RESEARCH PAPERS

Society, Morality and Culture : Bankim Chandra's Response to Western Thoughts
Hironmoy Banerjee

 

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Bankim Chandra thought that before the advent of the Gita, Hinduism preached that abandonment of all worldly actions precedes attainment of the direct realization of reality. The Gita argues that actions must not be abandoned but performed with fruits surrendered to God. In the opinion of Bankim Chandra, European science and industry must be combined with this disinterested performance of action and only then man will attain godhood (Bankim's faith in European Science did not deter him from believing in the possibility of miracles— especially the happening of the scientifically impossible through the grace of God).

Bankim Chandra believed in the rejuvenation of Hindu Society through devotion to God. The phenomenal development of Europe has sprung from the Europeans' love for their own nation. The Muslims' love for mankind transcends national barriers, but they have not learned to love men of other religions. For the Hindus, however, there is no love of God which is also not a love of all humanity. There is no distinction between friends and enemies for every one is full of God. The vast majority of Hindus acquiesced in the Muslim and British rule because the Hindus did not distinguish between nation and nation and had no animosity towards the Muslims and the British. Xenophobia among modern Hindus is due to Western influence. We are developing loyalty to our country and not loyalty to fellow human beings. But if the second is assured the first would come automatically.

Bankim Chandra remained loyal to his early fascination for utilitarianism, but he considered it to be a part of the highest religion. His love for the poor remained unchanged for he ridicules the middle-class mentality that donating a small sum to the very poor is charity enough while giving even a relatively high amount to an indigent higher class individual is not considered sufficient.

For Bankim European patriotism and nationalism have degeaereted into imperialism. The Indians must not drown their nationalism in universal love. There must be perfect harmony between them.

Bankim believed in universal power in order to explain creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. The power is ultimately indescribable consciousness which brings about bliss through harmonisation.

Bankim Chandra was primarily an artist. Naturally his religion wouldlead the mind to appreciate the Beauty of the world. The Bengal Vaishnavas believe that even the unsophisticated village belles attained God through the supreme appreciation of His beauty.

For several centuries the Hindus had forgotten their ideal, but at erne time the Hindus were a great people and the ideal man for the Hindus was Krishna. The Hindu ideal is superior to the Christian Ideal.

Christ was a humble harmless ascetic. The modern Christians are just the antithesis to this. Krishna was efficient in even1 field; the modern Hindus are failures. Europe has prospered and India has declined by being untrue to their ideals.and putting them into oblivion.

 

 

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