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{{Short description|Sister-in-law of Rabindranath who brought a lot of social reforms for women}}{{Infobox person
| name = Jnanadanandini Tagore
| image = Jnanadanandini Devi.JPG
| occupation = [[Social reformer]]
| birth_name = Jnanadanandini Mukhopadhyay
| birth_date = {{birth date|1850|7|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Narendrapur, [[Jessore district]], [[Bengal presidency]] <br />{{small|(Present day in [[Bangladesh]])}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1941|10|1|1850|7|26|df=yes}}
| spouse = [[Satyendranath Tagore]]
| children = [[Indira Devi Choudhurani]]<br/>[[Surendranath Tagore]]
| citizenship = [[British Raj]]
}}
'''Jnanadanandini Tagore''' (née '''Mukhopadhyay'''; 26 July 1850{{snd}}1 October 1941) ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: জ্ঞানদানন্দিনী দেবী, ''Gyanodanondinee Debi'') was a social reformer who pioneered various cultural innovations and influenced the earliest phase of [[women's empowerment]] in [[Bengali Renaissance|19th century]] [[Bengal]]. She was married to [[Satyendranath Tagore]], [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s elder brother. The Tagores are a scion of the [[Jorasanko Thakur Bari|Jorasanko Tagore Family]].

== Early life ==
Jnanadanandini was born to parents Abhaycharan Mukhopadhyay and Nistarini Devi of Narendrapur village in [[Jessore District|Jessore]], [[Bengal Presidency]]. Abhaycharan, a [[Kulin Brahmin]], became an out-caste by marrying into a ''Pirali'' family and was disinherited by his father. In accordance to the prevalent custom, Jnanadanandini was married at the young age of seven or eight to [[Debendranath Tagore]]'s second son, [[Satyendranath Tagore|Satyendranath]] in 1857.<ref>Sengupta, p. 74</ref> In contrast to her idyllic life in [[Jessore District|Jessore]], she found herself confined behind the strict ''[[purdah]]'' of the [[Jorasanko Thakur Bari|Tagore household]] at [[Jorasanko]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Jnanadanandini | last=Devi | title=Puratani | trans-title=Memoirs | publisher=[[Ananda Publishers]] | year=2012 | page=17 | isbn=978-93-5040-066-1 | language=bn}}</ref> In 1862, while pursuing his probationary training for the [[Indian Civil Service (British India)|Indian Civil Service (ICS)]], [[Satyendranath Tagore|Satyendranath]] asked for Jnanadanandini to join him in England, however his father did not consent.<ref>Sengupta, p. 75</ref> Around this time, Jnanadanandini's brother-in-law [[Hemendranath Tagore]] took charge of her education. She was also tutored briefly by the famous [[Brahmoism|Brahmo]] educationist [http://www.thebrahmosamaj.net/impact/educationalimpact.html Ayodhyanath Pakrashi].<ref>Deb, p. 18</ref> Upon [[Satyendranath Tagore|Satyendranath's]] return from England in 1864 as the first Indian member of the [[Indian Civil Service (British India)|Civil Service]], Jnanadanandini went to live with her husband in [[Mumbai|Bombay]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Hiranmay | last=Bandyopadhyay | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Svx94tqaOacC&q=Thakurbarir+Katha | title=Thakurbarir Katha | script-title=bn:ঠাকুরবাড়ির কথা | publisher=Sishu Sahitya Samsad | year=1966 | pages=98–104 | isbn=81-7476-355-4 | language=bn}}</ref>

