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{{short description|Indian writer, folk literature researcher and civil servant}}
{{short description|Indian writer, folk literature researcher and civil servant}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2011}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
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| image      = Gurusaday Dutt photo.png
| image      = Gurusaday Dutt photo.png
| image_size  = 200px
| image_size  = 200px
| caption    = Gurusaday Dutt
| birth_date  = {{birth-date|10 May 1882}}
| birth_date  = {{birth-date|10 May 1882}}
| birth_place = Birasri, [[Karimganj district|Karimganj]], [[Assam Province]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = Birasri, [[Karimganj district|Karimganj]], [[Assam]], [[British India]]
| death_date  = {{d-da|25 June 1941|10 May 1882}}
| death_date  = {{d-da|25 June 1941|10 May 1882}} (৬০)
| death_place = [[Calcutta]], India
| death_place = [[Calcutta]], India
| occupation  = Civilian, folklorist
| occupation  = Civil servant, folklorist
| spouse      = [[Saroj Nalini Dutt]] (nee )
| spouse      = [[Saroj Nalini Dutt]] (সরোজ নলিনী দত্ত) (nee De) (দে)
| children   = 1
| children = 1
}}
}}


'''Gurusaday Dutt''' ({{lang-bn|'''গুরুসদয় দত্ত'''}}) (1882–1941) ({{lang-bn|১২৮৭-১৩৪৮}})
'''Gurusaday Dutt''' ({{lang-bn|'''গুরুসদয় দত্ত'''}} ('''চৌধূরী''')) (10 May, 1882– 25 June, 1941) ({{lang-bn|২৮ বৈশাখ, ১২৮৯- ১১ আষাঢ়, ১৩৪৮}})
was a civil servant, folklorist, and writer.<ref name="tapatidasgupta"> Tapati Dasgupta, 'Social Thought of Rabindranath Tagore: A Historical Analysis, (Calcutta, Abhinav Publications, 1993), p. 138</ref> He was the founder of the [[Bratachari movement|''Bratachari'' Movement]] in the 1930s.<ref name="southasiajournal"> Sayantani Adhikary, The Bratachari Movement and the Invention of a 'Folk Tradition', in South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, Vol.: 38, 2015, Issue 4, pp. 656-670</ref>
was a civil servant, folklorist, and writer.<ref name="tapatidasgupta"> Tapati Dasgupta, 'Social Thought of Rabindranath Tagore: A Historical Analysis, (Calcutta, Abhinav Publications, 1993), p. 138</ref> He was the founder of the [[Bratachari movement|''Bratachari'' Movement]] in the 1930s.<ref name="southasiajournal"> Sayantani Adhikary, The Bratachari Movement and the Invention of a 'Folk Tradition', in South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, Vol.: 38, 2015, Issue 4, pp. 656-670</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Dutt, born to Ramkrishna Dutta Chaudhuri and Anandamayee Debi, was a member of the ''zamindari'' family of Birasri (বীরশ্রি) village in Karimganj (করিমগঞ্জ) sub-division of [[Sylhet District|Sylhet]] district, in eastern Bengal (present day [[Bangladesh]]). Members of his family were followers of the Vaishnavite sect.
Dutt, born to Ramkrishna Dutta Chaudhuri (রামকৃষ্ণ দত্ত চৌধূরী) and Anandamayee Debi (আনন্দময়ী দেবী) was a member of the ''zamindari'' family of Birasri (বীরশ্রি) village in Karimganj (করিমগঞ্জ) sub-division of Sylhet (শ্রীহট্ট), in eastern Bengal (present day [[Bangladesh]]). Members of his family were followers of the Vaishnavite sect.


After completing his Entrance examination at Government College, Sylhet, in 1898, Dutt completed his F.A. examination from Presidency College, Calcutta in 1901. He obtained a scholarship raised by the Sylhet Union to study in Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He passed the  Open Competitive Service examination in 1905. Subsequently, he was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn.
After completing his Entrance examination at Government College, Sylhet, in 1898, Dutt completed his F.A. examination from Presidency College, Calcutta in 1901. He obtained a scholarship raised by the Sylhet Union to study in Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He passed the  Open Competitive Service examination in 1905. Subsequently, he was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn.


