Sajal Chattopadhyay, the great-grandson of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating a nearly ten-hour-long special Parliamentary discussion on Vande Mataram—a gesture he believes was long overdue.
Speaking to ANI, he said, “This should have happened long ago. I salute Narendra Modi for it. No one has done anything for my grandfather until now.”
Chattopadhyay said the renewed national focus on Vande Mataram—often revered as India’s national mantra—comes at a time when younger generations are increasingly distanced from the nation’s cultural and ideological heritage.
“The mantra was the soul of our freedom struggle. Modi ji’s initiative makes me proud,” he added.
A Legacy Rooted in Literature, Philosophy, and Nationhood
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838–1894), one of the most towering literary figures of 19th-century India, is often hailed as the father of modern Bengali literature.
His contributions stretched far beyond Vande Mataram, which first appeared in his revolutionary novel Anandamath (1882).
Other Major Works of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
- Durgeshnandini (1865) – His first major novel and the first Bengali romance novel
- Kapalkundala (1866) – A landmark work exploring love and spiritual conflict
- Mrinalini (1869)
- Vishabriksha (1873)
- Indira (1873)
- Krishnakanter Will (1878) – Considered one of his best social novels
- Devi Chaudhurani (1884) – An empowering tale centred on a woman revolutionary
- Sitaram (1886)
- Essays and editorials in Bangadarshan, the journal he edited, which fuelled the rise of nationalist consciousness
Bankim Chandra was also India’s first ICS officer with a university degree, a pioneering intellectual whose writings shaped both the Bengali Renaissance and the ideological spirit of India’s independence movement.
Accusations of State Neglect
Despite this monumental legacy, Sajal Chattopadhyay sharply criticised the West Bengal government for failing to acknowledge or honour Bankim Chandra’s contributions.
“She (CM Mamata Banerjee) hasn’t done anything yet. With the power she has, she could have done much earlier,” he said, accusing the state of long-standing indifference.
He contrasted this with outreach from the central government: “Officials from Delhi, including Amit Shah, personally met our family to discuss how to promote Vande Mataram. But no one from the state has reached out.”
Call for a University Named After Bankim Chandra
Highlighting the absence of memorials in Bankim Chandra’s honour, Sajal asked:
“He was India’s first graduate. Yet there is nothing in his name. There is a university named after Rabindranath Tagore. Why not one named after Bankim Babu? There is Rabindra Bhavan—why is there no Bankim Bhavan?”
He argued that such institutions would help future generations understand the magnitude of Bankim Chandra’s contributions.
“We Are Not Political — We Just Want History to Be Honoured”
Sajal emphasised that his demands are not politically motivated:
“We don’t do politics.
We speak the truth.
When Amit Shah ji came in 2018, he showed us great respect and asked what should be done to promote Vande Mataram. But the state leadership has not even invited us.”
He concluded by saying that Bankim Chandra and his family have both been neglected, just as Vande Mataram was once banned because it contained the names of Hindu deities.