== Bombay ==
While in [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]], Jnanadanandini socialized in the European circles and partly adapted to [[Etiquette|English customs]]. This shift in social role required her to dress appropriately, for which the traditional Bengali style of wearing the [[sari]] became too unwieldy.<ref>{{cite book | first=Arti | last=Sandhu | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=63seBQAAQBAJ&q=Jnanadanandini+Devi&pg=PA33 | title=Indian Fashion: Tradition, Innovation, Style | publisher=Bloomsbury | year=2014 | page=33 | isbn=978-1-4725-9084-8}}</ref> During a tour of [[Gujarat]] with her husband, Jnanadanandini improvised upon the sari worn by [[Parsi]] women. She created her own style of draping the ''aanchal''/''pallu'' over the left shoulder – as opposed to the [[Parsi]] style – so that the right hand remained free for courtesies.<ref>{{cite book | first1=Mukulika | last1=Banerjee | first2=Daniel | last2=Miller | title=The Sari | publisher=Bloomsbury | year=2008 | page=[https://archive.org/details/sari0000bane_p8w9/page/254 254] | isbn=978-1-84788-314-8 | url=https://archive.org/details/sari0000bane_p8w9/page/254 }}</ref> She even advertised in the monthly magazine ''[http://www.bpedia.org/B_0087.php Bamabodhini Patrika]'' offering to train other women to wear the sari in her novel style. One of her first pupils in [[Calcutta]] was Mrs. Soudamini Gupta, the wife of [[Behari Lal Gupta|Behari Lal Gupta, ICS]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Indiradevi | last=Chaudhurani | editor-first=Anathnath | editor-last=Das | title=Smritisamput | publisher=Viswabharati | page=265 | language=bn}}</ref> The style soon became popular among the [[Brahmo]] women of Calcutta developing the eponym ''[http://vintageindianclothing.tumblr.com/post/31690135816/the-brahmika-sari Brahmika Sari]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bdlinks.net/biography/Jnanadanandini-Devi.php | title=Jnanadanandini Devi | website=bdlinks | access-date=24 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724120830/http://www.bdlinks.net/biography/Jnanadanandini-Devi.php | archive-date=24 July 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
While in Calcutta, Jnanadanandini, breaking the customs of the upper-caste household, accompanied her husband to a Christmas party thrown by the [[Viceroy of India|Viceroy]], [[John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence|Lord Lawrence]] in 1866. [[Prasanna Coomar Tagore]] of [[Pathuriaghata]], who was also among the invitees was deeply outraged by Jnanadanandini's boldness and left the [[Raj Bhavan, Kolkata|viceregal palace]] in shock.<ref>Deb, p. 21</ref> Her father-in-law, [[Debendranath Tagore]] did not take kindly to her independent spirit either. It is speculated that this caused much discord in the [[Jorasanko Thakur Bari|Tagore household]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Prasanta Kumar | last=Pal | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t4hZPgAACAAJ&q=prasanta+kumar+pal | title=Rabijibani | volume=1 | publisher=[[Ananda Publishers]] | year=2006 | pages=48–49 | isbn=978-81-7215-274-1 | language=bn}}</ref> Jnanadanandini left [[Jorasanko Thakur Bari|Jorasanko]] in 1868 to live by herself in a mansion on [[Park Street, Kolkata|Park Street]], adjacent to [[Debendranath Tagore|Debendranath's]] residence. In spite of this proximity, the two of them never interacted.<ref>Sengupta, p. 284</ref> However, around this time she developed a fondness for her younger brother-in-law, [[Rabindranath Tagore]], who became a frequent visitor in her Park Street house. Jnanadanandini returned to Bombay with her husband in 1869. The same year she lost her first child within a few days of birth.<ref>Sengupta, p. 75</ref> Her son, Surendranath was born in 1872 while the couple was living in [[Pune|Poona]] and the following year, her daughter Indira Devi was born in [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur]]. In yet another undaunted act of courage, Jnanadanandini appointed a Muslim woman as [[wet nurse]] for her children.<ref>Devi, p. 31</ref> In those days it was common for affluent Hindu families to leave their newborns to the care of a wet nurse or governess—always of a hindu caste.<ref>Chaudhurani, Saraladevi (1975). ''Jibaner Jharapata'', Dey's Publishing, p. 13</ref> However, Jnanadanandini resented leaving her children in the custody of servants—often against the wishes of her own husband—making evident the emotional contours of a nuclear family that were already beginning to evolve in her mind.<ref>Devi, p. 31</ref> Her third son Kabindranath was born in 1876(?) during the family's brief sojourn in [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]], [[Sindh]].<ref>Devi, p. 32</ref>

== England ==
In 1877 Jnanadanandini Devi set sail for [[England]].<ref>Sengupta, p. 76</ref> At a time when an Indian woman crossing the seas was unheard of—let alone heavily pregnant, with three children and unaccompanied by her husband—her fortitude created a social sensation.<ref>Indira Devi, p. 82</ref> She was received in London by her husband's uncle [[Gnanendramohan Tagore]] who, in spite of being the first Asian [[barrister]] and a Christian convert, shared in the shock.<ref>Deb, p. 21</ref> After briefly residing at [[Gnanendramohan Tagore|Gnanendramohan Tagore's]] house in [[Kensington Gardens]], Jnanadanandini moved into a house on Medina Villas in the seaside town of [[Brighton]], [[Sussex]]. [[Satyendranath Tagore|Satyendranath]] joined her in England with the onset of his [[furlough]] in October 1878, along with his younger brother [[Rabindranath Tagore]].<ref>Anathnath Das, p. 38</ref> Her initial year in England was marked by grief with the birth of a stillborn child, and the demise of her youngest son Kabindranath. She arranged for Kabindranath to be buried beside [[Dwarakanath Tagore|Dwarakanath Tagore's]] grave at [[Kensal Green Cemetery]] in [[London]].<ref>Devi, p. 34</ref> However, she and her children soon developed an intimate friendship with [[Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath]].<ref>Tagore, Rabindranath. Europe-Prabasir Patra (Letter 6). Visva-Bharati, 1935</ref> Her daughter Indira would eventually become Rabindranath's lifelong confidante. Upon the completion of [[Satyendranath Tagore|Satyendranath's]] furlough, he took up a post in [[Surat]] while Jnanadanandini returned to [[Calcutta]] with her children.