He was married to [[Saroj Nalini Dutt]] and they had one son.<ref name="socialthoughtsofrabindranathtagore"> Dasgupta, 'Social Thoughts of Rabindranath Tagore', p. 138</ref>
He was married to [[Saroj Nalini Dutt]] and they had one son.<ref name="tapatidasgupta"/>


==Career==
==Career and political views==
He was the district magistrate of Mymensingh, director of Industries, 
His first posting, in 1905, was as assistant magistrate and assistant collector of Arrah in Bihar. He served in the judicial wing of the ICS from 1911 to 1915. In 1916 he was appointed as the district collector of Birbhum. In 1923, he was appointed as secretary of agriculture and industries.<ref name="bratacharisportsfederation"/>
chief whip in the Bengal Legislative Council, member of the Council of States and of the [[Central Legislative Assembly]] (1930-1933) and secretary, Local Self Government and Public Health, Government of Bengal,


==Contributions to social work==
In 1928, he was sent to Howrah as its district magistrate. Here, in connection with the Bamangachi Firing case, he condemned the firing on a crowd of protesters by the police led by a British officer. The matter was raised in the House of Lords in London and as a punitive measure he was transferred to Mymensingh. In Mymensingh he refused to take action against those who were protesting against the government's Salt Act.<ref name="bratacharisportsfederation"> Bratachari Sports Federation at https://www.martialyogaarts.com</ref> This led to his transfer to Birbhum in 1931.<ref name="speakingwithpictures"> Roma Chatterjee, 'Speaking with Pictures: Folk Art and the Narrative Tradition in India', New Delhi: Routledge, 2012)</ref>
 
From 1930 to 1933, he was the chief whip in the Bengal Legislative Council and a member of the Council of States of the [[Central Legislative Assembly]]. In the last few years of career he was appointed as secretary, Local Self Government and Public Health, Government of Bengal.<ref name="colonialismandthetransnationalpsychiatry"> Waltraud Ernest, 'Colonialism and the Transnational Psychiatry: The Development of an Indian Mental Hospital', (London: Anthem Press, 2013), p. 243</ref>
 
==Social, cultural and artistic contributions==
 
===Social===
Dutt's social work for the development of villages and improvement of agriculture led to the foundation of the first Rural Reconstruction Movement in India in Birbhum in 1918, extending the movement to several districts, such as Bankura, Howrah and Mymensingh. In 1922, he started a society for co-operative irrigation in Bankura, which he later extended to Mymensingh and Birbhum. In 1924, he headed an Indian delegation to a meeting of the Agricultural Institute in Rome. In December, 1929, he started ''Gramer Daak'' ('গ্রামের ডাক')that dealt with agrarian and rural matters.
Dutt's social work for the development of villages and improvement of agriculture led to the foundation of the first Rural Reconstruction Movement in India in Birbhum in 1918, extending the movement to several districts, such as Bankura, Howrah and Mymensingh. In 1922, he started a society for co-operative irrigation in Bankura, which he later extended to Mymensingh and Birbhum. In 1924, he headed an Indian delegation to a meeting of the Agricultural Institute in Rome. In December, 1929, he started ''Gramer Daak'' ('গ্রামের ডাক')that dealt with agrarian and rural matters.


His contribution to the empowerment of mostly rural women was evident in the establishment of the Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association, as a Central Training Institute for training women, deprived of formal education, in the crafts and basic education in February, 1925. In October 1925, he started a monthly magazine entitled, ''Bangalakshmi'' ('বঙ্গলক্ষী')  to give voice to village women.
His contribution to the empowerment of mostly rural women was evident in the establishment of the Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association, as a Central Training Institute for training women, deprived of formal education, in the crafts and basic education in February, 1925. In October 1925, he started a monthly magazine entitled, ''Bangalakshmi'' ('বঙ্গলক্ষী')  to give voice to village women.


