Short biography of Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay

Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay was born in 1838 in Kanthalpara, district 24 Paraganas. His father, Jadavchandra, an orthodox Kulin Brahmin, was a deputy collector of revenues. He was the youngest of three brothers. His elder brother, Sanjibchandra, was also an author.

 Bankimchandra received much of his early traditional Hindu education from a family priest. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee had his early education in Midnapur. He was a brilliant student. After his early education in Midnapur Bankim Chandra Chatterjee joined the Mohsin College at Hoogly and studied there for six years .He was married at the age of 11 to a girl of 5 and in the same year, 1849, was enrolled in Hooghly College. Later  he graduated from the Presidency College, Calcutta. He was one of the first (two) graduates from this college. Later, he obtained a degree in Law, and was appointed Deputy Collector of Jessore. He retired as a Deputy Magistrate.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay  also known as Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was one of the greatest novelists and poets of India. He is famous as author of Vande Mataram, the national song of India. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee began his literary career as a writer of verse. Bankimchandra wrote his first novel, Rajmohan's Wife (1864), in English. Thereafter he wrote 14 novels in Bengali from 1865 to 1884. Among his novels areDurgeshnandini, Kapalkundala, Mrinalini, Vishabriksha, Devi Chaudhurani, Anandamath, Rajani, etc. Besdies novels, he wrote considerable volume of essays and satires, such as Kamalakanter Daptar. He edited one of the influential magazines of the time called Bangadarshan.

Bankim Chatterjee was superb story-teller, and a master of romance. His first three novels were pure romance decked out in historical costume. He passed away on April 8, 1894.