From Renaissance to Recession: The Intellectual Decline of Bengal
The Problem
I was brought up hearing the phrase,
“What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow,”
A quote by the perennial Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the mentor of
Gandhiji himself- and no doubt, those words have held true for several
generations. Our state has produced iconic figures for generations on end, like
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, often called the father of modern India, who effectively
abolished practices like Sati and made leaps of progress in regards to the
education of women, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who fought against widow
remarriage and child marriage; and those are just a couple. Although the
glorious period of the Bengal Renaissance has long ended, its effect upon our
state and country as a whole is everlasting; women still benefit from the
progress made by the aforementioned pioneers, and Bengali society as a whole
has incorporated into their very fabric the names of these visionaries. If you
went out into the street today and tried to find someone who does not know who
Rabindranath Tagore is, it would be a very difficult task indeed. The late 19th
and early 20th century laid the very foundations for the future of
our society, as the period saw a contemporary blend of Indian traditionalism
and Western philosophy. When I go to Park Street to have lunch at the legendary
Peter Cat, or go shopping for books at Bahrison’s, I still see the influence of
the British embedded into the very soul of the place- the buildings with its almost
Victorian-like windows, the overall architecture and setting of the area- it’s palpable
how much of an authority that period had, and continues to have, upon the
general public; so much so that we even tried to build a replica of the Big Ben
tower in one of our parks! (A sidenote: although we have grown accustomed to
calling the entire tower the Big Ben, it’s actually not correct- the tower
itself is known as the Elizabeth Tower, and the bell inside it, not visible to
the public from outside, is named the Big Ben. The more you know, right?)
And yet,
there lies an inherent problem with everything I have mentioned above. A
problem so glaringly obvious, yet unnoticeable. Every person I mentioned, every
influence I talked about, is in the past. How do we influence our future
generations like Satyajit Ray did? How do we captivate audiences like Tagore’s
songs and poems do? Where are the contemporary equivalents of these historical
figures in our present society?
When I went to London just a few weeks ago, I was enthralled by the mere intelligence and civic sense of the public, in its streets, in its public transport, in its hotels. I saw people reading books in the Underground, photographers trying to frame the perfect shot of a random monument, street performers playing the guitar in ways I could only dream of. Although being amidst that culture amazed me, it angered me when I came back to my own country. Are we not supposed to be the more artistically inclined nation? I ask the reader, how many times have you seen someone reading a book in the Metro, or on the bus? How many times have you seen a little girl, who loved to dance, grow up to be an actual dancer and not be completely engulfed by the sheer pressure of her academics and grades? How many times have you seen any sort of manifestation of the art and culture we are so ironically proud of actually show itself in recent times? Once, India was hailed as the up-and-coming nation in terms of cinematography and filmmaking, after Satyajit Ray’s historic Oscar win; and now? Our TV shows and ‘serials’ are the subject of memes and jokes on Western media, and social media overall. When was the last time you actually saw a semi-decent Bengali movie, which is not a remake of some Western drama? It is a tragedy.
%20was%20a%20pioneering%20Bengali%E2%80%A6.jpg "The perennial Satyajit Ray looking through the camera on set of one of his films.")
The Solution
When I think
about the vibrant legacy of Bengal’s intellectual and artistic achievements, I
cannot help but wonder if it is entirely lost, or merely lying dormant, waiting
for the right catalysts to awaken it. The problems I discussed earlier are
pressing, yes, but they are not insurmountable. The solution lies not in
lamenting the past, but in rebuilding our present to pave the way for a
brighter future. Here’s how we can begin to remedy this generational decline:
1.
Reviving a Culture of Reading and Thinking
Books were
once Bengal’s most treasured companions, the lifeblood of its intellectual
spirit. It’s time to bring them back to the forefront of our culture. Libraries
must be restored, reading clubs encouraged, and literature festivals amplified
to inspire a new generation of readers. Imagine a Bengal where every Metro
station has a small public library, or where trains have book-sharing systems
like the London Underground’s book swaps.
2.
Fostering Creative Pursuits in Youth
Why must a
little girl with a passion for dance abandon it for an engineering degree? We
need to reimagine education to allow space for artistic growth alongside
academics. Schools must prioritize drama clubs, music societies, and art
exhibitions with the same fervor they do science fairs. Parents, too, need to
embrace the idea that not every child needs to top exams—some will paint
masterpieces, write novels, or compose symphonies.
3.
Encouraging Originality in Media and Film
The days of
copying Western plots or relying on formulaic soap operas must end. Let’s give
our filmmakers, writers, and musicians the freedom to experiment, to fail, and
to innovate. We should demand more from our media; content that reflects the
complexities of our society rather than shallow entertainment. Satyajit Ray
didn’t set out to make crowd-pleasers; he created art. Where are our grants for
independent filmmakers? Where is the support for young playwrights or the
promotion of folk artists?
4.
Celebrating Excellence in All Fields
Let’s
acknowledge and uplift contemporary achievers the way we celebrate those of the
past. A Satyendra Nath Bose or Jagadish Chandra Bose is not born every day, but
budding scientists and inventors still exist. Media must spotlight them as role
models to inspire others. Schools should organize visits to laboratories, tech
hubs, or art galleries, showing students that greatness is attainable even
today.
5.
Restoring Civic Pride
One of the
most striking things about London was the pride its citizens take in their
surroundings. Bengal, too, must nurture civic sense. Why can’t we have clean
streets and well-maintained public spaces? Why can’t we protect our heritage
buildings and parks? Art installations, street performances, and cultural
festivals in these spaces could become common occurrences, making art and
culture accessible to all, not confined to closed galleries and theatre.
6.
Rebuilding Respect for Teachers and Mentors
Bengal’s
intellectual spirit thrived because of the respect its society had for
education and mentorship. Teachers must once again be regarded as torchbearers
of knowledge, not as mere exam coaches. Communities should organize lectures,
workshops, and interactive sessions with contemporary thinkers, scientists, and
artists to kindle intellectual curiosity.
7.
Leveraging Technology for Artistic Growth
Social media
and digital platforms can be powerful tools for promoting local art and talent.
A dedicated app for budding Bengali writers, artists, and musicians could
provide a stage for showcasing their work to the world. Online workshops,
competitions, and mentorship programs can break geographical barriers and
nurture creativity in every corner of Bengal.
“Faith is the bird that feels the light when
the dawn is still dark.”
-Rabindranath Tagore