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Jnanadanandini Devi

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Jnanadanandini Devi

Jnanadanandini Tagore (née Mukhopadhyay; 26 July 1850 – 1 October 1941) was a social reformer who pioneered various cultural innovations and influenced the earliest phase of women's empowerment in 19th century Bengal. She was married to Satyendranath Tagore, a scion of the Jorasanko Tagore Family.

Early life

Jnanadanandini was born to parents Abhaycharan Mukhopadhyay and Nistarini Devi of Narendrapur village in Jessore, Bengal Presidency. Abhaycharan, a Kulin Brahmin, became an out-caste by marrying into a Pirali family and was disinherited by his father. In accordance to the prevalent custom, Jnanadanandini was married at the young age of seven to Debendranath Tagore's second son, Satyendranath in 1857.[1] In contrast to her life in Jessore, she found herself confined behind the strict purdah of the Tagore household at Jorasanko.[2] In 1862, while pursuing his probationary training for the Indian Civil Service (ICS), Satyendranath asked for Jnanadanandini to join him in England. This request, made to his father Debendranath Tagore was however turned down by the latter.[3] Around this time, Jnanadanandini's brother-in-law Hemendranath Tagore took charge of her education.[4] Upon Satyendranath's return from England in 1864 as the first Indian member of the Civil Service, Jnanadanandini went to live with her husband in Bombay.[5]

The Sari

While in Bombay, Jnanadanandini socialized in the European circles and partly adapted to English customs. This shift in social role required her to dress appropriately, for which the traditional Bengali style of wearing the sari became too unwieldy.[6] During a tour of Gujarat with her husband, Jnanadanandini improvised upon the sari worn by the Parsi women. She created her own style of draping the aanchal/pallu over the left shoulder – as opposed to the Parsi style – so that the right hand remained free for courtesies.[7] She even advertised in the monthly magazine Bamabodhini Patrika offering to train other women to wear the sari in her novel style. One of her first pupils in Calcutta was Mrs. Soudamini Gupta, the wife of Behari Lal Gupta, ICS.[8] The style soon became popular among the Brahmo women of Calcutta developing the eponym Brahmika Sari.[9] While in Calcutta, Jnanadanandini, breaking the customs of the upper-caste household, accompanied her husband to a Christmas party thrown by the Viceroy, Lord Lawrence in 1866. Prasanna Coomar Tagore of Pathuriaghata, who was also among the invitees was deeply outraged by Jnanadanandini's boldness and left the viceregal palace in shock.[10] Her father-in-law, Debendranath Tagore did not take kindly to her independent spirit either. It is speculated that this caused much discord in the Tagore household.[11] Jnanadanandini left Jorasanko in 1868 to live by herself in a mansion on Park Street, adjacent to Debendranath's residence. In spite of this proximity, the two of them never interacted.[12] However, around this time she developed a fondness for her younger brother-in-law, Rabindranath Tagore, who became a frequent visitor in her Park Street house.

Bombay

Jnanadanandini returned to Bombay with her husband in 1869. The same year she lost her first child within a few days of birth.[13] Her son, Surendranath was born in 1872 while the couple was living in Poona and the following year, her daughter Indira Devi was born in Bijapur. In yet another undaunted act of courage, Jnanadanandini appointed a Muslim woman as wet nurse for her children.[14] Leaving newborns to the care of a wet nurse or a governess - always belonging to some Hindu castes - was common practice in affluent Indian families of the day.[15] However, Jnanadanandini resented leaving her children in the custody of servants - often against the wishes of her own husband - making evident the emotional contours of a nuclear family that were already beginning to evolve in her mind.[16] Her third son Kabindranath was born in 1876(?) during the family's brief sojourn in Hyderabad, Sindh.[17]

England

In 1877, a heavily pregnant Jnanadanandini Devi set sail for England with her three children.[18] At a time when an Indian woman crossing the seas was unheard of - let alone without a male companion - her fortitude created a social sensation.[19] She was received in London by her husband's uncle Gnanendramohan Tagore who, in spite of being the first Asian barrister and a Christian convert, shared in the shock.[20] After briefly residing at Gnanendramohan Tagore's house in Kensington Gardens, Jnanadanandini moved into a house on Medina Villas in the seaside town of Brighton, Sussex. Satyendranath joined her in England with the onset of his furlough in October 1878, along with his younger brother Rabindranath Tagore.[21] Her initial year in England was marked by grief with the birth of a stillborn child, and the demise of her youngest son Kabindranath. She arranged for Kabindranath to be buried beside Dwarakanath Tagore's grave at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.[22] However, she and her children soon developed an intimate friendship with Rabindranath.[23] Her daughter Indira would eventually become Rabindranath's lifelong confidante. Upon the completion of Satyendranath's furlough, he took up a post in Surat while Jnanadanandini returned to Calcutta whit her children.

