Rasamay Dutt
Born1779 (1779)
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died14 May 1854(1854-05-14) (aged 74–75)
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
OccupationEducationist
OrganizationAsiatic Society
Known forCo-founder of Presidency College, Kolkata
RelativesToru Dutt (granddaughter)

Rasamay Dutt or Russomoy Dutt (1779 – 14 May 1854) was a notable Bengali educationist of British India during the Bengali Renaissance. He was the co-founder of Hindu School, Kolkata.[1] Bengali poet Toru Dutt was his granddaughter.[1]

Early life

Dutt was born in Rambagan, Kolkata. His father, Nilmani Dutt, was the founder of Dutt family. Rasamay Dutt started his profession by business and thereafter became a clerk and even became a judge of the Small Cause Court, Calcutta[2] As such, he was the first Indian puisne judge of India.[3] He was also the first Indian member of the Asiatic Society.[2]

Social works

Dutt was a linguist with special efficiency in English language. He was one of the founders of Hindu School in Kolkata and also set up Hindu College presently Presidency University with Ram Mohan Roy, Radhakanta Deb, David Hare.[4] He became secretary of Council of Education and the first principal of Sanskrit college. After certain difficulties with Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar he resigned from the post at Sanskrit College. Dutta was popular for his enormous contribution to poor students as a member of Kolkata School Book Society. He was also engaged with the Civil Society Movement, Anti press activities of state[5] and support the jury trial system in judicial works in India.[1]

Family

From Rasamay Dutt's father sprang the famous Dutt family of Rambagan, Calcutta. Rasamay had two younger brothers, Harish and Pitambar; and five sons, Kissen, Kylas, Govin, Hur and Greece.[3] His youngest brother Pitambar's sons were Ishan Chunder and Shoshee Chunder. Ishan was the father of author Jogesh Chandra Dutt and author-cum-administrator Romesh Chunder Dutt.[6] Rasamay's younger four sons were notable authors, Kylas being the first Indian author of a fictional work in English.[7] Govin was the father of poet Toru Dutt. British Communist leader Rajani Palme Dutt also descended from this family.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Subodh C. Sengupta & Anjali Basu, Vol - I (2002). Sansad Bangali Charitavidhan (Bengali). Sahitya Sansad. p. 461. ISBN 81-85626-65-0.
  2. 1 2 Meenakshi Mukherjee, An Indian for All Seasons: The Many Lives of R.C. Dutt, 2009, p. 57.
  3. 1 2 3 Incubator of Inglish, The Telegraph, May 23, 2010.
  4. ↑ "The university that shaped the modern India: 200 years of Presidency". 20 January 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. ↑ গোলাম মুরশিদ. "ঔপনিবেশিক আমলে সংবাদপত্রের স্বাধীনতা". kalerkantho.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Gupta, Jnanendra Nath, Life and work of Romesh Chunder Dutt, C.I.E., 1911, p. 6
  7. ↑ Subhendu Mund, Kylas Chunder Dutt: The First Writer of Indian English Fiction


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