Bhadralok
Encyclopedia
Bhadralok is a Bengali
term used to denote the new class of 'gentlefolk' who arose during colonial times (approximately 1757 to 1947) in Bengal
. It is still used to indicate members of the upper middle and middle classes of Bengal.
s, Baidya
s and Kayastha
s. There is no precise translation of bhadralok in English, since it attributes economic and class privilege on to caste ascendancy. However, many bhadraloks in the nineteenth century came from an unorthodox class of Brahmins called Pirali Brahmin
s (such as Rabindranath Tagore
) or middle level merchant castes (such as Rani Rashmoni
). Anybody who could show considerable amount of wealth and standing in society was a member of the bhadralok community.
The bhadralok community includes all gentlefolks belonging to the rich as well as middle class segments of the Bengali society. Amongst the upper middle classes, a zamindar, normally bearing the title Chaudhuri or Roy Chaudhuri at the end of the name, and Babu at the beginning would be considered to be a bhadralok. A zamindar bearing the title Raja or Maharaja would be considered to be higher than a bhadralok. All members of the professional classes, i.e. those belonging to the newly emerging professions, such as doctors, lawyers, university professors, and higher civil services, were members of the bhadralok community. However, an individual bearing the title Esquire
at the end of the name, denoting a rank just below a Knight, was also considered to be higher than a bhadralok.
's trade up the Ganga valley, and Western-style education (at the hands of the colonial rulers and of missionaries). The steep rise in real estate prices in Calcutta also led some petty landlords in the area to become wealthy overnight. The first identifiable bhadralok figure is undoubtedly Ram Mohan Roy
, who bridged the gap between the Persianised nobility of the Sultanate era in Bengal and the new, Western-educated, nouveau riche
comprador
class.
was largely carried out and participated in by bhadralok. In addition, the rise of the Brahmo Samaj
and various other samajes (a category halfway between 'society' and 'community') was also largely a bhadralok phenomenon. To be a bhadralok was to embrace some Western-derived values (though not always the same ones in each case), to have a modicum of education, and a sense of entitlement to (and consequently grievance against) favours or employment from the colonial government. While the bhadralok were influenced by the West (in terms of their morals, dress, and eating habits) they were also the people who reacted most strongly against the West, and the most scathing critiques as well as the most spirited defences of Westernisation were made by bhadralok writers.
literally means an individual of rank and dignity. It is most commonly used to refer to gentleman, but is meant for anybody who enjoys a position of dominance in his immediate social circle. An Indian zamindar as well as an Indian member of the higher government services was referred to as a Babu. Amongst the landlords a Babu in the former Bengal Presidency, especially in Bengal and Behar, was normally a substantial and extremely wealthy zamindar in the same rank as a Thakur
or a Mirza
, and would rank just below a Raja
. The term Babu has been historically used to refer to the upper echelons of the Indian society, including the ruling classes.
In the colonial period the term was derogatorily used to refer to members of the indegenous community, especially in law courts and revenue establishments in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, where most members were appointed as Munsifs from respectable and/or zamindari families.
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
term used to denote the new class of 'gentlefolk' who arose during colonial times (approximately 1757 to 1947) in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. It is still used to indicate members of the upper middle and middle classes of Bengal.
Caste and Class makeup
Most, though not all, members of the bhadralok class are upper caste, mainly BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s, Baidya
Baidya
Baidya/ Baidhya / Vaidya / Vaidhya is a Hindu, upper class caste originally a Brahmin caste found largely in BengalSince in Bengali people, there is absence of Kshatriya or warrior clans, the Kayastha and Baidya are considered at par and fall in second category after Brahmins...
s and Kayastha
Kayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
s. There is no precise translation of bhadralok in English, since it attributes economic and class privilege on to caste ascendancy. However, many bhadraloks in the nineteenth century came from an unorthodox class of Brahmins called Pirali Brahmin
Pirali Brahmin
A Pirali Brahmin is any member of a subgrouping of Brahmins found throughout Bengal, which is split between India and Bangladesh. Notably, Rabindranath Tagore and the Tagore family are members of this group. The term "Pirali" historically carried a stigmatized and pejorative connotation; its eponym...
s (such as Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
) or middle level merchant castes (such as Rani Rashmoni
Rani Rashmoni
Rani Rashmoni was the founder of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, and remained closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa after she appointed him as the priest of the temple...