Calcutta

Jnanadanandini Devi, Satyendranath Tagore, Kadambari Devi and Jyotirindranath Tagore

In Calcutta, Jnanadanandini took up residence in a bungalow on Lower Circular Road. Yet, from the memoirs of her daughter Indira and niece Sarala, we learn that Jnanadanandini never relinquished her attachment with Jorasanko.[24][25] In fact, her relationship with Rabindranath by now permeated into the world of his creativity. Jnanadanandini started assisting him with the performance of his plays, often encouraging other women of the household to participate. Thus came: Valmiki-Pratibha, Mayar Khela, Raja O Rani, and Bisarjan.[26] From Indira Devi's recollection we also learn that in spite of her high standing, Jnanadanandini did not socialize among the Calcutta glitterati of her time.[27]

Literary Accomplishments

In 1885, Jnanadanandini Devi established Balak, the first children's literary magazine in Bengali. Rabindranath contributed a number of short stories, poems and plays to Balak.[28]

References

  1. ^ Sengupta 2005, p. 74.
  2. ^ Devi, Jnanadanandini (2012). Puratani [Memoirs] (in Bengali). Ananda Publishers. p. 17. ISBN 978-93-5040-066-1.
  3. ^ Sengupta 2005, p. 75.
  4. ^ Deb 1980, p. 18.
  5. ^ Bandyopadhyay, Hiranmay (1966). Thakurbarir Katha ঠাকুরবাড়ির কথা (in Bengali). Sishu Sahitya Samsad. pp. 98–104. ISBN 81-7476-355-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |script-title=: missing prefix (help)
  6. ^ Sandhu, Arti (2014). Indian Fashion: Tradition, Innovation, Style. Bloomsbury. p. 33. ISBN 978-14-7259-084-8.
  7. ^ Banerjee, Mukulika; Miller, Daniel (2008). The Sari. Bloomsbury. p. 254. ISBN 18-4788-314-1.
  8. ^ Chaudhurani, Indiradevi. Das, Anathnath (ed.). Smritisamput (in Bengali). Viswabharati. p. 265.
  9. ^ "Jnanadanandini Devi". bdlinks.
  10. ^ Deb 1980, p. 21.
  11. ^ Pal, Prasanta Kumar (2006). "Rabijibani" (in Bengali). Ananda Publishers. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-81-7215-274-1.
  12. ^ Sengupta, p. 284
  13. ^ Sengupta, p. 75
  14. ^ Devi, p. 31
  15. ^ Chaudhurani, Saraladevi (1975). Jibaner Jharapata, Dey's Publishing, p. 13
  16. ^ Devi, p. 31
  17. ^ Devi, p. 32
  18. ^ Sengupta, p. 76
  19. ^ Indira Devi, p. 82
  20. ^ Deb, p. 21
  21. ^ Anathnath Das, p. 38
  22. ^ Devi, p. 34
  23. ^ Tagore, Rabindranath. Europe-Prabasir Patra (Letter 6). Visva-Bharati, 1935
  24. ^ Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, p. 55
  25. ^ Indira Devi Chaudhurani, Prabasi, February 1942
  26. ^ Upendranath Bhattacharjee, Rabindra-Natya-Parikrama, Orient Book Company (2008) p. 37. ISBN 978-81-8980-10-14
  27. ^ Indira Devi Chaudhurani, Prabasi, February 1942
  28. ^ Sibaji Bandyopadhyay, Gopal-Rakhal Dvandasamas: Upanibesbad O Bangla Sishusahitya, Karigar (2013) p. 166. ISBN 978-93-81640-34-0

Sources

  • Jnanadanandini Devi, Puratoni (Memoirs), Ananda Publishers (2012) ISBN 978-93-5040-066-1
  • Indira Devi Chaudhurani & Anathnath Das (ed.), Smritisamput, Viswabharati (1997) ISBN 978-81-7522-427-8
  • Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, Jeebaner Jharapata, Dey's Publishing (2007) ISBN 978-81-295-1506-3
  • Rabindranath Tagore, Yurope Prabasir Patra Viswabharati (1973) ISBN 978-817-5224-60-5
  • Rabindranath Tagore, Jeebansmriti, Viswabharati (1953) ISBN 978-81-7522-512-1
  • Prasanta Kumar Pal, Rabi-Jeebani Ananda Publishers (1990) ISBN 817-06-6239-7
  • Hiranmay Bandopadhyay, Thakurbarir Katha, Sishu Sahitya Sansad (1995) ISBN 978-81-2120-488-0
  • Chitra Deb, Thakurbarir Andarmahal, Ananda Publishers (2010) ISBN 81-7566-322-7
  • Samir Sengupta, Rabindranather Atmiyaswajan, Sishu Sahitya Sansad (2005) ISBN 81-7955-061-3
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