== Calcutta ==
[[File:Jnanadanandini Devi, Satyendranath tagore, Kadambari Devi and Jyotirindranath Tagore.JPG|thumb|Standing L-R: Jnanadanandini Devi, [[Satyendranath Tagore]], [[Kadambari Devi]]. Seated: [[Jyotirindranath Tagore]]]]

In [[Calcutta]], Jnanadanandini took up residence in a bungalow on [[Lower Circular Road]]. Yet, from the memoirs of her daughter Indira and niece [[Sarala Devi Chaudhurani|Sarala]], we learn that Jnanadanandini never relinquished her attachment with the Tagore's [[Jorasanko]] house.<ref>Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, p. 55</ref><ref>Indira Devi Chaudhurani, ''Prabasi'', February 1942</ref> She took an active role in [[Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath's]] marriage and even mentored the young bride, Mrinalini.<ref>Sengupta, p. 76</ref> With time, her relationship with [[Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath]] permeated into the domain of his creativity. Jnanadanandini started assisting him with the performance of his plays, often encouraging other women of the household to participate. Thus came: ''[[Valmiki-Pratibha]]'', ''Kaalmrigaya'', ''Raja O Rani'', ''Mayar Khela'' and ''Bisarjan''.<ref>Upendranath Bhattacharjee, ''Rabindra-Natya-Parikrama'', Orient Book Company (2008) p. 37. {{ISBN|978-81-89801-01-4}}</ref> From Indira Devi's recollection we also learn that in spite of her high standing, Jnanadanandini did not socialize with the [[Calcutta]] glitterati of her time.<ref>Indira Devi Chaudhurani, ''Prabasi'', February 1942</ref> That Calcutta society was not favourably disposed towards Jnanadanandini either is evident from an article in the October 1889 issue of the popular Bengali journal ''Bangabasi'', which slandered her for acting in the play ''Raja O Rani''.<ref>Sengupta, p. 77</ref> Ironically, the Tagore house at ''Birjitalao'' where the performance took place is today occupied by a ritzy gentlemen's [[Calcutta Club|club]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Researchers trace 57 addresses of Tagore | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Researchers-trace-57-addresses-of-Tagore/articleshow/45663441.cms | first=Ajanta | last=Chakraborty | date=28 December 2014 | website=[[The Times of India]] | publisher=[[Bennett, Coleman & Co.]]}}</ref>
{{Quote box
|quote = "My aunt Gyanada, brought with her from Britain a new custom called 'Birthday'. We had never heard of this strange celebration before. In fact most of us did not even know when we were born. Once, after returning from Suren's birthday party, I distinctly remember the frenzy among the Jorasanko children – and not just the children – of finding out when they were born. Our westernized family, of course, promptly took to the idea as did the Brahmo Samaj. And lo and behold, before long the whole country was celebrating their birthdays."
|source = [[Sarala Devi Chaudhurani]], ''Jeebaner Jharapata''
|width = 25%
|align = left
}}
In 1890, Jnanadanandini moved in with [[Jyotirindranath Tagore]] who had lost his wife [[Kadambari Devi]] in 1884. In 1891, Jnanadanandini Devi introduced her nephew [[Abanindranath Tagore]] to [[E.B. Havell]] who at the time was the principal of [[Government College of Art & Craft|Government College of Art]]. The collaboration between these two artists would eventually lead to the development of the [[Bengal School of Art]].<ref>Sengupta, p. 77</ref>
Jnanadanandini's position in the [[Tagore family]] is difficult to situate. On the one hand, she is among the few women who presided over the [[Maghotsab of Brahma Samaj|Maghotsav]] celebrations at the [[Brahmo Samaj]], while on the other she is known to have advocated marriage with the non-Brahmin [[Koch dynasty|Cooch-Behar royal family]] which brought her at loggerheads, yet again, with [[Debendranath Tagore]].<ref>Deb, p. 188</ref><ref>Deb, p. 142</ref> A woman who once went to England just by herself did not allow her son Surendranath to go to England for higher studies. Her maternal anxieties notwithstanding, she never objected to Surendranath's many radical misadventures. While she single-handedly nursed [[Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath's]] daughter Meera Devi through her difficult pregnancy in 1911, she also fell out with him over the issue of withdrawing her grandson Subirendranath from [[Santiniketan|Santiniketan ashram]] in 1921.<ref>Sengupta, p 77</ref> Yet, her relationship with [[Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath]] remained untarnished all her life. In the words of her daughter Indira Devi, "my mother had ... a quality of centrality, that is the power of attracting people around her, owing to her hospitable and hearty nature".<ref>Indira Devi Cahudhurani, ''Uncle Rabindranath'' in Dr. D Radhakrishnan (ed), ''Rabindranath Tagore: A Centenary Volume, 1861–1961'', Sahitya Academy (1961) pp. 5–6. {{ISBN|81-7201-332-9}}</ref>

