Epic
পলাশীর যুদ্ধ
Not translated into English
Nabinchandra Sen · 1875
Synopsis
June 1757, at Palashi, on the bank of the Bhagirathi: the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, draws up his army before the troops of the English Company led by Clive, betrayed in advance by those who should be serving him. The epic gives voice in turn to the prince, his loyal followers Mir Madan and Mohanlal, Clive and the conspirators, in the hours leading up to the engagement.
Context
Published in Calcutta on 15 April 1875, the poem at once provoked a great debate: several journals reviewed it at length, and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee devoted a study to it in his journal Bangadarshan. By September, the New Aryan Theatre had brought it to the stage, and Girish Chandra Ghosh made his name there in the role of Clive. The poet was criticised for his liberties with history. The form follows the path opened by Michael Madhusudan Dutt.
Who it is for
An epic in verse, in literary Bengali; it presupposes knowing who Siraj-ud-Daulah was and what the English Company was doing in Bengal at the time.
Prizes and reception
It immediately made its author's reputation and is regarded as one of the first expressions of national feeling in Bengali literature.