International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)

Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014, PP 40-48

ISSN 2347-3126 (Print) & ISSN 2347-3134 (Online)
www.arcjournals.org

The Influence of British Empire and English Literature on the

Social Life Style of the People of Bangladesh
Md. Rashadul Islam
B.A (Hon‘s), M.A in English
Department of English, Jagannath University,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
info.rashed85@gmail.com

Abstract: The aim of this article is to find out the influence of English literature on the social life style,
culture and literature of Bangladesh. The British authority and their ruling power in the Indian
subcontinent were halted for about two hundred years. It is easy to understand that the history of English
Literature is closely related with the life of English people. The movement of Literature is shaped by the
essential beliefs and values of traditional culture, attitude, politics and social life style of the general
people. The colonial attitude of English people spread over the social, educational, cultural, life style of the
colonized. The British colonial movement in the subcontinent bears the testimony of the effect of English
literature on the social life style of the people of Bangladesh. English people have a long history in the
world including colonialism, socialism and imperialism etc. they had been ruling two hundred years in the
Indian sub-continent. In their ruling power, various incidents occurred related with politics and economics.
Those incidents added as an art in literature both of colonized and colonizer. The history of two hundreds
year colonized period is closely included with the way of life style and culture. English literature has
exerted a heavy influence on political, social, religious, and life style of Bangladeshi people. Later, this
language is considered as foreign languages for socio-political reason.
Keywords: East India Company, British Empire, British educational policy in India, English literature,
contemporary Bengali poets, Social Life style, Bangladesh.

1. INTRODUCTION
How English literature added as a part of Bengali literature is a common question for all scholar.
This paper is also helpful to find the clue. India was very undeveloped and backward before the
discovered of Alexander. The Greeks Scholar taught civilization to Indians, and devoted them the
Western ideas after Alexander the Great. Then Shakas , Huns, Kushans came to India. They were
also interested to teach the Indian native. The colonial movement started in the subcontinent
through the voyage of King Manuel‘s commander Vasco Da Gama whom he sent to the east from
Lisbon in summer of 1497. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope, the commander arrived on the
southeast coast of India on May 20 of 1498. The Portuguese earned a lot of wealth from Asia past
and became a wealthy nation trading and selling Indian these goods to Europe. They set up
Factories in the West part of India. The Portuguese remained the leading trade nation for about a
century, using the Dutch as middlemen. The monopoly privileges on all trade with East Indies
were given to those merchants who had incorporated themselves with East India Company
(1600). Then, Emperor Jahangir declared the order to establish a factory at Surat through the
emissary of Sir Thomas Roe, a representative of James I in 1615. The Nawabs granted permission
to the French East India Company to establish a trading post at Chandernagore in 1673, and
the British East India Company at Calcutta in 1690. The Dutch developed fast ships that helped
them compete with the Portuguese, as well as the English, who had also started establishing
factories (also called colonies) in India. For a while, the Dutch and English worked together to
kick the Portuguese out of India. Portugal could not fight against these two nations and was all but
wiped out of India By 1700, the Dutch and English were the top trading nations in India, which
also included China, Japan, and the Spice Islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines, and
the islands in the Banda Sea. The Battle of Plassey (Bengali: Pôlashir Juddho, Hindi: Palashi ka
Yuddha) between Nabab Siraj-ud-daulah and British East India Company was a decisive victory

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Md. Rashadul Islam

of the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies on 23 June
1757. The battle established the Company rule in Bengal which expanded over much of India for
the next hundred years. This Year is the focal point of cultural change and the implements of
English culture on the life style of the people of Bangladesh is manifested strongly and continued
till now. The ruling system of British period was sometimes not favor to the people of colonized.
The new authority was become the guardian of common people of the subcontinent. The aim of
this research paper is to find out the cultural migration from various groups of cultural people who
came to this part of the World to involve in trade and commerce. The British authority‘s leading
East India Company was more active to make influence directly on the Social and political view
of the Colonized as well as in the life style and manner.
