Side by side and almost in parallel lines with that, was another
activity which is to be found in the literature of Bengal and
principally I refer to the writings of Bankim. You will find that
whereas our activity in the domain of reforms followed the European
ideals and was a great deal more and more European in its tendencies,
the writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee shows a different tendency
altogether: (A voice: of Bhudeb?)--and, as I am reminded, also in the
writings of Bhudeb--in their writings an attempt was made, though it
was not perfect by any means, still an attempt, an honest and sincere
attempt was made to discover the soul of Bengal. In that period of
our literary history you will find the glorification of Bengal.
Bengal was held up as mother and with him. Durga was nothing but the
personification, as it were, of Bengal; and in other writings of
his you will find an attempt is made to depict though in a somewhat
superficial way our national life, to dive deep into the history of
our people, into the instincts and culture of our people and find
out that which is truly Bengalee and not that which is imported from
Europe. All this was in the literature, brewing as it were, and growing
in the literature of Bengal but the activities, political and social,
were of a different character. I do not know whether it is the result
of that literature but gradually it gave rise to an agitation which
it is difficult to describe--I mean the reactionary agitation of
Sashadhar and his friends. That was a blind movement, an irrational
movement it may be, but none the less it was a landmark in the history
of the progress of Nationalism. There also you will find the nation
began to turn on itself, the nation began to criticise the wealth of
culture which was brought from Europe.--Look at it carefully, keenly
and try to judge its real value to the people of this country. It was
not a rational movement--it started with a hatred of things European,
irrational hatred of everything European--but none the less it was a
genuine and sincere movement. I desire to be very brief because I am
afraid I am tiring you out (Cries of No. No.)