Gnanendramohan Tagore
Encyclopedia
See Tagore for disambiguation
Gnanendramohan Tagore (also Gyanendramohan Tagore)(January 24, 1826 – January 5, 1890) was the first Asian
to be called to the bar
in England
, in 1862.
and grandson of Gopi Mohan Tagore one of the founders of Hindu College, of the Pathuriaghata
branch of the Tagore family
. He had won a scholarship of Rs. 40 per month and joined Calcutta Medical College in 1842, but did not complete his medical education. While a student of Hindu College, amongst his class mates were Rajnarain Bose and Gobinda Chandra Dutt (father of Toru Dutt
).
When Hindu College was opened, orthodox sections of Hindu
society thought that western education would not affect the rigid structure of Hindu society. They had even forced Ram Mohan Roy
to stay out of it. However, ‘the contradictions between the College’s name and its secular curriculum soon became evident’ and many students of Hindu College embraced Christianity
.
Gnanendramohan converted to Christianity in 1851, under the influence of his mentor, Krishna Mohan Banerjee
and married his daughter Kamalmani. As a result, he was disowned by his father and deprived of his inheritance. Prasanna Coomar Tagore left his vast landed estates to his nephew, Maharaja Bahadur Sir Jatindra Mohan Tagore. Gnanendramohan later regained some of the inheritance through court.
as professor of Hindu Law and Bengali
. He passed the law examinations and was called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn
in 1862, being the first Asian to be so called. He returned to India in 1864 and joined Calcutta High Court
in 1865.
After his wife’s death in 1869, he went back to England with his two daughters, Bhabendrabala and Satyendrabala, and died there subsequently. When Gynandanandini, wife of Satyendranath Tagore
, went with her children to England in 1877, Gnanendramohan received them and was their host for some time. Devi Choudhurani, Indira, Smritisamput, , Rabindrabhaban, Viswabharati, pp. 3-4
Gnanendramohan Tagore (also Gyanendramohan Tagore)(January 24, 1826 – January 5, 1890) was the first Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
to be called to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1862.
Early life
Gnanendramohan Tagore was the son of Prasanna Coomar TagorePrasanna Coomar Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationPrasanna Coomar Tagore was son of Gopi Mohan Tagore, one of the founders of Hindu College. He belonged to the Pathuriaghata branch of the Tagore family and was one of the leaders of the conservative branch of Hindu society...
and grandson of Gopi Mohan Tagore one of the founders of Hindu College, of the Pathuriaghata
Pathuriaghata
Pathuriaghata is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the oldest residential areas in what was Sutanuti. Once the abode of the Bengali rich, the neighbourhood and its surrounding areas are now dominated by Marwaris...
branch of the Tagore family
Tagore family
The Tagore family, with over three hundred years of history, has been one of the leading families of Kolkata, and is regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance...
. He had won a scholarship of Rs. 40 per month and joined Calcutta Medical College in 1842, but did not complete his medical education. While a student of Hindu College, amongst his class mates were Rajnarain Bose and Gobinda Chandra Dutt (father of Toru Dutt
Toru Dutt
Toru Dutt was an Indian poetess who wrote in English and French.-Childhood:Toru Dutt was the youngest girl of Govin Chunder Dutt, a retired Indian Officer. She was born on the fourth of March 1856...
).
When Hindu College was opened, orthodox sections of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
society thought that western education would not affect the rigid structure of Hindu society. They had even forced 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...
to stay out of it. However, ‘the contradictions between the College’s name and its secular curriculum soon became evident’ and many students of Hindu College embraced Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
Gnanendramohan converted to Christianity in 1851, under the influence of his mentor, Krishna Mohan Banerjee
Krishna Mohan Banerjee
Krishna Mohan Banerjee was a prominent member of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio’s Young Bengal group, educationist, linguist and Christian missionary.-Early life:...
and married his daughter Kamalmani. As a result, he was disowned by his father and deprived of his inheritance. Prasanna Coomar Tagore left his vast landed estates to his nephew, Maharaja Bahadur Sir Jatindra Mohan Tagore. Gnanendramohan later regained some of the inheritance through court.
Later life
In 1859, Gnanendramohan Tagore went to England, with his wife, for medical treatment. On being cured he joined the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
as professor of Hindu Law and Bengali
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...
. He passed the law examinations and was called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1862, being the first Asian to be so called. He returned to India in 1864 and joined Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court...
in 1865.
After his wife’s death in 1869, he went back to England with his two daughters, Bhabendrabala and Satyendrabala, and died there subsequently. When Gynandanandini, wife of Satyendranath Tagore
Satyendranath Tagore
Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Service. He was an author, song composer, linguist and made significant contribution towards the emancipation of women in Indian society during the British Raj.-Formative years:...
, went with her children to England in 1877, Gnanendramohan received them and was their host for some time. Devi Choudhurani, Indira, Smritisamput, , Rabindrabhaban, Viswabharati, pp. 3-4