2. ANALYSIS
The English people as the emissary of the British king came to Bengal to undertake the
Companies responsibility in guise of a priest to spread the religious and cultural idea among the
colonized. The company ruling authority tried a lot to establish their supremacy over social and
political life style of the people of Bengal. The British authority at first took their hand on
language in the first half of nineteen century and included English as co- official language. It is
the first attempt of British authority to add English in the academic text book of India. The
word Urdu is derived from the same Turkish word that has given English horde. Since the
establishment of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire until the British Raj, Hindustani,
written in the Urdu script, was the language of both Hindus and Muslims. The language was
variously known as Hindi, Hindavi, Urdu, and Dehlavi. Persian as the official language and was
made co- official language along with English in 1837. After the Indian rebellion long lasting
ruling authority East India Company was dissolved, and Britain's possessions and protectorates on
the Indian subcontinent were formally incorporated into the British Empire. The Queen had a
relatively balanced view of the conflict, and condemned atrocities on both sides. She wrote of
"her feelings of horror and regret at the result of this bloody civil war" and insisted, urged on by
Albert, that an official proclamation announcing the transfer of power from the company to the
state". Civil service, a very prestigious job was transfer to Indian government under the act of
1858 afterwards new members of the service was contracted for a 10 year term. The creation of
the Imperial Civil Service of India was as a result of the 1886–87 Public Service Commission
recommendation. The service holders who showed a pledge good behaviour and knew a good
knowledge of English language was given top ranks. Then imperial civil service of India became
a prestigious job for job seeker or young people and they engaged them to learn English literature
and culture to pass in the ICS exam. The ICS service was high salaries job for the young
generation. At that time ICS service holder got £400 per year. In 1856 the appointment system
was changed into an open competitive examination. The young men engaged them to learn
English language. The culture of English language and literature study fully entered in the
subcontinent to fix the determination of British colonial attitude.
The British ‗colonialism‘ and ‗imperialism‘ notion became successful to create an impact on the
literature of India as a group of independent or semi-independent princedom or territories under
British Administration. Indian literature did not remain ‗Indianised‘ literature under British
influence which mirrored in English Language as well as regional Indian and Bangladeshi
literature. The British declaration in 1830s to spread educational system among Indian in a
Western fashion, with English as the Principal language, incorporating a rise in Indian
nationalism and a growth colonized concept in Indian Literature. The publication of English
Magazines and Journals in English language is another great influence on the rise of Indian
Literature. The Communication way using English language among the 15 major language user
communities had exercised a tremendous British influence on the contemporary Indian literature
both regional Bengali as well as English literature. The tide of spreading Indian English literature
began the genre of British influence on the contemporary Indian literature.
English Language thus had entered into the India with the British Empire‘s educational policy for
the native ‗colonized‘ Indian and soon made a secured home here. With the English connection,
European culture/literature scouted its way into India too and the Indian literary geniuses had
responded immediately and effectively. Sometimes the famous poet of Indian subcontinent was
influenced by English literature and thus the life style of the people of India and Bangladesh had
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The Influence of British Empire and English Literature on the Social Life Style of the People of
Bangladesh

been styled by the fashion of European culture and literature. They are known as ―Young Bengal‖
in Bengali literature. This young Bengal was played an important part in Bengali literature
through the philosophy of western people and culture.
3. BEGINNING PERIOD OF BENGALI LITERATURE
Dr. Mohammad Sahidullah, an author on the history of Bengali literature-― Bangla Sahittor
Kotha‖, said about the ancient sign of Bengali literature ―Charjapad‖ that this book was written
between 650AD- 1200 AD. Dr. Sonitikomar Chattapaddoy said about ‗Charjapod‘ that it was
written between 950 AD.-1200AD. The verse ‗Charjapad‘ is only the ancient sign of Bengali
Literature invented my Horoprosad Sasriy in 1907 from the Royal Library of Nepal. The total
writer of this book was fifty one. The main theme of this book is the religious secret matter of
Buddhist people, who were the first native of Bengal. The middle period of Bengali literature is
recognized between 1201 AD. to 1800. The literature of the Middle period are ‗Sirikisnokirton
Kabbo‘, ‗Boyssob Padaboly‘, ‗Jibony Sahitto‘ ( Autobiography), ‗Mongal Kabbo‘, ‗Onobad
Sahitto‘ (translation literature), ‗Morsia Literature‘, ‗Folklore literature‘, ‗Nath Literature‘ and the
literature of Rosango Kingdoom etc. The year between 1201 AD. To 1350 AD. is unknown to us.
