Value addition course (vac)

Reading Indian fiction in English

Unit-2 semester-1
Anandamath
SOL / NCWEB / DU regular /other
BA (HONS), BA(PROG)
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EklavyaSnatak1
 INTRODUCTION
Anandamath was serialised in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee journal
bangadarshan from 1881 to 1882. It was published as a book in
1882. The Sanyasi revolt in Bengal following the battle of Plassey
in 1757, inspired Anandamaths Plot.

Its first English publication was titled “The Abbey of Bliss"

(literally Ananda=Bliss and Math=Abbey). It is often do to be the
first political novel which brings to the for the nationalist
discourse.

Anandamath is a narrative about the Sanyasi rebellion against

the Muslim rulers and the British text collectors.
About the Novelist Bankim Chandra Chatterji

Bengali poet novelist essayist and journalist Bankim Chandra

Chatterjee June 26 1838 to April 8 1894 is mostly known for
writing the patriotic anthem “Bande Mataram” which was
some by liberation fighters in India and ultimately made into
the countries national song.

Bankim is sometimes called the father of modern novels in

India. “Raj Mohan’s wife” was his first published work of
friction. Bankim Chandra is the writer of fourteen novels.
 Summary
Famine strikes Bengal in 1771, the year that Anandamath
was set in. Famine has devastated Podchina, and a young
couple, Mahendra and Kalyani, decide to flee to Calcutta.
They set out on the journey together but get separated on
the way Kalyani, a housewife, must run through the forest
with her baby try to evade man-hunters who want to sell
them off for food.

After a harrowing chase Kalyani is exhausted and passes

out at the riverbank. A Hindu monk discovers her and the
baby.
But before he could rescue them, the British soldiers take him into
custody because he is suspected of conspiring with other priests to
incite a rebellion against British rule. As he is being taken away, he
notices a priest who is not dressed like him.

The first priest sends the message of the lady lying unconscious
through a song. Kalyani and the baby are rescued by the other priest,
who decodes the song and leads them to a rebel priest's hideout. The
priests also provide sanctuary to Kalyani's husband, Mahendra, and
the couple is reunited.

Mahendra is keen to join the brotherhood of monks. The rebel leader

takes him to see the three different manifestations of Bharat-Mata
(Mother India) in the form of goddess housed in three separate
rooms.
The three idols represent :-

❖ What Mother Was :- An idol of Goddess Jagaddhatri

❖ What Mother Has Become :- An idol of Goddess Kali.

❖ What Mother Will Be :- An idol of Goddess Durga.

Over time, the rebel movement gained traction and found more
disciples ready to fight for the Mother's honour. They are then
confident enough to relocate to a small brick fort. The British sent an
overwhelming force to assault the fort.

The rebels blocked the bridge over the nearby river without artillery
or military training. The British make a strategic withdrawal across
the bridge during the fighting. The Sannyasi army leads the British
into a trap. As soon as the rebels flood the bridge, the British artillery
pounces, killing dozens.

Rebels take control of several cannons and begin firing at the British
lines. After the initial victory, the rebels force the British to retreat.
Mahendra and Kalyani rebuild their house, and Mahendra keeps
fighting for the rebels.
 Theme
The historical biography approach of this novel reveals
that Bankim has been influenced by his socio culture
force.

so this novel has crucial significance in shaping a new

Hindu identity as well as the ideology of early Hindu
nationalism.
EKLAVYA
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