- Gnanendramohan Tagore
"See Tagore for disambiguation"
Infobox Person
name = Gnanendramohan Tagore
image_size =
caption =
birth_date = 24 January 1826
birth_place =Kolkata
death_date = 5 January 1890
death_place = England
occupation =Barrister
spouse = KamalmaniGnanendramohan Tagore (also Gyanendramohan Tagore)(
January 24 1826 –January 5 ,1890 ) was the first Asian to be called to the bar inEngland , in 1862. Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), "Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan" (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, 1976/1998, Bn icon, p. 184, Sahitya Sansad, ISBN 81-85626-65-0 ]Early life
Gnanendramohan Tagore was the son of
Prasanna Coomar Tagore and grandson of Gopi Mohan Tagore one of the founders of Hindu College, of thePathuriaghata branch of theTagore family . He had won a scholarship of Rs. 40 per month and joinedCalcutta Medical College in 1842, but did not complete his medical education. While a student of Hindu College, amongst his class mates wereRajnarain Bose and Gobinda Chandra Dutt (father ofToru Dutt ).When Hindu College was opened, orthodox sections of
Hindu society thought that western education would not affect the rigid structure of Hindu society. Raychoudhuri, Subir, "The Lost World of the Babus", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, p. 73, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1 ] They had even forcedRam Mohan Roy to stay out of it. [ Collet, Sophia Dobson, "The Life and Letters of Raja Rammohun Roy", 1900/1988, p. 76, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. ] However, ‘the contradictions between the College’s name and its secular curriculum soon became evident’ and many students of Hindu College embracedChristianity . 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. [ Deb, Chitra, "Jorasanko and the Thakur Family", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, p. 65, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1 ]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. [ Deb, Chitra, "Jorasanko and the Thakur Family", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, p. 65, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1 ] Prasanna Coomar Tagore left his vast landed estates to his nephew, Maharaja Bahadur Sir Jatindra Mohan Tagore. [ Cotton, H.E.A., "Calcutta Old and New", 1909/1980, p. 345, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ] 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 London as professor of Hindu Law and Bengali. He passed the law examinations and was called to the Bar fromLincoln's Inn in 1862, being the first Asian to be so called. He returned to India in 1864 and joinedCalcutta 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", Bn icon, Rabindrabhaban, Viswabharati, pp. 3-4 ]References
Persondata
NAME= Gnanendramohan Tagore
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Barrister
DATE OF BIRTH= 24 January 1826
PLACE OF BIRTH= Kolkata
DATE OF DEATH= 5 January 1890
PLACE OF DEATH=England
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