127 years ago, in his essay 'Kanarak', Balendranath wrote, 'Kanarak is now just like a dream, like Maya; It is as if an almost forgotten oblivion of an ancient legend is coming to an end here in the seaweed-bed '...
He was imprisoned in a room on the ground floor of Jorasanko Thakurbari. He almost gave up eating and drinking. Doubt on everyone. Throughout the day, he painted the sun with charcoal on the walls of the house and in the flower tub, and wrote 'Surya' in the middle. Sometimes he gets mad too, then he throws the chairs, cradles and stools in the lower yard.
He is Birendranath. The fourth son of Maharshi Debendranath. Birudada of Rabindranath. Birendranath was diagnosed with mental illness at an early age. But the elders of the house thought it would be okay to get married. Therefore, his marriage, at the age of 21, took place on February 18. When the disease reached its peak at the age of two and a half years, his wife was expecting a happy child. Birendranath was admitted to Alipore Lunatic Asylum. He returned home after six months of treatment. A few months later, on November 7, 180 (21 Kartik 128), their son Balendranath was born. In those days Birendranath was ill again. Her newborn baby's body is also very weak, legs are bent. He could not walk for many days. I had to keep rubbing my legs. The other brothers in the house used to make fun of him. But the wonder of this boy's mind. In the words of his mother, "His father had such a condition that he had a strong desire to grow up ever since. When he was eight or nine years old, he almost told me that he would become an engineer after learning to read and write. '
Adolescence is the beginning of literary writing. ‘Tagore and Company’ was created on his initiative. At the age of 20, he was one of the principals of the original Brahmo Samaj. Formation of Suhrid Samiti, publication of 'Sadhana' magazine, preparation of accurate birth certificate of Thakurbari members, deep study of Indian painting, collection of materials for 'Swadeshi Bhandar Limited', interest in setting up Brahma Vidyalaya at Santiniketan, construction of Brahmo Samaj's bridge with Arya Samaj of Punjab Just a few work samples.
His writing continues in the midst of so many things. Rabindranath loved this little nephew of his year hero very much. Balendranath was one of the companions of Rabindranath's journey to Shilaidaha as a zamindar. In the month of Magh 1299 BS, Rabindranath went to Orissa. He wanted to take his wife Mrinalini with him. Similarly, Rabindranath prayed for the permission of Baba Maharshi. On 26 Agrahayan 1299, he wrote to Mrinalini Devi, "I will try if I can take him to Orissa." That place is very healthy. I have told my parents some of my wishes, and they have understood some of them দুই and a couple of words may have some effect না but there is nothing to hope for. ”At that time, Rabindranath was 31 years old. He got married nine years ago and even had three children, Madhurilata, Rathindranath and Renuka. However, Father Maharshi's permission did not match. Rabindranath could not take Mrinalini. Balendranath became his companion. The context of Balendra's writings on Konark probably set the stage for this tour.
Admission to Balendranath's school was delayed due to physical illness. Although there was no shortage of homework. At 18, he was admitted in the eighth class of Sanskrit College, where after studying for some time, Balendra was admitted to Hare School. Passed the entrance examination from Hare School at 18. His mother Prafullamoyee said in a memoir titled 'Amader Kotha', "He was born in a state of mental turmoil. His body was not so healthy and his legs were a bit crooked. I admitted him to Sanskrit College for six years." He used to go to study in our government car with his cousins, but other brothers used to make fun of him because of his foot defect. ”
Balendranath's first published work was an essay entitled 'Ekratri', in Beroy's 'Balak' magazine, in the senior issue of 1292 BS. In that year, a poem called 'Sandhya' was published in Falgun issue. Balendranath was then 15 years old. The following year, a song written by Balendranath was sung at the morning meeting at the Maghotsav. Although three books were published during his lifetime: 'Chitra O Kavya' (1301, essay), 'Madhavika' (1303, Kavya), 'Sravani' (1304, Kavya), most of his writings were published in various magazines including 'Sadhana' and 'Bharati'. . In his book 'Chitra O Kavya', Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti, Joydev's poetic talent analysis as well as his discussion on fine arts caught the attention of eminent people. It is to be noted that this book was published by Balendranath at the age of 24, even before the writings were made.
Maharshi Debendranath's eldest son Dwijendranath's son Sudhindranath and Birendranath's son Balendranath formed the 'Suhrid Samiti'. The magazine 'Sadhana' was born from this association. According to Prashant Kumar Pal, even though Sudhindranath and Nitindranath were named as the declared editors and editors-in-chief of 'Sadhana', Rabindranath and Balendranath actually did that. 'Evidence of this can be found in several of Rabindranath's letters. In a letter to Balendranath, he wrote: 'I will send my European diary. Put a sub-heading in brackets (Europe Traveler's Diary) under the headings of these articles. ' It will be impossible to get out.… But if Bhadra-Ashwin's paper is not taken out at once, it will be very difficult. Because many customers will change their address during Pujo holidays. If they send Bhadra-Ashwin's paper at 15, they will surely get it at their respective places. Give ‘Holiday’ and ‘Golden Deer’. ’Note that the story of‘ Holiday ’comes out instead of this number in the Poush issue of 1299,‘ Golden Deer ’comes out in Bhadra-Ashwin. In the last episode, Rabindranath edited 'Sadhana' under his own name.