===Cultural===
Dutt contributed immensely to the development of rural dance forms. In Mymensingh he started a Folk Dance Revival Society, which revived the secular ''Jaari'' ('জারি') dance. In 1930, he discovered the ''Raibeshe'' ('রায়বেশে')  folk dance, a martial dance of un-divided Bengal, in Birbhum. Subsequently, he also revived the Kaathi (কাঠি), Dhamail (ধামায়েল), Baul (বাউল), Jhumur (ঝুমুর), Brata (ব্রত) and Dhali (ঢালি) dances from different parts of undivided Bengal. In 1931, after meeting Cecil Sharp, who had revived Morris dancing in England, he set up the Bangiya Palli Sampad Raksha Samiti (বঙ্গিয় পল্লি রক্ষা সমিতি)  (Cultural Heritage Protection Society of Bengal).  
Dutt contributed immensely to the development of rural dance forms. In Mymensingh he started a Folk Dance Revival Society, which revived the secular ''Jaari'' ('জারি') dance. In 1930, he discovered the ''Raibeshe'' ('রায়বেশে')  folk dance, a martial dance of un-divided Bengal, in Birbhum. Subsequently, he also revived the Kaathi (কাঠি), Dhamail (ধামায়েল), Baul (বাউল), Jhumur (ঝুমুর), Brata (ব্রত) and Dhali (ঢালি) dances from different parts of undivided Bengal. In 1931, after meeting Cecil Sharp, who had revived Morris dancing in England, he set up the Bangiya Palli Sampad Raksha Samiti (বঙ্গিয় পল্লি রক্ষা সমিতি)  (Cultural Heritage Protection Society of Bengal).  


All these efforts culminated in the founding of the Bratachari movement in 1932. In 1934, the Bangiya Palli Sampad Raksha Samiti was renamed as The Bengal Bratachari Society. In 1936, he started ''Banglar Shakti'' ('বাংলার শক্তি'), a journal on behalf of the Bengal Bratachari Society.
All these efforts culminated in the founding of the Bratachari movement in 1932. In 1934, the Bangiya Palli Sampad Raksha Samiti was renamed as The Bengal Bratachari Society. In 1936, he started ''Banglar Shakti'' ('বাংলার শক্তি'), a journal on behalf of the Bengal Bratachari Society.


==Contributions to art and culture==
===Artistic===
Gurusaday Dutt was mostly known for his interest and contributions to Bengal's folk art, folk dance and folk music.<ref name="prideofbengal'sfolkart"> Kakoli Biswas, 'Pride of Bengal's Folk Art: Gurusaday Dutt', Karnavati University at http://karnavatiuniversity.edu.in</ref> He spent a lifetime collecting and studying art objects and handiwork from the remotest corners of undivided rural Bengal collecting items of folk art such as Kalighat paintings, ''patuas'' ('পটুয়া') scrolls, embroidered ''kanthas'' ('কাঁথা'), terracotta panels, stone sculptures, wooden carvings, dolls and toys, moulds used for making patterns on sweets or mango-paste etc.<ref name="championofbengal'sfolkart"> Soumyadeep Roy, Gurusaday Dutt: Champion of Bengal's Folk Art', 07 December, 2020 at https://www.livemintmyindia.com</ref> Gurusaday Dutt also wrote extensively on folk culture. Rabindranath Tagore and C.F. Andrews wrote in the foreword of the biography of his wife, Saroj Nalini Dutt, which he wrote. Gurusaday Dutt also wrote a good deal about the Bratachari movement.
Dutt was mostly known for his interest and contributions to Bengal's folk art, folk dance and folk music.<ref name="prideofbengal'sfolkart"> Kakoli Biswas, 'Pride of Bengal's Folk Art: Gurusaday Dutt', Karnavati University at http://karnavatiuniversity.edu.in</ref> He spent a lifetime collecting and studying art objects and handiwork from the remotest corners of undivided rural Bengal collecting items of folk art such as Kalighat paintings, ''patuas'' ('পটুয়া') scrolls,<ref name="speakingwithpictures"/> embroidered ''kanthas'' ('কাঁথা'), terracotta panels, stone sculptures, wooden carvings, dolls and toys, moulds used for making patterns on sweets or mango-paste etc.<ref name="championofbengal'sfolkart"> Soumyadeep Roy, Gurusaday Dutt: Champion of Bengal's Folk Art', 07 December, 2020 at https://www.livemintmyindia.com</ref> Gurusaday Dutt also wrote extensively on folk culture. Rabindranath Tagore and C.F. Andrews wrote in the foreword of the biography of his wife, Saroj Nalini Dutt, which he wrote. Gurusaday Dutt also wrote a good deal about the Bratachari movement.
 
