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{{For|the Indian television series|Durgesh Nandinii}}{{short description|Novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay}}
{{short description|Novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay}}
{{infobox book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
{{For|the Indian television series|Durgesh Nandinii}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{infobox book | <!-- See [[Bharatpedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Bharatpedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
| name          = Durgeshnandini
| name          = Durgeshnandini
| title_orig    = দুর্গেশনন্দিনী
| title_orig    = দুর্গেশনন্দিনী
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| followed_by  =  
| followed_by  =  
}}
}}
'''''Durgeshnandini''''' ({{lang-bn|দুর্গেশনন্দিনী}}, ''Doorgeshnondini'', ''Daughter of the Feudal Lord''<ref name = sukumarseneng/>) is a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] [[Historical fiction|historical]] [[Romance novel|romance]] [[novel]] written by [[British India|Indian]] writer [[Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay]] in 1865.<ref name=asit>{{cite book |last1= Bandyopadhyay|first1= Asit Kumar |title= Bangla Sahityer Itibritta|trans-title=History of Bengali Literature |edition= 3rd |volume=VIII |year=2007  |orig-year= 1998 |publisher= Modern Book Agency Pvt Ltd |location=Kolkata |language=bn |pages=493–502 }}</ref> ''Durgeshnandini'' is a story of the love triangle between Jagat Singh, a [[Mughal empire|Mughal]] General, Tilottama, the daughter of a [[Bengali people|Bengali]] feudal lord and Ayesha, the daughter of a rebel [[Pathan]] leader against whom Jagat Singh was fighting. The story is set in the backdrop of [[Pathan]]-[[Mughal (tribe)|Mughal]] conflicts that took place in south-western region of modern-day Indian state of Paschimbanga ([[West Bengal]]) during the reign of [[Akbar]].<ref name=asit/>
'''''Durgeshnandini''''' ({{langx|bn|দুর্গেশনন্দিনী|4=Daughter of the Feudal Lord}}<ref name = sukumarseneng/>) is a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] [[Historical fiction|historical]] [[Romance novel|romance]] [[novel]] written by [[British India|Indian]] writer [[Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay]] in 1865.<ref name=asit>{{cite book |last1= Bandyopadhyay|first1= Asit Kumar |title= Bangla Sahityer Itibritta|trans-title=History of Bengali Literature |edition= 3rd |volume=VIII |year=2007  |orig-year= 1998 |publisher= Modern Book Agency Pvt Ltd |location=Kolkata |language=bn |pages=493–502 }}</ref> ''Durgeshnandini'' is a story of the love triangle between Jagat Singh, a [[Mughal Empire]] general, Tilottama, the daughter of a [[Bengali people|Bengali]] feudal lord and Ayesha, the daughter of a rebel [[Pathan]] leader against whom Jagat Singh was fighting. The story is set against the backdrop of [[Pathan]]-[[Mughal (tribe)|Mughal]] conflicts that took place in south-western region of modern-day Indian state of Paschimbanga ([[West Bengal]]) during the reign of [[Akbar]].<ref name=asit/>


''Durgeshnandini'' is the first Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra as well as the first major Bengali novel in the history of Bengali literature.<ref name=asit/> The story of the novel was borrowed from some local legends of [[Arambag subdivision|Arambag]] region, [[Hooghly district]], Paschimbanga, collected by Bankim Chandra’s great-uncle.<ref name=sansad>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bagal |editor1-link=Jogeshchandra |title=Bankim Rachanavali |trans-title= Complete Works of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay |edition= 20th |volume=I |year= 2003|orig-year=1953 |publisher=Sahitya Sansad |location= Kolkata|language=bn |isbn= 81-85626-13-8 |pages=XXX-XXXII |trans-chapter=On Novels |chapter= Upanyas-Prasange }}</ref> Although the conservative critics mocked the lucidity of Bankim Chandra’s language, ''Durgeshnandini'' was highly praised by most of the contemporary scholars and newspapers.<ref name=sansad/>
''Durgeshnandini'' is the first Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra as well as the first major Bengali novel in the history of Bengali literature.<ref name=asit/> The story of the novel was borrowed from some local legends of [[Arambag subdivision|Arambag]] region, [[Hooghly district]], Paschimbanga, collected by Bankim Chandra’s great-uncle.<ref name=sansad>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bagal |editor1-link=Jogeshchandra |title=Bankim Rachanavali |trans-title= Complete Works of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay |edition= 20th |volume=I |year= 2003|orig-year=1953 |publisher=Sahitya Sansad |location= Kolkata|language=bn |isbn= 81-85626-13-8 |pages=XXX-XXXII |trans-chapter=On Novels |chapter= Upanyas-Prasange }}</ref> Although the conservative critics mocked the lucidity of Bankim Chandra’s language, ''Durgeshnandini'' was highly praised by most of the contemporary scholars and newspapers.<ref name=sansad/>


