Initial Days of Santiniketan and Haricharan Bandopadhyay/ শান্তিনিকেতনের সূচনাপর্ব ও হরিচরণ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

Abstract

Haricharan Bandopadhyay (1867-1959), the author of ‘Bangiya Shabdokosh,’ had a life full of ups and downs, and both his student life and professional life were in the same motion. Despite extreme poverty, he succeeded through his persistence, patience, and discipline. His education stopped for a while due to the need for more funds in B.A third year. He studied in institutions like Champa Pukur School, Baduria L.M.S School, Aarbelia School, etc. He completed the F.A from Kolkata General Assembly's Institution. He took admission in B. A at Metropolitan Institution in 1890 with the fund of Mallick's of Pataldanga. He enlisted his name in B.A under this college. Again, his study was hampered in the fourth year due to insufficient funds. Moreover, he faced the same issue while publishing the masterpiece ‘Bangiya Shabdokosh.’ At last, Rabindranath Tagore requested Manindra Chandra Nandi, the maharaja of Kashimbazar, to help him financially publish the book. At his request, Manindra Chandra Nandi, the Maharaja of Kashimbazar, patronized it. His work life was also distinctive. He was the principal of Baduria High School. He worked as a home tutor to Devendra Lal Khan at Narazol Rajbari. He was also the principal of Kolkata Town School in 1901. Then, he worked as a superintendent at Kaligram headquarters. Eventually, Rabindranath Tagore invited him to Santiniketan Ashrama. There, he was appointed a professor of Sanskrit Literature for a brief period. He had been going through an acute financial crisis at that time. As a result, after nine years, he joined Kolkata Central College as a professor of Sanskrit. Though he had to leave Santiniketan, he continued his research on the writings of Ramesh Chandra Dutta’s, ‘Rajput Jibansandhya’ and ‘Maharastra Jibanprabhat’ and Vidyasagar’s ‘Sitar Banabas.’ He even wrote one book in Sanskrit under the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore. He also translated the sonnet ‘Sohrab and Rustom’ by Matthew Arnold, ‘Meghdut’ with Rajshekhar Basu, ‘Rabindranath-er Katha’, and ‘Kobir Katha’. He became a prominent figure in the Bengali literary sphere. He was famous as a professor in Santiniketan. Many humorous stories were framed on him. Thus, he was able to write about ‘Bangiya Shabdokosh.’ His outlook towards life and his diligence are reflected in the songs of Nishikanta Roy Chowdhury and through Dwijendranath Tagore. Thus, he was strongly associated with the initial days of Santiniketan and had been an influential figure in the Bengali literary canon.