Nothing is found in Bengali literature in this period of 150 years. The literature of the ancient and
middle period of Bengali literature was not influenced by any other literature. Those literatures
were fully religious based on the life style of ancient Bengali people. Some of the literatures were
written through the history of Muslim‘s religious Islam and its influence known as ‘Morsia
Literature’. The modern period started through the establishment of Ford William College in
1800 and the opening of Bengali Department (1800) in India. The literature of this period was
influenced by British Empire and English literature. The education policy of Ford William
College was designed to English literature and the scholars of this college were the first English
language learner. Bengali literature was mostly handed by those scholars. Most of the scholars of
this college were greatly devoted to English literature and later they became the famous Bengali
author. Their motivation toward Bengali literature was to enrich it following English literature
and western fashion.
4. ENGLISH LITERATURE’S INFLUENCE ON BENGALI LITERATURE
Rabindranath Tagore himself acknowledged how the ―spirit of Europe‖ had awakened and
―dazzled‖ him when he was an adolescent. His poetry is not free from the attraction to British
poetry. Tagore got the novel prize for literature in 1913 for his translation of Gitanjoli to ‗Songs
Offerings‘ and W.B Yeats was the writer of the ‗Introduction‘ of Songs Offerings. Tagore created
many serialized art following English writer. W. B Yeats‘s Poetry is rich in myth, symbols and
imagery. His symbolic poems represent a variety of things. Rabindranath Togore‘s poem
‗Tirthojatra‘ is the translation of W.B Yeats‘ ‗The Journey of the Magi‘. ‗Manashi‘ (1890) is
inspired by Browning‘s dramatization of inner psychological interplay of ‗Dramatic Monologue‘.
Tagore‘s ‗Shishu‘is written by the inspiration of William Blake‘s ‗The songs of Innocence‘. Then
the Swedish Academy of Sweden awarded novel prize for Rabindanath‘s ‗ Songs offerings‘, the
English version of ‗Gitanjoli‘ and British Ambassador received the Nobel prize.
In the early 20th centuries literature we find a passionate attraction for West and the deep love for
India. The novel and short stories during the 19th centuries had been dominated under British
influence. Writers in this period use the genre under British influence to portraits contemporary
social issue in their art and literature. This had marked a change and moved the general people to
exercise the British literature on the social and political life style. The new authored had arrived
from the English-educated and white –collared Indian and were influenced by the Bengal
Renaissance. They also inspired the people to reawake about the rising of political, social,
nationalism and women right.
Dirojio, a professor of Hindo college established ‗Academic Association‘ in 1828. The young
generation of Hindu College was more influenced by Dirojio. He created a new revolution to
justify the religion and principals through the view of logic. He wrote poem in English. His main
book is ‗ The Fakeer of Jungkeera‘ (1928). He was suspended by the authority of Hindu college
for his philosophy and thought. His student put a lot of achievement to create a new phase of
Bengali Literature by the influenced of English Literature. the students of Dirojio was
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Md. Rashadul Islam

Kisnomohon Bondopadday, Rasikkisno Mollik, Ramgopal Ghos, Ramtonu Lahiry,

Dokkinaranjon Mokhupadday, Parichad Mitro. They were very genius and influenced by English
Language. They tried to change the tradition of religion of Hindu believe and thought. It is a great
attempt to create the influence of English language on Bengali Culture. Those English lover
students are known as Young Bengal for their intense effect on English Literature and culture.
Parichad Mitro invited the general people to shape the life form through the Modern English
learning. Mitro‘s Alaler Ghored Dulal dealt with the social and cultural indiscipline of Bengal but
he welcome the western tradition instead of blindly imitation. Monir Choudhory wrote the drama
‗Kabor‘ to imitate the history of 21st February following the American‘s dramatist Irwin Shaw‘s
‗Bury the Dead‘ (1936).
