Essays

Teacher, journalist, writer and librarian, Bipin Chandra Pal L;    started as a supporter of Brahmo Samaj, turned to Vedanta and B;    aided up as an upholder of the Vaislmava philosophy of Sri Cliailanya.A  of undaunted spirit, Bipin Chandra Pal matte no t     compromise in the sphere of politics was a question of conviction and conscience. He revolted against the evils and abuses of the Hindu society at a very early stage of his life.

Bipin Chandra Pal was born on November 7,1858 in Sleet in a wealthy Hindu Bipin Chandra family. His father Ramchandra Pal, a village zamindar and a prominent torero the Sleet Bar, was influenced by Hindu rituals and Islamic thought though was a follower of Vaishnavism. The only son of his parents Bipin Chandra Pal took early education from a Maulvi in Sleet town. He had his formal education at Bite Government High School from where he passed the Entrance Examination, He  got himself admitted in the Presidency College, but gave up his studies before graduation.

He started his career as a Headmaster of a High School in early 1879 and served in  this capacity in different schools in and outside Slyest. For some time (1890-91) he worked as the librarian and secretary of the Calcutta Public Library. While in Calcutta during his student life, he came in contact with some prominent revolutionaries like Keshab Chandra Sen, Shibnatha Shastri and Bijoy Krishna Goswami. Under the influence of Keshab Chandra Sen he was attracted to the Brahma movement. Bijoy Krishna Goswami also tremendously influenced his spiritual ideas. His association with Sivanalh Shastri made him conscious of the spirit of social revolt and patriotism.

Bipin Pal was inspired by Surendranath Banerjee to take part in active politics but however, he soon became a convert to the extremist ideas of BG Tilak, Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Ghosh, though he could not accept Tilak's concept of Hindu nationalism. Bipin Chandra Pal has associated with the progressive force of the Congress since 1885 and attended the second and the third annual sessions of the Congress held in Calcutta and Madras in 1886 and 1887 respectively. He p. availed upon the Congress to take up the cause of the Assam Tea-garden labourers who were cruelly treated by the owners.

Bipin Pal went to study comparative theology in England in '. 898 but after a year came back to India and started preaching the ideal of Swaraj (complete independence) through his weekly journal the New India. Imbued with great patriotic zeal, he devoted himself to the freedom movement of India. He presided order Bombay Session of the Indian National Congress in 1904. Following the palliation of Bengal in 1905. Bipin Pal started a daily paper the Vande Mataram and became it Chief Editor, He firmly stood against the partition of Bengal on the ground llial ilwis, a calculated move of the government to split the Bengalis . With a view to enlisting the mass support behind the anti-partition campaign, Bipin Pal along with other anti-partitionists, organised propaganda tour in various parts of Bengal, Assam, U.P. Madras.

Pal was one of the architects of the swadeshi movement, which swept overlain during the days following the partition of Bengal. He suffered imprisonment for months in 1907 for his refusal to give evidence against Aurovindo Ghosh nights- called Bande Mataram Sedition Case. On his release, Pal went to Englandin 19(18't lead the life of an enforced exile' and stayed there for three years. Alter it Will; War, he visited England for the third time in 1919 as a member of the Home Hull League deputation led by Tilak. He presided over the Bengal Provincial Conferee held at Barisal in 1921. He was not involved in the non-cooperation movement because it was merged with the Khilafat cause and criticized the Bengal Pact (1923) of CliiB Ranjan Das. He did not agree with the views of Maulana Mohammad All on the nit of the communal problem in India (1920-25). From 1925 onward, he, however, retold from active politics.

Described as "one of the mightiest prophets of nationalism," Bipin Cliaah Pal was associated with India's political history during its phase of the struggle freedom with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai. The trio was termed "extremists" as they stood for the ideal of Swaraj or complete political freedom to be achieved through courage, self-help and self-sacrifice.

 Teacher, journalist, writer and librarian, Bipin Chandra Pal started supporter of Brahmo Samaj, turned to Vedanta and ended up as an upholder of Vaishnava philosophy of Sri Chaitanya. He was ardent social reformer, married a widow of a higher caste twice in his life and gave his powerful support to the Age of Consent Bill of 1891. He started the Bangia weekly Pandarshak in Sylhet (18861.1k worked as Assistant Editor of the Bengali Public Opinion (1^82) and served Lahore Tribune for a short time (1887). For some time he was the editor of Ul Democrat and The Independent. He published a biography (in Banplal of Qua Victoria in 1887. Among his other books Indian National ism. Nationality and Empa Swaraj and the Present Situation, The Basis of Social Reform, The Soul of lndia. New Spirit and Studies n Hinduism are prominent.

 A man of undaunted spirit, Bipin Chandra Pal made no compromise in the sphere of politics when it was a question of conviction and conscience, He revolted against the evils and abuses of the Hindu society at a very early stage of his life. He championed the cause of Indian education with special emphasis on female education and advocated the equality in male and female. He occupies a unique place in the history of the freedom movement of India. He died in Calcutta in 1932.

Vocabulary

1. compromise—via media, a middle way between two extremes. 2, revolutionaries— subversives, a radical supporter of political or social revolution. 3. association— affiliation, connection, a formal organization of people- 4. prevailed—died hard, be larger in number, quantity, or importance. 5. theology—divinity, a particular system or school of religious beliefs and teachings. 6. enlisting—drafting, recruitment. 7. partitionists— advocates, proponents. 8. architects—someone who creates plans for buildings, designers. 9. imprisonment—immurement, the state of being imprisoned. 10. deputation— delegacy, authorizing subordinates to make certain decisions. 11. criticized—criticized, picked  apart. 12. mightiest—having or showing great strength or force or intensity. 13. undaunted—undismayed, unshaken, resolutely courageous. 14. conviction—a final judgement of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed, sentence. 15. championed—defended, protect or fight for as a champion. 16. emphasis— accentuation, vehemence, special importance or significance.