Bengal Renaissance is a period of awakening within Bengal in the fields of philosophy, literature, science and politics. The Bengal Renaissance initially was restricted within the educated Bengali society but later spread out to all socio-cultural strata including the resident Muslims.
This period began with the emergence of Raja Rammohon Roy and lasted through the nineteenth century. The other architects of the Renaissance in Bengal were Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta, writer Pandit Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Maharshi Debendranth Tagore, Raja Radhakanto Deb, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa and later Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vevekananda, scientist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, scientist Acarya Jagadish Chandra Bose, educationist Syed Amir Ali, dramatist Girish Ghosh and so on.
Two prominent features of the Renaissance in Calcutta were: the formation of associations, societies and organizations; and emergence of numerous newspapers and magazines. Another important aspect of the Bengal Renaissance movement was the formation of reform movements in both religious and social fields. Western ideas and ideals influenced this Renaissance movement in Bengal considerably. Ideals of nationalism and independent governance derived from the west were spread by the educated elite to the the masses through the various associations, movements, and magazines.
Raja Rammohan Roy was the pioneer of the Renaissance in Bengal. Born in a wealthy family in 1772, Raja Rammohan Roy was well versed in Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic. He formed the Brahmo Samaj, a religious society in 1828. Prior to that he set up the Hindu College (presently Presidency College)
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in 1817 with the assistance of David Hare and Raja Radhakanto Deb. In 1829 Raja Rammohan Roy was successful in putting an end to the heinous practice of 'satidaha' (widow burning) with the help of British Governor General William Bentinck.
Subsequently, the Bengal Renaissance was carried forward by the likes of Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, Pandit Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Michael Madhusudan Dutta. Pandit Vidyasagar introduced the practice of widow re-marriage. Scholar and social reformer Vidyasagar in association with Drinkwater Bethune established the Bethune School for imparting formal education to girls.
Swami Vivekananda spread the essence of Hinduism and Indian traditional culture in the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. Swamiji a philosopher and philanthropist spread the spirit of brotherhood and humanity by traveling across Indian states and meeting kings and commoners.
The first six decades of the nineteenth century saw an upheaval in the socio-cultural spheres of Bengal society. The next four decades witnessed the formation of political societies. The Hindu Mela was organized by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore with Rajnarayan Bose, Nabagopal Mitra between 1867 and 1881. Within the course of this Mela a seminar 'Hindu Dharmer Shresthatva' was arranged in 1872. The India League, the Indian Association, National Conference, and Indian National Congress formed in 1857, 1876, 1883, and 1885 respectively were the prominent political associations that emerged during the latter half of the eighteenth century.
Bengal Renaissance is a golden phase in the social and cultural history of Kolkata. This period also witnessed the emergence of political associations which ultimately were instrumental in guiding India towards her independence in 1947.
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