In 1907, Jnanadanandini and [[Satyendranath Tagore|Satyendranath]] visited [[Jyotirindranath Tagore]] in his house at [http://www.mapsofindia.com/ranchi/tourism/tagore-hill.html Morabadi Hill] in [[Ranchi]] and started living there permanently from 1911.<ref>Sengupta, p. 286</ref> She died in 1941.

== Literary Accomplishments ==
Among the [[Tagore family]] women, after [[Swarnakumari Devi]], Jnanadanandini participated most actively in the rich literary ambiance of the family. Upon her return from England in 1880, Jnanadanandini began writing articles in the Bengali journal ''Bharati''. Her flair was soon noticed by the intelligentsia.<ref>Sengupta, p. 76</ref> In 1881 - four years before the establishment of the [[Indian National Congress]] - Jnanadanandini published an article titled ''Ingrajninda O Deshanurag'' (''Criticism of the British and Patriotism''), in which she called for the establishment of a nationwide organization which would have branches in the remote district towns. She argued "every benefit that the British have bestowed upon us is a blow to our mission of national liberation".<ref>Indira Devi Chaudhurani, p. 39</ref> In 1885, Jnanadanandini Devi established ''Balak'', the first children's literary magazine in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. [[Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath]] contributed a number of short stories, poems and plays to ''Balak''.<ref>Sibaji Bandyopadhyay, ''Gopal-Rakhal Dvandasamas: Upanibesbad O Bangla Sishusahitya'', Karigar (2013) p. 166. {{ISBN|978-93-81640-34-0}}</ref> She wrote two plays for children - ''Takdumadum'' and ''Saat Bhai Champa'' - both of which were highly appreciated in the literary circles.<ref>Indira Devi Chaudhurani, p. 40</ref> In spite of her many literary achievements, Jnanadanandini Devi did not write an autobiography. However, a couple of years before her death, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150711050621/http://www.vbgv.in/history/acolytes/pulinbihari-sen.html Pulinbihari Sen] did persuade her to write a set of memoirs that were later published as ''Smritikatha O Puratani''.<ref>Indira Devi Chaudhurani, p. 39</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Jnanadanandini Devi, ''Puratoni (Memoirs)'', [[Ananda Publishers]] (2012) {{ISBN|978-93-5040-066-1}}
* Indira Devi Chaudhurani & Anathnath Das (ed.), ''Smritisamput'', [[Viswa Bharati University|Viswabharati]] (1997) {{ISBN|978-81-7522-427-8}}
* [[Sarala Devi Chaudhurani]], ''Jeebaner Jharapata'', Dey's Publishing (2007) {{ISBN|978-81-295-1506-3}}
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]], ''Yurope Prabasir Patra'' [[Viswa Bharati University|Viswabharati]] (1973) {{ISBN|978-81-7522-460-5}}
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]], ''Jeebansmriti'', [[Viswa Bharati University|Viswabharati]] (1953) {{ISBN|978-81-7522-512-1}}
* Prasanta Kumar Pal, ''Rabi-Jeebani'' [[Ananda Publishers]] (1990) {{ISBN|81-7066-239-7}}
* Hiranmay Bandopadhyay, ''Thakurbarir Katha'', Sishu Sahitya Sansad (1995) {{ISBN|978-81-212-0488-0}}
* [[Chitra Deb]], ''Thakurbarir Andarmahal'', [[Ananda Publishers]] (2010) {{ISBN|81-7566-322-7}}
* Samir Sengupta, ''Rabindranather Atmiyaswajan'', Sishu Sahitya Sansad (2005) {{ISBN|81-7955-061-3}}

== External links ==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20150724120830/http://www.bdlinks.net/biography/Jnanadanandini-Devi.php
* http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Devi,_Jnanadanandini
* http://www.southasiamail.com/news.php?id=74757
* http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity/tagore-woman-and-her-tales.html
* http://vintageindianclothing.tumblr.com/post/31690135816/the-brahmika-sari
* http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bamabodhini_Patrika

{{Bengal Renaissance}}
{{Tagore family}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Jnanadanandini}}
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Brahmos]]
[[Category:Indian women scholars]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian scholars]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian scholars]]
[[Category:Women educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]

Jnanadanandini Devi - Revision history

>Scorpions13256 at 14:41, 21 June 2021