SANSKRIT COLLEGE & PANDIT PREMCHANDRA TARKABAGISH ... An Invaluable Chapter of Sanskrit Literature !!

Kolkata International Book Fair is organized every year for a period of approximately 13 days. But if you are a book worm or atleast a book lover or in need of some academic material, then there is a book fair in Kolkata which runs throughout the year. It is in our very own 'Boipara' - College Street. The area is associated to academics for more than two centuries and consists of some finest institutions of this country. Sanskrit College is one of them. Unlike the name suggests, the college doesn't only offer Sanskrit language but provides an array of Oriental academic courses for more than 190 years now. 

Many stalwart academicians were associated with this college in the past. Pandit Premchandra Tarkabagish was one such name. He was one of the greatest Sanskrit scholars of 19th century and actively contributed in Bengal Renaissance. I get to know about him while doing a story on 'Widow Remarriage' and later a meet with his descendant Mr. Biswanath Chattopadhyay, intrigued me to explore the scholar in depth.

On 2nd January, 2016, Sanskrit College turns 192 years. WANDERLUST decides to explore its centuries old legacy along with a biographical sketch of Pandit Tarkabagish. 

SANSKRIT COLLEGE -

After the battle of Plassey, at the initial stage of Company rule, British were of the opinion that native population should not be provided with the opportunity to learn English or the other so called western subjects like science. The reason behind this was, the fear of literate native population as a threat to their administration. Conforming to this policy, they never opposed the Sanskrit or Arabi-Farsi education in India. In 1780, the first educational institution of India, the Calcutta Madrassah was founded in Calcutta at the initiative of Warren Hastings, for the Muslim subjects. Now it is known as Aliah University.

But after passage of another 30 years or so, there were no formal institution set up for the Hindus. Sanskrit learning was limited within the Brahmin community and was taught through 'Tols'. 'Tol' was a centre of Sanskrit education, like a primary school. Most of these toles were situated in North Calcutta; six in Hatibagan and three in Simlapara. They received generous material and moral support from rich Calcuttans who wanted to surround themselves with the familiar Brahminical atmosphere of their native villages. In 1818, William Ward enumerated 28 tols with a total of 173 scholars.

In 1813, Pandit Joygopal Tarkalankar opened a 'Chotuspathi' ( another type of Sanskrit learning centre) at the place where Sanskrit College stands today. Attracted by the increasing reputation of the centre, noted orientalist Horace Hyman Wilson often used to visit the place and planned to open a College there. In 1824, under the influence of H H Wilson, East India Company founded the Sanskrit College to teach Hindu classics and literature. It was started on January 1, 1824 at 66, Bowbazar Street on a rent basis. Soon, the College authorities purchased a plot measuring 5 bighas and 7 cottahs on the northern side of College Square tank. On February 25, 1825, the foundation stone was laid by John Paskal Larkins, a scholar of oracular knowledge. Rs.1.2 lakhs was allotted by the Govt. for the construction. The building plan was prepared by B Buxton, Lieutenant, Bengal Engineers while the structure was constructed by William Burn and James Mackintosh. On May 1, 1826, Sanskrit College shifted from the rented house of Bowbazar to its own building in which it is still housed.

The colonnaded structure was built under Gothic architectural style. The front entrance is guarded by two mighty Ionic columns and will lead you to the giant two-storeyed hall inside. The hall is named after the most notable principal of the College - Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar. Designed with 10 tall Ionic columns and balconies, the hall is intimately massive.

At the beginning, the admission was restricted to 12 year old boys from Brahmin and Vaidya (who traditionally practiced medicine) families. They had to study for 12 years. Education was free and poor students used to get stipends. Later on a separate wing was opened for Vaidya students in 1826 and in 1831, a hospital and dispensary was set up for the training of these students. John Grant was the medical lecturer of the College.

One major distinction between the Sanskrit College and adjacent Hindu College was that the latter started as a private institution while the former was always a government institution under Director of Public Instruction. Ironically, Raja Rammohan Roy, one of the founder of Hindu College, was against the establishment of Sanskrit College.

However, the oriental educational institutes like Sanskrit College faced the threat of being closed down when in 1835, the then Governor General William Bentinck decided to allocate British funds only for the English education. British politician Thomas Babington Macaulay supported the decision with his arguement, later being known as 'Macaulay's Minute'. Finally giving effect to the decision, the English Education Act, 1835 was passed. There was quite an uproar and petitions signed by no less than 10000 people were submitted to Bentinck. Later, in 1839, Lord Auckland succeeded Bentinck as the Governor General and at his initiative, the decision was reversed and traditional colleges started to receive adequate funds for the education. Sanskrit College survived.

Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar had completed his education from Sanskrit College in 1841. He joined his alma mater as 'Assistant Secretary' in 1846 and promoted as the Principal of the college in 1851. It was during his tenure in the College, he received the Upadhi 'VIDYASAGAR' (ocean of knowledge) from the College itself. The system of awarding 'Title' or 'Upadhi' was started by Pandit Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharya.  

In its almost 200 years journey, Sanskrit College was once temporarily shifted from its main campus to Bowbazar. During the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the College building was converted into a hospital for injured soldiers and the College was shifted to 110 and 92, Bowbazar Street at a monthly rental of Rs.75 and Rs.30 respectively. 3 years later, on 1st January, 1860, the College got back to its own premise at College Street.

The College continues to stand tall even after 192 years and specializes in the scholarships of Indian Tradition, Oriental philosophy and religion. It offers undergraduate programs in Sanskrit, Pali, Linguistics, Ancient India and World History, Bengali and English. Sanskrit is also offered as Post graduate programme. The library of the College is also a treasure trove indeed, comprising of more than 2 lakhs books and 20000+ manuscripts including some rare ones.

Currently there is a proposal to convert the Sanskrit College into an University. The committee led by mythologist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri had already submitted its report. Sanskrit College & University Bill, 2015 has been passed in WB Assembly in Dec. 2015. Hence, the 'Paschim Banga Sanskrita Biswa Vidyalaya' is set to become a reality in 2016-17.

PANDIT PREMCHANDRA TARKABAGISH -

I encountered the name of Pandit Tarkabagish when I was doing the story on 'House of First Widow Remarriage'. Pandit Tarkabagish had supported Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar immensely, in legalising Widow Remarriage in India. He was also present in the occasion of first widow remarriage in 1856.

Later on, incidentally I met Shri Biswanath Chattopadhyay, the sixth descendant of Pandit Tarkabagish, who currently lives in Kolkata and very much enthusiastic about reviving the lost glory of the subject, which once his great great grandfather used to teach. From then on, I had a plan to cover the College and its celebrated Professor through a single article and finally my plan is now materialised on the occasion of the Institute's 192nd anniversary.

Born in 1805 in Shakrara village of present Burdwan district, Pandit Tarkabagish belonged to a family of excellent Sanskrit Scholars. He completed his education in the 'Tols' and 'Chotuspathis' (type of centres for Sanskrit education) in his village and gained an authority on Sanskrit language. 

In 1826, he joined Sanskrit College. Initially he was the Professor of Nyay Shastra but later started teaching Rhetoric from 1831. He was very close to Poet Iswarchandra Gupta. Pandit Tarkabagish possessed an effienciency in reading plaques or inscriptions written in Sanskrit mixed Pali language. It was with his help James Prinsep became successful in deciphering the Pali scripts in the rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka. When Macaulay's minute came into effect, Premchandra actively protested.

Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar was his student. Tarkabagish, in his 32 years long career in Sanskrit College, taught the pupils when his favourite student Vidyasagar was the Principal. Pandit Tarkabagish also checked the first draft of Michael Madhusudan Dutta's maiden work - drama 'Sharmistha' and rectified the script to a great extent.

After retirement from the College in 1858, Pandit went to Benaras and lived there till his death. This eminent Sanskrit scholar breathed his last in 1867.

Calcutta University honours the Pandit on his 210th birth anniversary in 2015 by re-releasing a book called 'Life & Slokas of Premchandra Tarkabagish', first compiled and edited by Pandit's brother Ramakhoy Chattopadhyay. I personally met Pandit's great great grandson Shri Biswanath Chattopadhyay who is currently forming the Premchandra Tarkabagish foundation to promote Sanskrit literature in India.

Special Thanks:

• Shri Biswanath Chattopadhyay, for providing me with all the information and the book on Premchandra Tarkabagish.
• My friend Shubham Khan and Archan Sengupta for accompanying me on this trip. The credit for the second photo also goes to Archan.

Acknowledgement:

• Article on Sanskrit College by Anindita Mazumdar, in Kolkata on Wheela magazine.
• Calcutta - Old & New by H E A Cotton
• Kolikata - Ekaler O Sekaler by Harisadhan Mukhopadhyay
• Sanskrit College Website
• Life & Slokas of Premchandra Tarkabagish by Ramakhoy Chattopadhyay and Anantanath Chattopadhyay.
• Wikipedia