নবযুগের শিক্ষাগুরু ডিরোজিও ও তাঁর ছাত্ররা/ new age educator Derozio and his students

Abstract

Henry Louis Vivian Derozio was a pioneering teacher of the Bengal Renaissance in the 19th century. He was not confined to traditional teaching; rather, he inspired his students to think critically, develop rationality, and express their opinions freely. Through his teaching at Hindu College, he created a new intellectual environment that later gave rise to the group known as the ‘Young Bengal’.

           Derozio’s students raised their voices against social superstitions and blind beliefs. Among them were notable figures such as Krishnamohan Banerjee, Ramgopal Ghosh, Rasik Krishna Mallick, Dakshinaranjan Mukhopadhyay, and Ramtanu Lahiri, among others. Influenced by Western philosophy and rationalism, they introduced new ideas about social reform, women’s education, and human rights.

           Derozio taught his students to question, to seek logic, and to pursue truth with courage. As a result, his students emerged not only as educated individuals but also as pioneers of social change. Although many of their ideas sparked controversy at the time, their contributions to the development of modern Bengali society and education are immense.

           Thus, Derozio and his students together ushered in a new era that brought lasting changes to Bengali thought and consciousness.