalakshmi Devi. They had three daughters but no son. Bankim Chandra's youngest daughter Utpala kumari is said to have committed suicide.

When he was in Jessore Bankim Chandra met a person by name Deenabandhu Mitra. He was a renowned Bengali dramatist of the time. They became very great friends. Bankim Chandra dedicated his 'Anandamatha: to the memory of his dead friend Deenabandhu Mitra.

Bankim Chandra the Writer

In due course Bankim Chandra emerged as a great writer in Bengali. He wrote novels and poems. He wrote articles, which stimulated impartial thinking. He became well known outside Bengal, too. His novels have been translated into many Indian languages.

How did he become such a great writer?

He was an exceptionally intelligent man. He read with interest books by established authors. And he used to say that his success was also due to the blessings showered on him by elders. Bankim Chandra regarded his parents with deep reverence and devotion. Whenever he went on a pilgrimage he would wash their revered feet and take that sacred water.

There were other factors, which helped in his writing. He belonged to an orthodox family. So he was familiar with the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha right from his childhood. These epics made a lasting impression on him. A variety of experiences - some of them sweet, and some bitter - came to him in his life. And these must have been stored in his memory. Bankim Chandra had traveled widely. He worked in several offices. So he came across many types of people. They were of different kinds'- some good, some bad, some humble, some snobbish, some intelligent and some dull. This vast knowledge of life and men is very well reflected in the characters he created in his novels.

When Bankim Chandra started writing, there was a new spirit, an awakening all over Bengal. People thought along new lines. The conditions of our country must improve; we must realize ourshortcomings and improve ourselves - such were the thoughts of the people. Some persons toiled hard to translate these wishes into action. Raja Rammohan Roy was one such reformer. He worked for a new system of education, for a free flow of new ideas from outside the country and to wipe off the blind beliefs of the people. Another great son of Bengal, Ishwara- chandra Vidyasagar, worked for the progress of Bengali language and society. Many were the people who worked with similar ideas to improve the country. Patriotism grew stronger and a new enthusiasm was in evidence every where. Thus the very atmosphere was inspiring.

The Last Three Years

Bankim Chandra first wrote poems. Then he wrote a novel in English. But after this he began to write novels in, Bengali. He wrote while still in service. Because of constant pinpricks he grew weary of service. He felt that government service curbed his freedom and challenged his self-respect. So he asked for permission to retire, though he was only fifty-three years old.

But his superior officers were displeased with him. So they would not even allow him to retire.When a new Lieutenant Governor, Charles Eliot by name, was posted,Bankim Chandra approached him. He told him that he wished to write books and nee led leisure. I would like to retire. Please allow me to do so," he requested Eliot. He agreed. At last Bankim Chandra was free. He was retired on a pension of four hundred rupees a month.

When Bankim Chandra retired he was eager to write many books. But he was not able to devote many years to writing on a large scale. His health soon declined and he died in 1894 when he was only fifty-six.

Towards his end he grew very philoso- phical. He lost all interest in worldly pleasure. Though he was ailing for quite sometime he refused medicine.

The doctor said to him, "If you don't take medicine you may not live long; you are inviting death."

"Who says I have refused medicine? I have been using it all along," replied Bankim Chandra.

The doctor was surprised. "But where is the medicine? Let me see," he said.

Bankim Chandra took in his hand the copy of the Bhagavad Geeta that was by his side and said, "Here this is my medicine."

The study of the Bhagavad Geeta gradually changed his very temperament itself. He gave up writing novels. Philosophy and thoughts of God filled his writing. He wrote 'Krishna Charitra', and books on religion. He began the translation of the Geeta and the Vedas. But he died before he could complete the translation of the Vedas.

Bankim Chandra was a very refined person. Rabindranath Tagore, the world famous poet of India, has related an incident about Bankim Chandra.

There was a gathering. People were talking in-groups. One of them was reading Sanskrit verses composed by him. Bankim was standing nearby. The subject of the composition was patriotism. As the poet read, he made a remark making fun of Indians in poverty. When Bankim heard the remark he covered his face and left the place at once.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, one of the great sons of India, and Bankim Chandra were acquaintances. The word 'Bankim' also means'that which is bent'. Sri Ramakrishna once jokingly asked Bankim Chandra, "What is it that has bent you?" "The kick of the Englishman's shoe," Bankim replied. Sri Ramakrishna was acquainted with Bankim Chandra's historical novels, too. When Swami Vivekananda was still known as Narendranath, Sri Ramakrishna had sent him to Bankim Chandra.

Bankim Chandra the Novelist

'There was a big forest. There were trees of many kinds. Branches and leaves were dense and interwoven. Sunlight could hardly penetrate through these leaves. There were leaves and leaveseverywhere; they seemed endless. It was dark, pitch dark. Even in broad day, light the forest was dim and fearful. People did not dare enter the forest, there was not a sound other than the rustle of the leaves and the cry of wild animals and birds.'

Imagine the forest. It is midnight. The forest is dark, terrifyingly dark. And there is not a single sound. And, in this darkness and silence suddenly a man's voice is heard.

'Will not my heart Is desire be fulfilled?’

There is silence.

Again the voice:

'Will not my heart's desire be fulfilled?'

Silence again.

Once again the voice asks:

'Will not my heart's desire be fulfilled?’

Now there is an answer. But what an answer. The answer is a question and a challenge. 'What will you offer in return?'

The first voice replies, 'All that belongs to me I am ready to give up. I shall even give my life.’

'What is a life after all? Anybody can give that.'

'What else then? What else can I give?

Pat comes the answer, 'Dedication.'

What an interesting story! The deep and dense forest, the pitch black night, the silence…..and a human voice is heard. A thrilling situation. What a question! And What an answer ! One cannot put the book down until the last page is turned.

The passage quoted here appear the beginning of the novel 'Anandama mentioned earlier with reference to our National Song Vande Mataram'.

Is it surprising that people read Bankim Chandra's novels eagerly?

Bankim Chandra had founded a journal called 'Vangadarshan'. 'Anandamatha' appeared in installments in this monthly journal. In 1882 it appeared in book form. Soon the copies were sold out and the book was reprinted. The second edition, too, was soon sold out. During Bankim Chandra's lifetime alone, in ten years 'Anandamatha' was reprinted five times.

Readers found reading a Bankim Chandra's novel an altogether knew kind of experience. The people of Bengal were fascinated by his novels. When the novels were translated into other Indianlanguages they delighted the new readers, too.

Bankim came to be regarded as one of Bengal's treasures; this was because of his novels.

Bankim Chandra had give thought to the question of a writer's style. A novelist tells a story. How should he write?His language must be the language of the people - language they can understand; he must write as they speak, thought Bankim Chandra. He wrote in that manner. Though his language was close to the spoken form of his day, it was attractive. The Bengali language acquired a new dignity because of his writings.

Bankim wrote fifteen novels in all. 'Durgeshanandhini','Kapalkundala,Mrinalini,' 'Chandrashekar' and 'Rajsimha' are well known for their interesting stories. 'Anandamatha.' 'Devi Chowdhurani' and 'Seethararn' are based on the history of our land. Bankim was a keen observer of the life of the people around him; and he used to reflect deeply on what was right and what was wrong in the social life of his day. 'Vishavriksha', 'Indira', 'Yugalanguriya', 'Radharani', 'Rajani', and 'Krishna kanther Will' - these reflect the good and the bad in society.