Anandamath

Anandamath (Bengali: আনন্দমঠ Anondomôţh; first English publication title: The Abbey of Bliss) is a Bengali novel, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published in 1882. Set in the background of the Sannyasi Rebellion in the late 18th century, it is considered one of the most important novels in the history of Bengali and Indian literature.^[1] Its importance is heightened by the fact that it became synonymous with the struggle for Indian independence from the British Empire. The novel was banned by the British. The ban was lifted later by the Government of India after independence.

The national song of India, Vande Mataram, was first published in this novel.^[2]

Plot summary

The book is set in 1771^[3] during famine in Bengal (see Famine in India, for more information about famine in India under the British regime). Book starts with introduction to a couple- Mahendra and Kalyani, who are stuck at their village Padchinha without food and water in the times of famine. They decide to leave their village and move to the next closest city where there is a better chance of survival. During the course of events, the couple got separated and Kalyani had to run through the forest with her infant, to avoid getting caught by man-hunters. After a long chase, she loses consciousness at the bank of a river. A Hindu monk, Satyananda, stumbles upon her and the baby, and takes care of her till she reunites with her husband again.

Mahendra at this point is more inclined towards joining the brotherhood of the monks and serving the Mother Nation. Kalyani wants to help him in attaining his dreams by trying to kill herself, thereby relieving him of worldly duties. At this point, Satyananda joins her but before he can help her, he is arrested by the British soldiers, because other monks were fuelling revolt against the British rule. While being dragged away he spots another monk who is not wearing his distinctive robes and sings,

"In mild breeze, by the bank of the river,
In the forest, resides a respectable lady."

The other monk deciphers the song, rescues Kalyani and the baby, taking them to a rebel monk hideout. Concurrently, Kalyani's husband, Mahendra, is also given shelter by the monks, and they are reunited. The leader of the rebels shows Mahendra the three faces of Bharat-Mata (Mother India) as three goddess idols being worshipped in three consecutive rooms:

1. What Mother Was – An idol of Goddess Jagaddhatri
2. What Mother Has Become – An idol of Goddess Kali
3. What Mother Will Be – An idol of Goddess Durga

Gradually, the rebel influence grows and their ranks swell. Emboldened, they shift their headquarters to a small brick fort. The British attack the fort with a large force. The rebels blockade the bridge over the nearby river, but they lack any artillery or military training. In the fighting, the British make a tactical retreat over the bridge. The Sannyasis undisciplined army, lacking military experience, chases the British into the trap. Once the bridge is full of rebels, British artillery opens fire, inflicting severe casualties.

However, some rebels manage to capture some of the cannons, and turn the fire back on to the British lines. The British are forced to fall back, the rebels winning their first battle. The story ends with Mahendra and Kalyani building a home again, with Mahendra continuing to support the rebels.

The national song of India i.e. Vande Mataram is taken from this novel.

Characters

• Mahendra: A wealthy Zamindar (Landowner), living in Padachihna with his wife and daughter. They are forced to leave the village to find a new mode of living. Mahendra is initiated to the Anandamath by Guru Satyananda. The Guru orders Mahendra to use his wealth to manufacture ammunition for the Anandamath.
• Satyananda: The founder and main Guru of Anandamath, a rebel group to oppose the British rule in India. His disciples are required to renounce their attachments until India is freed. Satyananda was acting upon the orders of his Guru, a mysterious saint, who explains his true motives. The Guru explains Satyananda that Indians need objective knowledge from the British to once more understand the subtle truths of the ancient scriptures. Satyananda goes with his Guru to the Himalayas for penances.
• Bhavananda: A brave commander of Anandamath who dies during the battle against the British.
• Jivananda: The most accomplished and loyal disciple of Satyananda. He rescues Mahendra's family and reunites them. His wife and lover, Shanti, later becomes the first and only woman to join the Anandamath and fights alongside Jivananda. In the end Jivananda is grieveously injured in battle but is revived by Shanti. The young married couple decide to go on a pilgrimage and live as ascetics.
• Navinananda a.k.a. Shanti: She is the tomboyish daughter of a Brahmin and is well educated. Shanti was orphaned at a young age and became physically fit and strong. Shanti met Jivananda who married her out of pity as Shanti had no one to take care of her. Jivananda left Shanti as a part of renouncing his attachments and to fight for Anandamath. Shanti is left in the care of Jivananda's married sister. However, Shanti is deeply in love with her husband and cannot bear to live away from him. She disguises herself as a man and joins Anandamath as a freedom fighter. Satyananda tries to forbid her from entering, but he is shocked at Shanti's physical strength when she strings a mighty bow which only he and Jivananda were the only Sannyasins to be able to do so. Satyananda allows Shanti to stay and gives her the name Navinananda. Shanti rescues Kalyani from dacoits. She gathers intelligence from the British and fights in battles alongside her husband. At the end of the battle, at nightfall, Shanti discovers Jivananda's seemingly lifeless body and grieves for him. Satyananda's Guru gives Shanti a herb, with which she revives Jivananda. Shanti suggests Jivananda that they go on a pilgrimage and live together in a forest as ascetics, to which her husband reluctantly agrees.

Commentary

The plot background was loosely based on the devastating Bengal famine of 1770 and unsuccessful Sannyasi rebellion. Bankim Chandra dreams of an India rid of the British. In this dream, he imagined untrained Sannyasi soldiers fighting and beating the highly experienced British Army. Despite the romanticism, the novels patriotism was a significant voice amidst the oppression of British rule and the struggle for Independence.

Historical accuracy

In the novel, Muslims are portrayed as the enemies although the British had already started ruling Bengal. It has been said by leftist historians that Bankim’s inaccurate accounts in this novel could only be explained by his political aspiration for a moral and cultural atmosphere in which the politics of Hindu nationalism could flourish.^[4] Ahmed Sofa criticizes him for not recognizing Muslim contributions in the Sannyasi Rebellion, particularly the role of Majnu Shah.^[5]

Film adaptation

The novel was later adapted into a film, Anand Math in 1952, directed by Hemen Gupta, starring Bharat Bhushan, Pradeep Kumar and Geeta Bali. Music was by Hemant Kumar, who gave a version of the Vande Mataram, which became a cult success.^[6]

References

External links

• Chattopadhyay, Bankim Chandra (April 2006). Lipner, J. J., ed. Anandamath, or The Sacred Brotherhood. India: Oxford University Press, India. ISBN 978-0-19-568322-6. 
• Online edition of English translation of Anandamath, Oxford University Press

Works of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bengali novels	Durgeshnandini (1865) Kapalkundala (1866) Mrinalini Bishabriksha Indira Jugalanguriya Chandrashekhar Radharani Rajani Krishnakanter Will Rajsingha Anandamath (1882) Devi Chaudhurani (1884) Sitaram
English novel	Rajmohan's Wife
Literary magazine	Bangadarshan
National song of India	Vande Mataram
Wikiquote Wikisource texts