The great nationalist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhay could not free himself from the imitation of
English Literature to create a new phase of Bengali Literature. His first novel was published in
English language in 1835. In his professional life he was a deputy magistrate and deputy collector
under British Enpire. He wrote Kapalkundala( the first romantic novel in Bengali Literature also a
tragic history) and it was his second novel written following the famous English dramatist
Shakespeare‘s ‗The Tempest‘. His first novel Rajmohon‘s wife (1835) was written in English
language. He tried to match the eastern and western culture in a straight way.
Michel Modosodon Dotto wrote his first book Captive Ladie (1849) as verse in English
language and published it in 1849 and ‗Visions of the Past‘ (1848) as hie second verse in English
Language. He is famous for his epic ‗Megnadbod Kabbo‘. In Milton‘s great epic ‗Paradise Lots‘
Satan (devil) shows his challenge to win unexpected wanted as like Michel Modosodon Dotto use
Rabon Character to finish his action .To write the Megnadbod Kabbo he took foreign classic term.
He wrote ‗Sarmita‘ as a drama and published in 1859 through the donation of Kings. This drama
is written in western style and easily got success especially among those scholars who were
devoted to learn English Language; finally he translated ‗Sarmita‘ in English language. He wrote
‗Tilottomasambob Kabbo (1860) through the imitation of English literature‘s Blank Verse style.
At last Michel Modosodon Dotto understood the truth of Bengali culture and wrote ‗Akei ki Bole
Sobvota‘ by criticizing ‗young Bengal‘ (the young who were more attractive in English learning).
Issor Chandra Biddasagor recognized as the ocean of knowledge in Bengali literature wrote
Varantibilas (a prose translation of Comedy of Errors) in 1869 following Shakespeare‘s ‗Comedy
of Errors‘. Rongolal Bondopaddoy is another English literature influenced poet of Bengali
literature. He was influenced by the romance of English literature of 19 th century and wrote his
most favorite lyrics ‗Poddiny Upokkhan‘(1858) following the lyrics of Tode‘s ‗Analos of
Rajsthan‘.
5. ENGLISH CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON BENGALI LITERATURE
From the study it is almost clear that famous Bengali writers were the imitator of English
literature to create their art of literature. In this regard E.M Forester‘s view will be more effective
to strength the opinion. Forester visited India for two times to see the condition of Indian people.
He thought that India was the country of Black Men and this man is very ferocious. In his ‗A
passage to India‘, a short story E.M Forester says the revolution of India is for the development of
way of Soul. India can take from West and India can give to the West. Indian can lead a free life.
Christian, English, Portogis, Pathan, Moghol came to India from time to time but they get mixed
with the Soul of India and settled here forever. Their culture and tradition and life style sometimes
get mixed with Indian and they also accepted the Indian culture. Their thought, religious,
philosophy was accepted cordially by the Indians and life style, culture, education, literature were
solely mixed with them. On the other western people forced the Indian to obey their rules and
regulations. They changed everything of the Indian life style and educational and cultural system
but they could not match with Indian mentally. As a result their policy was accepted by the
Indians for individual benefits but they were thrown by the Indian forever. Rudiyard Kipling in
his once commented that ―OH, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet‖ J.
C. Ghosh, who was one of the first Indians to obtain a D. Phil. in English from Oxford. Ghosh's
account of the influence of English literature on Bengali literature as having been not only a
modernizing but indeed a civilizing force indicates that he had fully internalized the British
colonial claim that their rule in India was a civilizing mission and he eulogizes the Western
influence on Bengali literature. The cultural exchange had begun in India subcontinent with the
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establishment of Calcutta University that started Indian Renaissance. The British instituted a steps
to make Indian learns English and to search the wealth of English culture and literature of English
people. Governor General of India established numerous colleges in 1837 and later three
Universities in 1857. He designed the syllabus in British pattern and a small but important section
of Indian began to study English language and literature. The important section started to read
‗Sanskritik‘ literature in English language. The contemporary Calcutta‘s Pundits claimed that
English literature came to us as a greater prestige and the master of ours literature. The influence
of British‘s Empire and English Literature on the social life style of the people of India
subcontinent was profoundly seen in those periods. The oriental culture of Indian subcontinent
started to decline and Indian Scholars accepted the British Language, literature and culture with
whole heart.
