Anandamath is a Bengali historical novel written by Indian novelist and poet Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The novel was originally published in 1882.
“Anandamath By Bankim Chandra Chatterji”
“Summary of Anandamath By Bankim Chandra Chatterji”
The novel’s story is based on the Sanyasi Rebellion that took place between 1770 and 1777. Anandamath is a highly significant novel in Bengali and Indian literature. The story begins with the main character, Mahendra, a landowner from a very wealthy family.
Mahendra is married to a woman named Kalyani. Mahendra and Kalyani have a daughter, Sukumari. Mahendra lives with his family in Padchihna. The villagers of Mahendra’s village, Padchihna, are going through difficult times. Even Mahendra’s landowner family has no food to eat.
Mahendra’s villagers are leaving Padchihna and heading for the city, while some are heading for the forest. So, Mahendra decides to go to Calcutta with his family. On his way to Calcutta, Mahendra comes across a village where he goes to find milk for his daughter.
When Mahendra goes to the village in search of milk, some robbers arrive and kidnap Mahendra’s wife and daughter. Mahendra faints and begins calling out his wife’s name. He searches the village for his wife and daughter.
A group of British soldiers was passing through the village when they spotted Mahendra. They suspected Mahendra of being a rebel, and so they arrested him without questioning him. Meanwhile, Mahendra’s wife, Kalyani, and Sukumari were still held captive by the robbers. As the robbers began fighting, Kalyani seized the opportunity to escape with her daughter, Sukumari.
Fleeing from the robbers, Kalyani and Sukumari arrived at a Sanyasi ashram in the forest. This group of Sanyasi rebels was rebelling against the British East India Company. The Sanyasi called themselves the saints of Mother India.
The story now introduces a new character: Mahatma Satyanand, a leader of the Sanyasi group. Satyanand provides food and shelter for Kalyani and her daughter at his ashram. Satyanand promises Kalyani that he will find her husband and bring him back to her.
Satyanand orders his disciple Bhavanand to begin searching for Mahendra. Bhavanand doesn’t take long to find Mahendra. He finds Mahendra and brings him to Satyanand’s care. Satyanand wants to include Mahendra in his sannyasi group. Since Mahendra comes from a wealthy family, he will be a great help to the sannyasi group.
After arriving at the ashram, Mahendra meets his wife and daughter and learns all about the sannyasi rebellion. To become a sannyasi, Mahendra has to abandon his wife and daughter, as this is the first step to becoming a monk. Mahendra wanted to join the sannyasi rebellion, but he couldn’t abandon his wife and daughter. So he refused to join the sannyasi group.
When Kalyani learned that Mahendra had refused to join the sannyasi rebellion because of her, she was deeply saddened. When Mahendra and Kalyani were leaving their village, she kept poison in her bag to avoid this difficult time. While Mahendra and Kalyani were resting at night, their daughter accidentally drank poison. Following Sukumari, Kalyani also drank the poison and died along with her daughter.
When Mahendra sees the bodies of his wife and daughter, he breaks down in tears. Suddenly, police arrive and, mistaking him for a sanyasi, arrest him. Mahendra asks them for permission to perform the last rites of his wife and daughter, but the police ignore him and bring him to the police station.
No one can understand Mahendra’s pain; he is in such a state that he cannot even perform the last rites of his wife and daughter. Kalyani and Sukumari’s bodies are still lying on the roadside when two sadhus spot them. The first sadhu, Jivanand, sees that the mother is dead, while the daughter is alive, so he takes Kalyani’s daughter with him. Jivanand takes Sukumari to his sister’s house, who has no children.
A little while later, the second sanyasi sees Kalyani’s body, touches her veins, and discovers that she is still alive. He runs to the forest to find medicine to treat her. He gives Kalyani medicine, and after a while, she awakens.
When Kalyani regained consciousness, she discovered her daughter was missing. She assumed a wild animal had taken her. Satyanand arranged for Kalyani to find shelter at her brother’s house. Meanwhile, Satyanand, with the help of his disciple, bailed Mahendra out of prison.
Subsequently, Satyanand began teaching Mahendra the path to renunciation. Mahendra was reluctant to join the renunciation group because of his wife and daughter. He learned that his wife and daughter were no longer alive, so he readily agreed to join Satyanand’s request.
Satyanand told Mahendra to return to his village and strengthen it. He would send the best weapon makers to help him make weapons. At Satyanand’s command, Mahendra returned to his village, Padchihna.
The story now focused on Jeevanand, who was like Satyanand’s right-hand man. Before joining the Sanyasi group, Jivananda was married to a girl named Shanti. Shanti was a very beautiful woman with warrior qualities. When Jivananda was joining the Sanyasi group to fight for his country, he swore he would never meet his wife Shanti.
While Jivananda was taking Sukumari to his sister’s house for treatment, he met his wife Shanti there. When Shanti saw Jivananda, she couldn’t help but ask him to join the Sanyasi group with her. Since women are not allowed to join the Sanyasi group, especially husband and wife, it is very risky. Shanti disguises herself as a man and enters the Sanyasi group without Jivananda’s knowledge.
Later, Jivananda recognizes Shanti, but doesn’t tell anyone because he loves his wife. Jivananda knows he is betraying his Sanyasi family because he knows about his wife, yet he doesn’t tell anyone.
When Jivanand realizes his mistake, he attempts to sacrifice his life on the battlefield. The Sanyasi group grows stronger day by day as many people come forward to join. One day, the British army discovers the Sanyasi group’s hideout in the forest, attacks them, and a brutal battle ensues.
Ultimately, the Sanyasi wins the battle, but at a heavy price. After the battle, Mahendra reunites with his wife and daughter, who survived. Shanti and Jivanand, against their oath, live together in the forest, away from the villages.
Frequently Asked Questions : –
What was the title of the first English translation of Anandamath ?
When Anandamath was translated to English it was given the title of “The Abbey of Bliss”.
In which part of Bengal is the novel Anandamath sets ?
The Story of “Anandmath” takes place in Bengali village, Padachinha ( 1770 – 1777 )
In which year Anandamath was written ?
Anandamath by Bankim Chandra Chatterji was written in year 1982.