). Anybody who could show considerable amount of wealth and standing in society was a member of the bhadralok community.
The bhadralok community includes all gentlefolks belonging to the rich as well as middle class segments of the Bengali society. Amongst the upper middle classes, a zamindar, normally bearing the title Chaudhuri or Roy Chaudhuri at the end of the name, and Babu at the beginning would be considered to be a bhadralok. A zamindar bearing the title Raja or Maharaja would be considered to be higher than a bhadralok. All members of the professional classes, i.e. those belonging to the newly emerging professions, such as doctors, lawyers, university professors, and higher civil services, were members of the bhadralok community. However, an individual bearing the title Esquire
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
at the end of the name, denoting a rank just below a Knight, was also considered to be higher than a bhadralok.
Colonial factors
The two biggest factors that led to the rise of the bhadralok were the huge fortunes many merchant houses made from aiding the English East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
's trade up the Ganga valley, and Western-style education (at the hands of the colonial rulers and of missionaries). The steep rise in real estate prices in Calcutta also led some petty landlords in the area to become wealthy overnight. The first identifiable bhadralok figure is undoubtedly Ram Mohan Roy
Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
, who bridged the gap between the Persianised nobility of the Sultanate era in Bengal and the new, Western-educated, nouveau riche
Nouveau riche
The nouveau riche , or new money, comprise those who have acquired considerable wealth within their own generation...
comprador
Comprador
Comprador or Compradore is a term used to describe native managers of European business houses in East Asia.-History:...
class.
The Bengal Renaissance
The Bengal RenaissanceBengal Renaissance
The Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform movement during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the region of Bengal in Undivided India during the period of British rule...
was largely carried out and participated in by bhadralok. In addition, the rise of the Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
and various other samajes (a category halfway between 'society' and 'community') was also largely a bhadralok phenomenon. To be a bhadralok was to embrace some Western-derived values (though not always the same ones in each case), to have a modicum of education, and a sense of entitlement to (and consequently grievance against) favours or employment from the colonial government. While the bhadralok were influenced by the West (in terms of their morals, dress, and eating habits) they were also the people who reacted most strongly against the West, and the most scathing critiques as well as the most spirited defences of Westernisation were made by bhadralok writers.
Babus
The term BabuBabu (title)
The term babu, also spelled baboo, is used in modern-day South Asia as a sign of respect towards men. It is a derivation of bapu which means father. The honorific "ji" is sometimes added as a suffix to create the double honorific "babuji" which, in northern and eastern parts of India, is a term of...
literally means an individual of rank and dignity. It is most commonly used to refer to gentleman, but is meant for anybody who enjoys a position of dominance in his immediate social circle. An Indian zamindar as well as an Indian member of the higher government services was referred to as a Babu. Amongst the landlords a Babu in the former Bengal Presidency, especially in Bengal and Behar, was normally a substantial and extremely wealthy zamindar in the same rank as a Thakur
Thakur (Indian title)
Thakur is an Indian feudal title in several Indian languages, literally meaning "lord". A Thikana is the state or estate of a Thakur. A Thakurani is the wife of a Thakur...
or a Mirza
Mirza
Mirza , is of Persian origin, denoting the rank of a high nobleman or Prince. It is usually translated into English as a royal or imperial Prince of the Blood...
, and would rank just below a Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
. The term Babu has been historically used to refer to the upper echelons of the Indian society, including the ruling classes.
In the colonial period the term was derogatorily used to refer to members of the indegenous community, especially in law courts and revenue establishments in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, where most members were appointed as Munsifs from respectable and/or zamindari families.