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
The story is set in the backdrop of [[Pathan]]-[[Mughal (tribe)|Mughal]] conflicts that took place in south-western region of modern-day Indian state of Paschimbanga ([[West Bengal]]) during the reign of [[Akbar]]. Jagat Singh, a General of [[Mughal empire|Mughal]] army and son of Raja [[Man Singh I|Man Singh]] meets Tilottama, daughter of Birendra Singha, a feudal lord of south-western [[Bengal]] in Mandaran (in modern-day [[Hooghly district]], [[West Bengal]]) and they fall in love with each other. While they are preparing for a marriage ceremony, Katlu Khan, a rebel [[Pathan]] leader attacks Mandaran. Birendra Singha dies in the battle and Jagat Singh is imprisoned along with Birendra’s widow Bimala and their daughter Tilottama. Katlu Khan’s daughter Ayesha saves Tilottama from her father’s lust, but Ayesha herself falls in love with Jagat Singh. Later, Bimala avenges her husband’s death by stabbing Katlu Khan. In the meantime, Man Singh signs a pact with the Pathans and they set Jagat Singh free. But Ayesha’s lover Osman challenges Jagat Singh in a duel which Jagat Singh wins. Realising that Jagat Singh who is a Hindu prince would never marry a Muslim woman, Ayesha gives up hope for him, but she eventually helps Tilottama marry Jagat Singh.
The story is set in the backdrop of [[Pathan]]-[[Mughal (tribe)|Mughal]] conflicts that took place in south-western region of modern-day Indian state of Paschimbanga ([[West Bengal]]) during the reign of [[Akbar]]. Jagat Singh, a General of [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army and son of Raja [[Man Singh I|Man Singh]] meets Tilottama, daughter of Birendra Singha, a feudal lord of south-western [[Bengal]] in [[Mandaran]] (in modern-day [[Hooghly district]], [[West Bengal]]) and they fall in love with each other. While they are preparing for a marriage ceremony, Katlu Khan, a rebel [[Pathan]] leader attacks Mandaran. Birendra Singha dies in the battle and Jagat Singh is imprisoned along with Birendra’s widow Bimala and their daughter Tilottama. Katlu Khan’s daughter Ayesha saves Tilottama from her father’s lust, but Ayesha herself falls in love with Jagat Singh. Later, Bimala avenges her husband’s death by stabbing Katlu Khan. In the meantime, Man Singh signs a pact with the Pathans and they set Jagat Singh free. But Ayesha’s lover Osman challenges Jagat Singh in a duel which Jagat Singh wins. Realising that Jagat Singh who is a Hindu prince would never marry a Muslim woman, Ayesha gives up hope for him, but she eventually helps Tilottama marry Jagat Singh.


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
Sukumar Sen commented, [[Bhudev Mukhopadhyay|Bhudev Mukharji]]’s ''Anguriyabinimay'' supplied the nucleus of the plot [of ''Durgeshnandini''] which was modelled somewhat after [[Walter Scott|Scott]]’s ''[[Ivanhoe]]''.<ref name = sukumarseneng>{{cite book |last1=Sen |first1=Sukumar |title= History of Bengali |edition=3rd |year= 1979 |orig-year=1960 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |location= [[New Delhi]] |isbn= 81-7201-107-5|pages=211–12  }}</ref>
[[Sukumar Sen (linguist)|Sukumar Sen]] commented, "[[Bhudev Mukhopadhyay|Bhudev Mukharji]]’s ''Anguriyabinimay'' supplied the nucleus of the plot [of ''Durgeshnandini''] which was modelled somewhat after [[Walter Scott|Scott]]’s ''[[Ivanhoe]]''."<ref name = sukumarseneng>{{cite book |last1=Sen |first1=Sukumar |title= History of Bengali |edition=3rd |year= 1979 |orig-year=1960 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |location= [[New Delhi]] |isbn= 81-7201-107-5|pages=211–12  }}</ref>


