History of Bengali Language and Literature c13.62

c13.62

‘Bangabhasa O Shahitya’ is the title of a Bengali work by Babu Dinesh Chandra Sen, B. A., Head Master of the Victoria School, Comilla, on the history of Bengali language and literature. It is a neat, handy volume running through 403 octavo pages, replete with information of the highest value to students who take any interest in the past of Bengali races or in their literature. * * * An active search for Bengali manuscripts began in various quarters, led by that admirably useful body of learned men, the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Many private individuals also devoted themselves to the work. The Bangiya Sahitya Parishad or Bengal Academy of Literature was started with this as one of its special objects. But by tacit consent it was agreed that one scholar should be entrusted with the work of compiling and digesting the information already collected, and Babu Dinesh Chandra, whose enthusiasm and earnestness in the matter was an object of admiration to all concerned, took it up. Every one helped him with the result of his researches. For the first time in the history of Bengali literature, all jealousy, obstructionism and petty feelings were set aside to enable him to produce a great work. Whoever reads Dinesh Babu’s preface with care will be struck with the modest, yet straightforward, dignified, yet grateful, acknowledgment of the services he has received from his collaborators. * * * He had to collect MSS. either himself or through friends, to read them, to classify them, and to digest them. The remoteness of his residence, in an out-of-the-way corner of Bengal, was a great drawback to him. It entailed a great deal of correspondence on him, and the progress of his work was often hindered by the dilatoriness of correspondents. But he has surmounted all those and other difficulties, and his work is now before the public. The public, in its turn, has received him kindly and his work is appreciated. * * * In the matter of Eastern poets, Babu Dinesh Chandra deserves the credit of a discoverer. He has laid bare one stratum of thought, and one phase of authorship, the value of which cannot be over-rated. His services in respect of Vaishnava literature, too, are very great."