6. THE INFLUENCE OF ENGLISH NEWSPAPER ON BENGALI LITERATURE
British editor William Bolt at first offered to publish English newspaper in 1776. ‗English in
everyday life‘ to the common people of India stand as a slogan after the establishment of first
Printing press media in 1780.The first English newspaper in Indian Subcontinent was Bengal
Gazette edited by ‗James Augustus Hekky‘. British influence of English literature on Indian
contemporary literature, the reader‘s persuasion towards English Language and the introduction
of Printing press in 1778 are closely related with each other. The Printing press made it possible
to issue daily English newspaper; magazine and Journals in English language.The media had
made new opportunities for Indians to exercise English culture and literary article to gather
knowledge on English fashion. Two female poets of this and a little later time - Toru Dutt and
Sarojini Naidu - both Bengali by birth, had distinguished themselves with works in English. Toru
Dutt had expired when she was only 21 years old, but Sarojini Naidu had a long and illustrious
career in literature and politics. Contemporary socio-religious notion of Indian and their impact on
the life style of religious people started to change under the influence of British culture and
language. Those people accept the liberal notion instead of confined themselves into limited
religious boundary and opened their eyes to study new culture and new language seeing the better
opportunities in job sector as well as social prestige. Charles Robert Darwin‘s Theory of
evaluation reached in India over that English newspaper. The Origin of Species (1859) published
by Darwin had been entered the religious people into dualism of religious and science or faith and
doubt. People also compare between old and new, freedom and restriction. The positive side of
English newspaper was that it became conscious to scholar people about the evil impact of
imperialism. The continuous publication of English literary article and fashion style motivated the
Indian young girls and boy people towards the fashionable life style of England. In that English
newspaper literary part was a vital imitation for the Bengali poet to create a new phase of Bengali
literature. Most of the Bengali authors were influenced by William Shakespeare, Lord Byron,
Milton and other famous English writer.
7. THE INFLUENCE OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM ON BENGALI LITERATURE
George Orwell‘s ‗Shooting and Elephant‘ shows the evil impact of British Imperialism on the
social life style of Indian people. The people of colonized country show that imperialism has
taken from them the confidence to defend their country. In personal career Orwell was a Police
officer under British Empire. He tried to show the anti-imperialism view in ‗Shooting an
Elephant‘. Imperialism forced the people to obey the British rules and regulations without the
concern of Indian people. In personal life Orwell hated imperialism and regained from Police
officer after five years of service. Imperialism took away liberty, freedom, cultural and
educational right, free thought on art and poetry. British authority compelled the Indian to follow
the western fashionable life style instead of confined to religious belief and thought. Edmund
Burk‘s East India Bill pointed the violation of chartered of East India Company as a commercial
enterprise. After 1773, East India Company started not only exercising political power but was
abusing it badly to suppress Indian people and their freedom. Burke's enlightened imperialism in
regard to Britain's government of India may have been unduly idealistic in several ways. Burk
said that some issue of Fox's East India Bill will be an oppression form for Indian and
consideration on the issue will make free British constitution from its worst corruption. Fox‘s Bill
is 1st. That the bill 1st .is an attack on the chartered rights of men. Secondly, that it increases the
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Md. Rashadul Islam

influence of the crown. Thirdly that it does not increase, but diminishes, the influence of the
crown, in order to promote the interests of certain ministers and their party. Fourthly that it deeply
affects the national credit. It was clear that British parliament Bill was to oppressed India for
hundreds years. The Burk proposal was the right of Mankind will lose and the King‘s
uncontrolled power will be an oppressive mode for general people of India. Rabindanath Tagore‘s
‗A letter to Lord Chelmsford Rejecting Kinghood (31 May, 1919), was a superb example of
British autocracy under the theory of imperialism, wrote as a protest against the massacre of
Amritsar, where British troops killed some 400 Indian demonstrators. Most of the Bengali writer
wrote literature on the British imperialism and describes the western fashion, pomp of power,
cultural reference, life style etc. and later it was easily placed in Bengali literature. As a result the
readers were conscious about imperialism and turned their sentiment on the culture and fashion of
English literature though few of the authors tried to show the negatives and positive side of
imperialism.