Although, Bankim Chandra’s younger brother Purna Chandra Chattopadhyay stated that their great-uncle told Bankim Chandra of a popular legend of Mandaran which he collected from [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]]-[[Arambag]] region. According to the legend, the Pathans attacked the fort of the local feudal lord and took him and his wife and daughter to Orissa as prisoners and when Jagat Singh was sent to rescue them, he was also imprisoned. Bankim Chandra heard the story when he was 19 years old and after a few years he wrote ''Durgeshnandini''.<ref name=sansad/>
Although, Bankim Chandra’s younger brother Purna Chandra Chattopadhyay stated that their great-uncle told Bankim Chandra of a popular legend of Mandaran which he collected from [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]]-[[Arambag]] region. According to the legend, the Pathans attacked the fort of the local feudal lord and took him and his wife and daughter to Orissa as prisoners and when Jagat Singh was sent to rescue them, he was also imprisoned. Bankim Chandra heard the story when he was 19 years old and after a few years he wrote ''Durgeshnandini''.<ref name=sansad/>


Bankim Chandra himself dismissed any presumption of whether his novel was influenced by ''[[Ivanhoe]]'', stating he never read Scott’s romance before writing ''Durgeshnandini''.<ref name=sansad/> Asit Kumar Bandyopadhyay also wrote that apart from the love-triangle between Jagat Singh, Ayesha and Tilottama which closely resembles that of Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Rowena in ''Ivanhoe'', there is not much similarity between the two novels.<ref name=asit/> He thus concluded that ''Durgeshnandini'' is Bankim Chandra’s original work.<ref name=asit/>
Bankim Chandra himself dismissed any presumption of whether his novel was influenced by ''[[Ivanhoe]]'', stating he never read Scott’s romance before writing ''Durgeshnandini''.<ref name=sansad/> [[Asitkumar Bandyopadhyay]] also wrote that apart from the love-triangle between Jagat Singh, Ayesha and Tilottama which closely resembles that of Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Rowena in ''Ivanhoe'', there is not much similarity between the two novels.<ref name=asit/> He thus concluded that ''Durgeshnandini'' is Bankim Chandra’s original work.<ref name=asit/>


==Date and text==
==Date and text==
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==Reception==
==Reception==
''Durgeshnandini'' received mixed response from contemporary critics. While the [[Sanskrit]] scholars of [[Bhatpara]] appreciated the novel, scholars of [[Calcutta]] did not.<ref name=sansad/> Dwarakanath Vidyabhushan, the editor of ''Somprakash'' mocked Bankim Chandra’s lucid language and unconventional style; although ''Sambad Prabhakar'' and some other contemporary newspapers highly praised the novel.<ref name=sansad/>
''Durgeshnandini'' received mixed response from contemporary critics. While the [[Sanskrit]] scholars of [[Bhatpara]] appreciated the novel, scholars of [[Calcutta]] did not.<ref name=sansad/> Dwarakanath Vidyabhushan, the editor of ''Somprakash'' mocked Bankim Chandra’s lucid language and unconventional style; although ''[[Sambad Prabhakar]]'' and some other contemporary newspapers highly praised the novel.<ref name=sansad/>


Sukumar Sen wrote, “…the tale was something that was wholly new and entirely delightful. The pseudo-historical background was a justification for a pure love romance intended for readers who knew only married love.<ref name = sukumarseneng/>
Sukumar Sen wrote, "…the tale was something that was wholly new and entirely delightful. The pseudo-historical background was a justification for a pure love romance intended for readers who knew only married love."<ref name = sukumarseneng/>


==In adaptation==
==In adaptation==
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;Bengali
;Bengali
*1927: ''Durgesh Nandini'', starring Durgadas Bannerjee, [[Kanu Banerjee|Kanu Bannerjee]], [[Ahindra Choudhury]], Indira Devi, [[Seeta Devi (actress)|Sita Devi]], directed by Priyanath N. Ganguly.<ref>{{IMDb title|0214652|Durgesh Nandini}}</ref>
*1927: ''Durgesh Nandini'', starring Durgadas Bannerjee, [[Kanu Banerjee|Kanu Bannerjee]], [[Ahindra Choudhury]], Indira Devi, [[Seeta Devi (actress)|Sita Devi]], directed by Priyanath N. Ganguly.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q58434973|title=Durgesh Nandini}}</ref>
*1951: ''Durgesh Nandini'', starring  [[Monoranjan Bhattacharya|Manoranjan Bhattacharya]], [[Chhabi Biswas]], Bharati Devi, [[Chandrabati Devi]], [[Kamal Mitra]], directed by [[Amar Mullick]].<ref>{{IMDb title|0245089|Durgesh Nandini}}</ref>
*1951: ''Durgesh Nandini'', starring  [[Monoranjan Bhattacharya|Manoranjan Bhattacharya]], [[Chhabi Biswas]], Bharati Devi, [[Chandrabati Devi]], [[Kamal Mitra]], directed by [[Amar Mullick]].<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q123537203|title=Durgesh Nandini}}</ref>


