Ramaprasad Chanda
Encyclopedia
Ramaprasad Chanda was an India
n historian and archaeologist from Bengal. A pioneer in his field in South Asia
, Chanda's lasting legacy is the Varendra Research Museum
, he established in Rajshahi (located in present day Bangladesh
), a leading institute for research on History of Bengal
.
and started writing. A few of his articles on ancient history were eventually published. As a result, he was able to attract the attention of a British professor of the Presidency College, Kolkata
and through his good offices got the job of a teacher in the Hindu School of Calcutta.
in 1905. In 1908, Chanda's article on 'The Origin of the Bengal People', presented in the Bengal Literary Conference at the palace of Raja Manindra Chandra Nandi was highly applauded by scholars and he was requested to carry on his research in this area.
In September, 1910 Chanda along with Akshay Kumar Maitreya
and Sarat Kumar Roy founded the Varendra Anusandhan Samiti (Varendra Research Society) at Rajshahi. He became its first secretary. He worked with Sarat Kumar Roy to establish the Varendra Research Museum at the residence of Sarat Kumar Roy.
In 1917, the Director General of Archaeology, Calcutta, invited him to join the institution as a researcher. He worked here for two years (1917–19), having taken leave from Rajshahi Collegiate School. He visited the archaeological sites of Taxila, Mathura, Sarnath etc. and acquired the experience necessary for archaeological excavation and exploration. He made a complete catalogue of the materials preserved at the Sanchi Museum in Madhya Pradesh and won the admiration of contemporary scholars.
After the completion of his service in the Archaeology Department, he returned to Rajshahi Collegiate School and resumed his work at the Varendra Research Society. But because of deteriorating health he soon resigned his post in the school and went to Calcutta. After a few months, in 1919, Chanda joined the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture of the University of Calcutta
as a lecturer.
Soon after he joined this position, the Department of Archaeology was opened at the University of Calcutta and he was appointed the Head of the Department. He served there for two years (1919–21) and at the request of John Marshal
joined the Calcutta Museum as Curator of the Department of Archaeology on 23 March 1921. There he rearranged the display rooms, enhanced the collection, and classified the museum materials following the modern system of classification based on age and period. He also wrote a number of books and articles during these years. In recognition of his intellectual contribution, he was conferred the title of 'Roy Bahadur' by the Government in 1924. He retired from service in 1932.
He contributed significantly to the Asiatic Society
and Bengal Literary Association, discharging the responsibility of an executive member in these organizations. After his retirement, he went to England in 1934 to attend the world conference on anthropology as the representative of India and to deliver a lecture on Indo-Aryan races. Following the request of RL Hobson, Principal of the Eastern Department of the British Museum
, he wrote a book on the Indian collection of the museum. The book that resulted came out with an introduction by RL Hobson in 1936. The book spread the fame of his scholarship at home and abroad.
He died on 28 May 1942 at Allahabad
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n historian and archaeologist from Bengal. A pioneer in his field in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, Chanda's lasting legacy is the Varendra Research Museum
Varendra Research Museum
Varendra Museum is a museum, research center and popular visitor attraction located at the heart of Rajshahi town and maintained by Rajshahi University in Bangladesh.-History:...
, he established in Rajshahi (located in present day Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), a leading institute for research on History of 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...
.
Early life
Born on August 15, 1873 at Sreedharkhola in Vikrampur Pargana under Munshiganj district. He passed the Entrance Exam in 1891 from Dhaka Collegiate School, FA in 1893 from Dhaka College, and BA in 1896 from Duff College (now Scottish Church College), an institution affiliated to Calcutta University. After graduation he remained unemployed for about five years, during which period he studied regularly in the Imperial LibraryNational Library of India
The National Library of India at Belvedere, Calcutta is the second largest library in India after the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai and India's library of public record....
and started writing. A few of his articles on ancient history were eventually published. As a result, he was able to attract the attention of a British professor of the Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
and through his good offices got the job of a teacher in the Hindu School of Calcutta.
Career
In 1905, he was transferred to Rajshahi Collegiate SchoolRajshahi Collegiate School
Rajshahi Collegiate School is the first modern school of Bengal and one of the oldest schools of the Indian Subcontinent. It is located in the center of Rajshahi, a city in northern Bangladesh.-History:...
in 1905. In 1908, Chanda's article on 'The Origin of the Bengal People', presented in the Bengal Literary Conference at the palace of Raja Manindra Chandra Nandi was highly applauded by scholars and he was requested to carry on his research in this area.
In September, 1910 Chanda along with Akshay Kumar Maitreya
Akshay Kumar Maitreya
Akshay Kumar Maitreya was a noted Indian historian and social worker from Bengal. He was born in Nadia to Mathuranath Maitreya. Much of his education was in Kolkata and Rajshahi . He passed his B.L. examination from Rajshahi College...
and Sarat Kumar Roy founded the Varendra Anusandhan Samiti (Varendra Research Society) at Rajshahi. He became its first secretary. He worked with Sarat Kumar Roy to establish the Varendra Research Museum at the residence of Sarat Kumar Roy.
In 1917, the Director General of Archaeology, Calcutta, invited him to join the institution as a researcher. He worked here for two years (1917–19), having taken leave from Rajshahi Collegiate School. He visited the archaeological sites of Taxila, Mathura, Sarnath etc. and acquired the experience necessary for archaeological excavation and exploration. He made a complete catalogue of the materials preserved at the Sanchi Museum in Madhya Pradesh and won the admiration of contemporary scholars.
After the completion of his service in the Archaeology Department, he returned to Rajshahi Collegiate School and resumed his work at the Varendra Research Society. But because of deteriorating health he soon resigned his post in the school and went to Calcutta. After a few months, in 1919, Chanda joined the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture of the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
as a lecturer.
Soon after he joined this position, the Department of Archaeology was opened at the University of Calcutta and he was appointed the Head of the Department. He served there for two years (1919–21) and at the request of John Marshal
John Marshall (archaeologist)
Sir John Hubert Marshall was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1928...
joined the Calcutta Museum as Curator of the Department of Archaeology on 23 March 1921. There he rearranged the display rooms, enhanced the collection, and classified the museum materials following the modern system of classification based on age and period. He also wrote a number of books and articles during these years. In recognition of his intellectual contribution, he was conferred the title of 'Roy Bahadur' by the Government in 1924. He retired from service in 1932.
He contributed significantly to the Asiatic Society
Asiatic Society
The Asiatic Society was founded by Sir William Jones on January 15, 1784 in a meeting presided over by Sir Robert Chambers, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the Fort William in Calcutta, then capital of the British Raj, to enhance and further the cause of Oriental research. At the time of...
and Bengal Literary Association, discharging the responsibility of an executive member in these organizations. After his retirement, he went to England in 1934 to attend the world conference on anthropology as the representative of India and to deliver a lecture on Indo-Aryan races. Following the request of RL Hobson, Principal of the Eastern Department of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, he wrote a book on the Indian collection of the museum. The book that resulted came out with an introduction by RL Hobson in 1936. The book spread the fame of his scholarship at home and abroad.
He died on 28 May 1942 at Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
.
Publications
- Gaudarajmala, Rajshahi: Varendra Research Society (1912)
- Indo Aryan Races, Rajshahi: Varendra Research Society (1916)
- Letters and Documents Relating to the Life of Raja Rammohan Roy