8. ENGLISH LITERATURE’S INFLUENCE ON BENGALI ARTS AND RELIGIOUS MANNERS
Calcutta Madrasha was established in October 1780 through the British declaration of Calcutta
Madrasha act. Calcutta Madrasha as the first educational and cultural institution in the
subcontinent was established by non – Islamic men Warren Hastings, governor general of India.
This Madrasha was chiefly established for the study of Arabic and Parsian. Mr. Hurley as the first
principal of Calcutta Madrasha was appointed later. The chief Mission of this Madrasha was to
teach Arabic and Persian but the Head of this madrasha was non Arabic and non Persian speaker
but he was a non Muslim. From 1780-1850 European Secretaries & 1850-1927 European
Principals were as the head of Calcutta Madrasha. The syllabus and study subject was selected by
European. Governor General Warren Hastings established an official madrasha called Calcutta
Madrasah in 1780 but it was intended to produce a limited number of graduates for serving the
colonial government as law officers. The curriculumn favoured teaching Muslim law and
jurisprudence rather than all round education of the Muslims. The first head Maulvi (senior
teacher) of the Madrasah, Baharul Ulum Mulla Majid-ud-Deen, was influenced by the Darse
Nizami system of Madrasah education while he made the syllabus for the Calcutta Madrasah. He
was instructed by Warren Hastings to prepared syllabus for the students of Calcutta Madrasha
only to include Islamic law and jurisprudence. Hastings‘s Purpose was to prepare Islamic
educated person to serve the colonial officer and he compelled the Muslim to avoid the
fundamental principles of Islam. Warren Hastings directly influenced on the religious right of
Muslim. The formal English learning started through the establishment of ‗Ford William College‘
in 1800. William Cary, a Christian father opened Bengali Department (24th November 1801) to
teach the Bengali Language among English officers. Raja Rammohon Ray, pioneer of spreading
western education and culture in Bengal tried a lot to stop the ‗Satidaho Protha‘( a Hindu religious
death system for women after the death of husband). At last Lord Benting stopped the ‗Satidaho
Protha‘ in 1829. In 1753 The English established an amateur house named by ‗Play House‘. That
‗Play House‘ presented the English drama and theatre through the translation into Bengali
Language. The Disguise, an English drama was translated by Lebedef Golock Das, Russian
gentlemen. Dijenrolal Roy known as D.L Roy another famous Bengali writer and English
educated who practiced the song on western culture and pattern also wrote English verse ‗Lyrics
of Ind. in 1886. Through the clear observation of Bengali literature it is found that British
authority was successful to create English motivated Bengali poet. Those poet were the writer of
Bengali literature following English literature and culture.
9. BENGALI POET’S EDUCATION IN ENGLISH LITERATURE
Boddodeb Boso (1908-1974) was the student of English Department of Dhaka University. He
wrote 40 novels in Bengali Literature and was accused for cynical scene again and again –
Ratvore Bisti (1967) is such types of writings. He was sometimes influenced by famous English
Poet Lord Byron, the writer of Don Juan. Jibonando Das (1899-1954), regarded as the poet of
beautiful Bangladesh who was a scholar in English literature. He obtained B.A (Hon‘s) in English
form Calcutta Presidency College and M.A in English form Calcutta University. He was
influenced by the romantic poetry of William Wordsworth and he is the first creator of romantic
poem in Bengali Literature. Ibrahim Kha, Principal (1898-1978), regarded as the writer of Muslim
renaissance who obtained B.A (Hon‘s) in English form Calcutta Saintpols College and M.A in
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English from Calcutta University. He obtained the title ‗Khan Bahador‘, ‗Khan Saheb‘ in British
Period. Monir Chowdhory (1925) obtained B.A (Hon‘s) in English from Dhaka University and
M.A in English in the same subject form the same University. He was influenced by the Tragedy
of English literature. He wrote Roktakto Prantor , a historical tragic drama and got Bangla
Academy prize for it. Aboul Hassan (1947-1975) , admitted in English (Hon‘s) at Dhaka
University but his study was unfinished. It is an interesting matter that the famous listed of
Bengali poet was influenced by English Education in their student life. Anita Desai, a renowned
Indian novelist and short story writer obtained B.A (Hon‘s) in English literature in 1957 from
Delhi University. She exercised through her whole life on English literature and wrote many
novel and short stories in English language. They were influenced by English study to create a
phase of Bengali Literature. English Literature was the media to create style, lyrics, tone, verse
and subject matter of their arts in Bengali Literature. Sodinronath Dotto (1901-1960) known as
the classic poet in Bengali literature finished higher education in English literature. He never
wrote any novel. This English educated people wrote many literatures in Bengali language but it
were mostly influenced by English literature. The life of this authors were decorated with English
literature and western fashion and their followers were also styled in western culture and manner.