;Hindi
;Hindi
*1956: ''Durgesh Nandini'', starring [[Pradeep Kumar]], [[Bina Rai]], [[Ajit Khan|Ajit]], [[Nalini Jaywant]] directed by B. Mitra.<ref>{{IMDb title|0391949|Durgesh Nandini}}</ref>
*1956: ''Durgesh Nandini'', starring [[Pradeep Kumar (actor)|Pradeep Kumar]], [[Bina Rai]], [[Ajit Khan|Ajit]], [[Nalini Jaywant]] directed by B. Mitra.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q123537199|title=Durgesh Nandini}}</ref>


=== Television ===
=== Television ===


* 2007: [[Durgesh Nandinii]], starring [[Rinku Ghosh]] and [[Gurpreet Singh (actor)|Gurpreet Singh]], aired on [[Sony TV (India)|Sony TV]].
* 2007: [[Durgesh Nandinii]], starring [[Rinku Ghosh]] and [[Gurpreet Singh (actor)|Gurpreet Singh]], aired on [[Sony TV (India)|Sony TV]]. Only the title is borrowed with a different story.


=== Other ===  
=== Other ===
*It was adapted as a comic by Debrani Mitra in the [[List of Amar Chitra Katha comics|824th issue]] of the Indian comic book series, [[Amar Chitra Katha]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Debrani Mitra|author2=Meera Ugra|title=Durgesh Nandini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbpJDgAAQBAJ&pg=PP1|date=1 April 1971|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-8482-568-8}}</ref>
*It was adapted as a comic by Debrani Mitra in the [[List of Amar Chitra Katha comics|824th issue]] of the Indian comic book series, [[Amar Chitra Katha]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Debrani Mitra|author2=Meera Ugra|title=Durgesh Nandini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbpJDgAAQBAJ&pg=PP1|date=1 April 1971|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-8482-568-8}}</ref>
*On 11 June 2023, [[Radio Mirchi]] Kolkata station aired the novel in the ''Sunday Suspense'' programme. The novel was narrated and Directed by RJ Deep. Other RJs like Shankari Prasad Mitra, Debasmita, Godhuli, Debi, Pushpal, Somak, Rajiv Chatterjee, Mohor, etc. played some key roles.<ref>{{cite AV media |people= RJ Deep (Director) |date=11 June 2023 |title= Durgeshnandini - The Complete Saga |type= |language=bn |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4q6dxEJves |format=Audio |time= |location=Kolkata |publisher=[[Radio Mirchi]] Kolkata}}</ref>


== References==
== References==
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{{Novels by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay}}
{{Novels by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1865 novels]]
[[Category:1865 novels]]
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[[Category:Novels adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Novels adapted into comics]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian novels]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian novels]]
[[Category:Bengali-language novels]]

Latest revision as of 18:14, 14 February 2026


Durgeshnandini
AuthorBankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Original titleদুর্গেশনন্দিনী
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali
Media typePrint

Durgeshnandini (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.[1]) is a Bengali historical romance novel written by Indian writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1865.[2] Durgeshnandini is a story of the love triangle between Jagat Singh, a Mughal Empire general, Tilottama, the daughter of a Bengali feudal lord and Ayesha, the daughter of a rebel Pathan leader against whom Jagat Singh was fighting. The story is set against the backdrop of Pathan-Mughal conflicts that took place in south-western region of modern-day Indian state of Paschimbanga (West Bengal) during the reign of Akbar.[2]

Durgeshnandini is the first Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra as well as the first major Bengali novel in the history of Bengali literature.[2] The story of the novel was borrowed from some local legends of Arambag region, Hooghly district, Paschimbanga, collected by Bankim Chandra’s great-uncle.[3] Although the conservative critics mocked the lucidity of Bankim Chandra’s language, Durgeshnandini was highly praised by most of the contemporary scholars and newspapers.[3]