==Controversies==
In 1928, at Howrah, in connection with the Bamangachi Firing case, he condemned the firing on a crowd of protesters by the police led by a British officer. The matter was raised in the House of Lords in London and as a punitive measure he was transferred to Mymensingh. In Mymensingh he refused to take against those who were protesting against the government's Salt Act, which led to his transfer to Birbhum.


==Organisations founded==
==Organisations founded==
*Mymensingh Folk Dance and Folk Music Society (1929)
*Mymensingh Folk Dance and Folk Music Society (1929)
*Pallisampad Raksha Samiti (পল্লি রক্ষা সমিতি);(1931)
*Pallisampad Raksha Samiti (পল্লি রক্ষা সমিতি) (1931)
*Bratachari Loknritya Samiti (ব্রতচারি লোক নৃত্য সমিতি) (1932)
*Bratachari Loknritya Samiti (ব্রতচারি লোক নৃত্য সমিতি) (1932)
*South India Bratachari Society (1932)
*South India Bratachari Society (1932)
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*Bratacharigram (ব্রতচারি গ্রাম) (1941)
*Bratacharigram (ব্রতচারি গ্রাম) (1941)
*Bratachari Janashiksha Pratishthan (ব্রতচারি জনশিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠান) (1941)
*Bratachari Janashiksha Pratishthan (ব্রতচারি জনশিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠান) (1941)
==Awards==
* Scindia Gold Medal (1901)<ref name="bratacharisportsfederation"/>
*Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal (1938)<ref name="newyearshonourslist"> New Years Honours List, 1938 at https://www.hmoob.in </ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==
*''Agricultural Organisation and Rural Reconstruction in Bengal'' (1919)
*''Bhajar Banshi'' (ভজার বাঁশি) (1922)
*''Bhajar Banshi'' (ভজার বাঁশি) (1922)
*''Palli Sangskar'' (পল্লী সংস্কার) (1925)
*''Palli Sangskar'' (পল্লী সংস্কার) (1925)
*''Village Reconstruction'' (1925)
*''Village Reconstruction'' (1925)
*''Agricultural Organisation and Rural Reconstruction in Bengal'' (1919)
*''Ganer Saji'' (গানের সাজি) (1932)
*''Ganer Saji'' (গানের সাজি) (1932)
*''Indian Folk Dance and Folklore Movement'' (1933)
*''Indian Folk Dance and Folklore Movement'' (1933)
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*''Banglar Lokashilpa o Lokanritya'' (বাংলার লোকশিল্প ও লোকনৃত্য) (Calcutta: Chatim Books, 2008)
*''Banglar Lokashilpa o Lokanritya'' (বাংলার লোকশিল্প ও লোকনৃত্য) (Calcutta: Chatim Books, 2008)
*''Goraey Golod'' (গোরায় গলত)
*''Goraey Golod'' (গোরায় গলত)
*''Gramer Kaajer ka kha Ga'' (গ্রামের কাজের ক, খ, গ) (in Bengali)
*''Gramer Kaajer ka kha Ga'' (গ্রামের কাজের ক, খ, গ)
*''Saroj Nalini''
*''Saroj Nalini''
*''Palli Sanskar O Sangathan'' (পল্লী সংস্কার ও সংগঠন)
*''Palli Sanskar O Sangathan'' (পল্লী সংস্কার ও সংগঠন)
*''Paaglamir Puthi'' (পাগলামির পুঁথি)
*''Paaglamir Puthi'' (পাগলামির পুঁথি)
*''Purir Mahathwa'' (পুরির মাহাত্ম্য)
*''Purir Mahathwa'' (পুরির মাহাত্ম্য)
*''Banglar Samrik Krira'' (in Bengali)
*''Banglar Samrik Krira'' (বাংলার শ্মরিক ক্রীড়া)
*''Chaander Buri'' (চাঁদের বুড়ি) (in Bengali)
*''Chaander Buri'' (চাঁদের বুড়ি)
*''Bratachari Shakhaa'' (ব্রতচারি শাখা)
*''Bratachari Shakhaa'' (ব্রতচারি শাখা)
*''Bratachari Parichoy'' (ব্রতচারি পরিচয়)
*''Bratachari Parichoy'' (ব্রতচারি পরিচয়)