Balendranath became the companion of Rabindranath's Shilaidaha Jatra in 11 Agrahayan of 1298. Mrinalini Devi, daughter Bella and Rathindranath were also with them on that journey. But in Shilaidaha, a worrying incident took place at that bar. Mrinalini went out with Balu in the afternoon to see the Padma Char and the Balihans, on the way back he lost his way in the sea of Bali. When he returned with the help of the middlemen, there was a commotion all around. Balendranath's 'Adventure' is written and Rabindranath's fragment has his picture.
Jyotirindranath, the famous ‘family memoir-book’ of Thakurbari, started on 21 Kartik 1295. On that day, Balendranath wrote here in an essay called 'Akshar Tattva': 'It is not only the language from which the condition of the nation can be understood, but also the feeling of the nation can be understood by looking at the letters of the language. Seeing the letters of Bengali language and the letters of Sanskrit, it proves a lot. The Sanskrit characters are so thick that they look like they have become people by drinking a lot of milk and ghee. And the Bengali letters are just like skeletons.… In this way, the minds of the nation can be seen in words and letters as well as in the shape of the letters. '21 Kartik was Balendranath's 19th birthday. 22 Kartik Rabindranath wrote in this regard in his essay 'Bangla Language and Bengali Character', 'It is often seen that Sanskrit words are converted into Bengali and express a kind of distorted idea. What a kind of vile barbaric shape. There is an emotional feeling in the word ‘hate’ .... but ‘hate’ is a stench near the nose, a horrible sight in front of the eyes, a dirty untouchable object near the body. The Sanskrit word 'preeti' has a very generous attitude. But there is no such thing as pure love in the word 'Bangla Piriti'. Balendranath's interest in Indian painting surprised us long before the founding of the Oriental Art Society. He jumped into the sea of work forgetting his physical illness. It was through his efforts that the connection of the early Brahmo Samaj with the Aryan Samaj of the Punjab was established.
On 4 February 1896, Balendranath married Sushitala (Sahana) Devi, daughter of Fakirchand Chattopadhyay of Allahabad. Rabindranath dedicated the book 'River' to her on the occasion of her marriage. He wrote a poem called 'Utsav'. Balendra visited Punjab for the second time in 1899. On his way back from there, he visited Mathura, Vrindavan and Allahabad. Came back with illness. But he does not have time to rest. Tagore & Company then collapsed. Hard work began day and night to save the sinking business. The body broke down even more. Anxiety had already broken my mind. He was only 29 then. As his illness worsened, he was brought to Calcutta from Shilaidaha. Under the supervision of Aghora Doctor, Umadas Bandujje, and Dr. Salzar, three types of treatment, Allopathy, Homeopathy, Kabiraji, were started.
On 4 February 1896, Balendranath married Sushitala (Sahana) Devi, daughter of Fakirchand Chattopadhyay of Allahabad. Rabindranath dedicated the book 'River' to her on the occasion of her marriage. He wrote a poem called 'Utsav'. Balendra visited Punjab for the second time in 1899. On his way back from there, he visited Mathura, Vrindavan and Allahabad. Came back with illness. But he does not have time to rest. Tagore & Company then collapsed. Hard work began day and night to save the sinking business. The body broke down even more. Anxiety had already broken my mind. He was only 29 then. As his illness worsened, he was brought to Calcutta from Shilaidaha. Under the supervision of Aghora Doctor, Umadas Bandujje, and Dr. Salzar, three types of treatment, Allopathy, Homeopathy, Kabiraji, were started. But the doctors failed. He died on the morning of 19 August 1899 (according to another 20 August, Bengali 3 Bhadra 1308). Rabindranath was by his side even at the time of his death. Prafullamoyi wrote in her memoirs, ‘They (doctors) used to tell me that there was no reason to be afraid, it would get better. But I did not trust him at all. The condition of Balu was getting worse and worse. The day he freed me from his bondage like he was born, the day Ravi (Rabindranath) came and told me that once you go to him, he is calling you mother. I used to go to the next room without seeing his pain from time to time. When I heard Robi's words and went to him and sat next to him, it was all over. I thought he saw me and recognized me, then he vomited once and it was all over. '
Insane Birendranath is still alive. Did the mourning touch him? That day he was screaming again and again from his closed room, that information matched the history of Thakurbari. It is heard that he repeatedly wanted to know - 'Why all the locks in the house?'
After Balendra's death, disaster struck Prafullamoyi-Sahana's life. In his last will and testament, Debendranath deprived the childless and the deranged of their ancestral property. A monthly masohara of 100 rupees per head is fixed for them. Sahana was then fifteen years old. He was sent to Allahabad. News came to Maharshi that Sahana's second marriage was being arranged there. Prafullamoyi also wanted the baby girl to live like herself, to find a new future. Maharshi strongly objected to that - that the value of Thakurbari will sink! So he hurriedly sent Rabindranath to Allahabad. Rabindranath went to follow his father's instructions. He persuaded Sahana's family and brought him back. But there is no solution to Sahana's helplessness.
However, his attraction to Balu was unbroken. After his death, three of Balendranath's writings, including Rabindranath's introduction, were published in Pradeep (Ashwin-Kartik 1306). Rabindranath made incomplete writings. In this regard, Rabindranath wrote to the editor: "Before embarking on any essay, Balendra used to discuss the subject with me." With the help of his unfinished writings and introductions, I completed the essay in his own language as briefly as possible, freeing that truthful gentleman from the debt of 'Pradeep' editor. '
127 years ago, in his essay 'Kanarak', Balendranath wrote, 'Kanarak is now just like a dream, like Maya; It is as if an almost forgotten oblivion of an ancient legend is coming to an end here in the seaweed-bed '... Will Balendranath, who has been working for half a century, also' come to an end '!
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