BENGALI LITERATURE.

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The process has not been confined, however, to philo- Sanskrit-sophic works. Even in poetry, the best Bengali writers of the ^cyof"present day affect a more classical style than that of their pre- Bengali ,decessors from the 14th to the 18th century. In 17 linesof Bengali verse taken from a contemporary periodical, theBanga-darshana, there are only six or seven words which arenot Sanskrit importations. ‘ If we progress in this direction acentury longer,’ writes a native author, ‘ the Bengali languagewill be distinguishable from the Sanskrit only by the caseterminations and mood and tense terminations .’ 1 The frame-work of the colloquial language still continues to be derivedfrom the Prakrit , although Sanskrit terms are diffusing them-selves even among the spoken language of the educatedclasses.

Bengali literature commences with the vernacular poets Threeof the 14th century. During its first 200 years, Bengali song was devoted to the praises of Krishna , and the loves literature:of the young god. In the 16th century two great revolu- (1) 14th totions, religious and political, took, place in Bengal. In ^y. cen 'the political world, the independent Afghan dynasty ofBengal succumbed to the advancing Mughal power; andBengal was finally incorporated as a Province of the DelhiEmpire. In religion, a reformation of the Sivaite religionwas effected under Brahman impulses, and Krishna -worship (2) 16th toreceded from its literary pre - eminence. During the next tury , cen '250 years Bengali poetry found its chief theme in thepraises of Kali or Chandi, the queen of Siva, who is alikethe god of Destruction and of Reproduction . Early in the19th century, European influences began to impress them-selves on Bengali thought. Bengali literature accordingly (3)entered upon a third period, the period through which it is centur >’-still passing, and which corresponds to the imported Westerncivilisation of India in the 19th century.

Putting aside Jayadeva of Birbhum, the Sanskrit singer inthe 12th century, Bengali poetry commences with Bidyapati BidyapatiThakur, a Brahman of Tirhut. Bidyapati adorned the court ^hcein-of King Sivasinha of Tirhut in the 14th century; and a tury.deed of gift, still existing, proves that he had made his fame

1 The Literature of Bengal, by Arcy Dae, p. 43. (Calcutta , 1877.) Thisinteresting volume is based on the more elaborate Bengali work of PanditRamgati Nyaratna. A complete treatment of the subject is still a desider-atum, which it is hoped that Bengali research will before long supply.

Mr. Dae, whose volume has been freely used in the following pages, wouldconfer a benefit both on his countrymen and on European students of theIndian vernaculars, by undertaking the task.