Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (
Henry Louis Vivian Derozio was born on April 18, 1809 in Calcutta. His father, Francis Derozio, was a Christian Indo-Portuguese office worker, while his mother, Sophia Johnson Derozio, was English. From the age of six to fourteen, he attended David Drummond Dharmatala Academy School. Drummond showed him that reason is a far bigger value than traditional rituals. While a student, Derozio began reading the poetry of his contemporaries, including John Keats, Lord Byron, and Percy Shelley.
He founded the Young Bengal Movement in 1826. From 1826 until 1831, he served as the assistant professor of Hindu College in Calcutta. Derozio encouraged his students to think rationally and freely, to challenge all authority, and to value truth. He was also one of the first Indian educators to transmit Western learning and science to the young of Bengal.
Vivian Derozio stopped attending school when he was 14 years old. He began working at his father's office in Calcutta before moving to his uncle's indigo plant in Bhagalpur. He started composing poems and submitted it to the 'India Gazette'. His poetry career began in 1825, when his poems appeared in various newspapers and publications.
The orthodox Hindus believed that Derozio's teachings were at the basis of the Young Bengal group's beliefs and put pressure on the Hindu College's administration to remove him. Derozio had to walk out from Hindu College in April 1831 due to his radical teachings. He died of cholera at the age of 22 on December 26, 1831, in Calcutta.
Even after his death, his influence was carried on by his former students, known as the Young Bengals, many of whom rose to prominence in social reform, law, and media.
As a poet, Derozio was highly influenced by the English poet Byron, and as a result, many of his works were written in the romantic style. Derozio occasionally used the pseudonym "Juvenis". The majority of Derozio's poetry had adopted the Vatican style and skillfully conveyed the story of the Indian continent. Many of his poems displayed a nationalist spirit and anti-imperialist sentiment. This was owing to his strong love for his country, India, and his desire to rid it of all its problems. Derozio's rationalist viewpoint was informed by his thorough research on Thomas Paine, David Hume, and Jeremy Bentham.
Derozio was commonly regarded as an Anglo-Indian due to his mixed Portuguese, Indian, and English ancestry, yet he identified as Indian. During his lifetime, he was regarded as modern India's first 'national' poet, and the history of Anglo-Indian poetry is often traced back to him. His poems, particularly "To India - My Native Land" and "The Fakeer of Jungheera," are recognised as seminal works in Indian nationalistic poetry. His poetry was influenced by Romantic poets, particularly Lord Byron and Robert Southey.
Important Literary Works :
The
Harp of India
Song
of the Hindoostani Minstrel
The Fakeer of Jungheera: A Metrical Tale and Other Poems (1828)
To India - My Native Land
To
the Pupils of the Hindu College
Henry Derozio's contribution to Indian Writing in English.
Henry Derozio contributed significantly to Indian English writing, influencing the genre's early growth. His impact developed beyond his own literary works to include his role as a teacher and mentor to the 'Young Bengal' group, as well as his support for social change and individual liberty. Here are some significant characteristics of Derozio's contribution to Indian English writing.
Poetry : Derozio's poetry played a significant role in developing the early period of Indian English poetry. His poetry frequently addressed issues of nationalism, freedom, social reform, and the condition of the downtrodden. His style was defined by emotional intensity and enthusiasm. Some of his most noteworthy compositions are "To India My Native Land," "The Fakeer of Jungheera," and "The Harp of India."
Journalism: Derozio also worked in journalism, contributing pieces to a variety of newspapers and publications. In his works, he promoted for social change, secularism, and the development of logical thought. He uses his position to spread awareness about caste discrimination, women's rights, and the importance of education reform.
Originative Inputs : Derozio's poetry and prose varied from the common literary traditions of the day, mixing his works with emotional depth and a demand for social transformation. His writings showed a particular Indian sensibility while expressed in English, helping to establish a unique Indian literary voice in English literature.
Acceptance for Social betterment : Derozio's literary works expressed his strong and active viewpoints on caste inequality, women's rights, and religious orthodoxy. Through his poems, he challenged traditional conventions and advocated for a more just and equal society, using literature as a vehicle for social transformation.
Guidance and Inspiration: Derozio, a teacher at Calcutta's Hindu College, influenced a group of young pupils who became known as the 'young Bengal' group. His intellectual mentoring and promotion of critical thinking among his pupils had a long-term influence on the development of Indian English literature, with many of them going on to become famous writers and thinkers in their own right.
Use of English as a Mean : Derozio's focus on individuality, rationality, and social justice had a significant impact on the literary scene during and after his lifetime. He displayed the ability to use the English language to portray Indian topics and ideas, so helping to establish Indian English literature as a separate and vital literary tradition.
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