10. ENGLISH LITERATURE ON INDIAN CULTURE AFTER POSTCOLONIAL PERIOD
Indian had looked back to their past passionately but their attraction to English literature and
western culture and the love for Indian literature are two factor in this period. Two new forms of
writings had dominated Indian literature under English literature. The famous Indian writers dealt
with the social issue and the realistic view of the society in the short stories and novel. The new
English educated author put their pen on political right and representatives for Indian government.
Rabindanath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and other novelists of the late 19th and early
20th centuries, focused upon the ways in which Indian women of the middle and upper classes
were crushed by their lack of economic opportunity, education and freedom of mobility. Indian
had achieved their long cherished independence in 1947 through the partition of Pakistan and
India. The author started writings on national issue and social problems. While Indian writers
continued to pen on Indian language, English was an important tongue for Indian. Some of the
writers of Indian continued to write novel, autobiography, short stories in English Literature. In
fiction and autobiography they had important achievement to write on British cultural and
autobiographical writings. Such types of writers are- Nirad C. Chaudhuri, Mulkraj Anand, R. K.
Narayan. Nirad C. Chaudhuri (born in 23 November 1897) wrote ‗River and the Rains‘ in his
volume ―An autobiography of an unknown India‖, an autobiography in English language dealt
with the childhood history of his birth place Kishorgonj. He compared the of his birth place with
the river of Egypt- Nile. He said, ― To compare small things with great , it was our Nile‖. It gives
a picture of economic, social and natural condition of Kishorganj. Anita Desai is another living
Indian author born on June 24, 1937, writer of the short story ―Games at Twilight‖, a casual game
of hide and seek. Here he described the child psychology. Desai superbly described favorite
Indian games and interesting for the children in English language. Desai also wrote ―Fasting
,Feastign‖ in 1999 highlighting the contrasted American and Indian culture, and male and female
roles. The novel was enlisted for the 1999 Booker Prize. Kaiser Haq, professor of Dhaka
University wrote poetry in English through the uses of Indian culture. His poem- Civil service
Romance superbly described the love, romance and marriage system between Indian Men and
women following the culture and tradition. Those writers were Indian native but wrote fiction,
novel, short story and poetry in English literature. Sayod Samsul Haq ( born in 1935 , 27 th
December) imported extreme Sex in Bengali literature though sex history in the social level was a
very shameful matter during sixty or seventy decade. His sexual story ‗Khelaram Khele Ja‘ is
called a pin up novel. Free sexual story in Bengali literature is a shameful matter for the people of
Indian subcontinent. Some of the Bengali writers expressed their highly romantic idea in Bengali
literature then it turned into sex story. Ms. Toslima Nasrin, (25th August 1962 – present) who is a
women writer of Bangladesh spent most of her life time in foreign country, put her hand on the
social and educational right of Bengali women. She wrote ‗Amar meya Bela‘ (1999), Nosto
Meyar Goddo, (the story of a worst girl) in 1992,Lojja (Shame) in 1993 is highly sexual and also
revealed the women right through the free discussion. She also tried to described that the Men and
Women are same. She was greatly influenced by the western slogan of the empowerment of
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Md. Rashadul Islam

women in the society. Her literature was a inspiration for the women to place themselves in the
honorable and respected level in the society. The highly religious Muslim people are still against
her art. Al Mahmud (11th July 1936) is a famous Bengali poet, wrote many poem. He was greatly
devoted in free sexual verse in his youth, later in his old age he said ― Dormer call Batase Nore‖
means now I am religious man. Sonali Kabin (1973) a collection of his poems. He did not avoid