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

The story is set in the backdrop of Pathan-Mughal conflicts that took place in south-western region of modern-day Indian state of Paschimbanga (West Bengal) during the reign of Akbar. Jagat Singh, a General of Mughal army and son of Raja Man Singh meets Tilottama, daughter of Birendra Singha, a feudal lord of south-western Bengal in Mandaran (in modern-day Hooghly district, West Bengal) and they fall in love with each other. While they are preparing for a marriage ceremony, Katlu Khan, a rebel Pathan leader attacks Mandaran. Birendra Singha dies in the battle and Jagat Singh is imprisoned along with Birendra’s widow Bimala and their daughter Tilottama. Katlu Khan’s daughter Ayesha saves Tilottama from her father’s lust, but Ayesha herself falls in love with Jagat Singh. Later, Bimala avenges her husband’s death by stabbing Katlu Khan. In the meantime, Man Singh signs a pact with the Pathans and they set Jagat Singh free. But Ayesha’s lover Osman challenges Jagat Singh in a duel which Jagat Singh wins. Realising that Jagat Singh who is a Hindu prince would never marry a Muslim woman, Ayesha gives up hope for him, but she eventually helps Tilottama marry Jagat Singh.

Sources[edit | edit source]

Sukumar Sen commented, "Bhudev Mukharji’s Anguriyabinimay supplied the nucleus of the plot [of Durgeshnandini] which was modelled somewhat after Scott’s Ivanhoe."[1]

Although, Bankim Chandra’s younger brother Purna Chandra Chattopadhyay stated that their great-uncle told Bankim Chandra of a popular legend of Mandaran which he collected from Bishnupur-Arambag region. According to the legend, the Pathans attacked the fort of the local feudal lord and took him and his wife and daughter to Orissa as prisoners and when Jagat Singh was sent to rescue them, he was also imprisoned. Bankim Chandra heard the story when he was 19 years old and after a few years he wrote Durgeshnandini.[3]

Bankim Chandra himself dismissed any presumption of whether his novel was influenced by Ivanhoe, stating he never read Scott’s romance before writing Durgeshnandini.[3] Asitkumar Bandyopadhyay also wrote that apart from the love-triangle between Jagat Singh, Ayesha and Tilottama which closely resembles that of Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Rowena in Ivanhoe, there is not much similarity between the two novels.[2] He thus concluded that Durgeshnandini is Bankim Chandra’s original work.[2]

Date and text[edit | edit source]

13 editions of the novel were published during the lifetime of Bankim Chandra, the last being in 1893.[3] It was translated into English (1882), Hindustani (1876), Hindi (1882) and Kannada (1885).[3] It was first adopted for stage in 1873.[3]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Durgeshnandini received mixed response from contemporary critics. While the Sanskrit scholars of Bhatpara appreciated the novel, scholars of Calcutta did not.[3] Dwarakanath Vidyabhushan, the editor of Somprakash mocked Bankim Chandra’s lucid language and unconventional style; although Sambad Prabhakar and some other contemporary newspapers highly praised the novel.[3]

Sukumar Sen wrote, "…the tale was something that was wholly new and entirely delightful. The pseudo-historical background was a justification for a pure love romance intended for readers who knew only married love."[1]

In adaptation[edit | edit source]

Films[edit | edit source]

Bengali
Hindi

Television[edit | edit source]

Other[edit | edit source]

  • It was adapted as a comic by Debrani Mitra in the 824th issue of the Indian comic book series, Amar Chitra Katha.[7]
  • On 11 June 2023, Radio Mirchi Kolkata station aired the novel in the Sunday Suspense programme. The novel was narrated and Directed by RJ Deep. Other RJs like Shankari Prasad Mitra, Debasmita, Godhuli, Debi, Pushpal, Somak, Rajiv Chatterjee, Mohor, etc. played some key roles.[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sen, Sukumar (1979) [1960]. History of Bengali (3rd ed.). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 211–12. ISBN 81-7201-107-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Bandyopadhyay, Asit Kumar (2007) [1998]. Bangla Sahityer Itibritta [History of Bengali Literature] (in Bengali). Vol. VIII (3rd ed.). Kolkata: Modern Book Agency Pvt Ltd. pp. 493–502.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Bagal, ed. (2003) [1953]. "Upanyas-Prasange" [On Novels]. Bankim Rachanavali [Complete Works of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay] (in Bengali). Vol. I (20th ed.). Kolkata: Sahitya Sansad. pp. XXX–XXXII. ISBN 81-85626-13-8.
  4. Durgesh Nandini on IMDb
  5. Durgesh Nandini on IMDb
  6. Durgesh Nandini on IMDb
  7. Debrani Mitra; Meera Ugra (1 April 1971). Durgesh Nandini. Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-81-8482-568-8.
  8. RJ Deep (Director) (11 June 2023). Durgeshnandini - The Complete Saga (Audio) (in Bengali). Kolkata: Radio Mirchi Kolkata.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Novels by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay