Fort William College

• Author: Nikhil Sur
• Publisher: Ananda Publisher
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789389876451
• Pages: 196
• Format: Hardcover
• Weight: 328 g

Description

Fort William College explores the founding and the deeper historical significance of the college established by Lord Wellesley in 1800. While its original purpose was to train civil servants before their appointments, Nikhil Sur delves into a broader interpretation of the college's role in shaping India's modern intellectual and cultural landscape.

• Historical Significance: Lord Wellesley’s dream for the Fort William College extended beyond just training administrative officers. Though not fully realized due to opposition from British officials, some historians believe he envisioned this institution as Asia’s first modern university. Sur’s account sheds light on the significant, yet often overlooked, legacy of the college.

• A Precursory Step Towards Modernity: Fort William College played a pivotal role in the Bengali Renaissance, offering an environment where the Bengali language and literature were elevated and refined. William Carey, a key figure in this movement, was instrumental in this effort to standardize and enrich the language, which laid the foundation for many aspects of modern Bengali culture.

• Reform and Revival: The college’s contribution to the cultural and intellectual revival of Bengal in the 19th century is discussed extensively in the book. Sur highlights the college’s role as a birthplace of new ideas and its push towards modernization, shaping not just the language but also the broader social and political spheres of the time.

• In-Depth Analysis: Sur presents an analysis of the broader political and cultural context that surrounded the creation of the college. He emphasizes how it reflects the changing nature of British colonial policy and the evolving relationship between the British rulers and Indian intellectuals.

• About the Author: Nikhil Sur, born in 1938, is a distinguished scholar and historian. His academic career began in 1964 and spanned several decades, including serving as a senior research fellow at Kolkata University. His works focus on Indian nationalism, political movements, and social transformations in Bengal during the 18th and 19th centuries. He has contributed to several scholarly journals and authored numerous books, including those on Indian history and social movements.