sexual context here. His highly sextual verse from Sonali Kabin—― Tarpor tolte chao kamer
prosongo Jodi nari,
Kheter arale ase nogno koro joubon jorod, sossor sapokkhe theke jototoko onorag pari, taro besi
dhele debo antorik rotir dorod. In earlier period of his writings he was influenced by the western
free sexual style and cultural fashion. Aroj Ali Matobbor (1900-1985) is a famous philosopher of
Bangladesh, who was institutionally illiterate. He studied a lot by self effort and was affected by
the philosophy of the Middle East philosopher. He wrote two great books- ‗Sottor Sondane‘ ( in
search of truth) in 1973 and ‗sistirrohosso‘ ( the secrecy of creation) in 1978. He was against blind
religious believe and religious superstition of the general people of Bangladesh. The extreme
fundamentalists tried to stop his voice but he became successful in his own philosophy.
11. CONCLUSION
The influence of British Empire and English literature is closely related with each other. British
Educational policy was designed to make a lesson plan in Western fashion. At present the life
style, rules and regulation, judicial system and important act of Indian subcontinent were gifted by
British Authority. So the influence of British culture in the subcontinent is not a surprising matter
but the suppression and oppression procedure directly or indirectly on the life style of the general
people is expressed through the British writers or Author‘s Pen. Most of the Native Writers of
British was conscious on the British imperialism and its evil impact on social life of the
subcontinent. Those Writers‘ pen sometimes directly expressed the British ruling and cultural
Policy for India. On the other hand DinBondo Mitro‘s ‗Nil Dorpon‘(1860), (the first drama on
socio-economic and political subject of Bengali Language)‘ also dealt with the oppression of
British Colonizer on the Farmers who planted Nil (a colour producing seed) in the subcontinent.
The European attitude was to build up the scholars in western cultural style. They got success in
this plan but Young Scholars sentiment changed quickly trough the spirit of Bengali Renaissance.
It is not surprising question that the ancient Bengali writers were interested in Foreign language.
Ijjatullah, a Bengali author wrote ―Gole Bokaoly (1722)‖ in Persian Language. Sayod Ismail
Hossain Siraji (1879-1931) wrote ‗Anol Probaho (1899) in which he expressed the critical
condition of Muslim and the anger against the British Empire, finally this book was banned by
British authority. National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was sent to jail of Hogoli in 14 th April 1923 but
English Jail Super misbehaved a lot with the other accusers. Seeing the condition of Jail Super
Nazrul started hunger strike. Rabindanath sent a letter to Nazrul ‗ Give up hunger strike, our
literature claims you‘ At last Nazrul gave up hunger strike after 40 days through the request of Jail
caretaker. Nazrul self declaration under Chief Magistrate court in 1923 is recognized in literature
as ‗Rajbondir Jabanbondi‘, a voice against the British ruling in the subcontinent. Bonkimchandra
Chattapadoy‘s ‗Chandrasekhor (1875)‘, novel was written on the rebel between the establishment
of English Empire and the fight of Mir Kashim with the English soldier. He also wrote the Song
‗Bonge Matarom‘, later it became an inspiration against the British Empire. Abu Jafor Samsuddin
is recognized as a short story teller of present Bangladesh who wrote ‗ Vaoal Gored Upakkhan‘
about the preparation of the Muslim against British power.Through the conceptual study between
English and Bengali literature it is found that the life of Bengali literature once breathed from
English literature. The prejudice of English literature to Bengali scholar was the vital point of
influence on Bengali literature.
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[3] History of Bengal Gazette ( first English newspaper in subcontinent)/
BANGLAPEDIA.ORG, Asiatic society , Bangladesh

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The Influence of British Empire and English Literature on the Social Life Style of the People of
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