Harinath De, a renowned scholar, is a radiant
example of intellectual devotion. His life is not just about success, but a
profound testament to a life lived for the mind. He was more than a scholar; he
was a guardian, passionately committed to the preservation of wisdom. His work
saved countless threads of history and culture from being lost to time. His
legacy is not found in dusty archives alone, but in the continued inspiration
he provides. De challenges us to ask bigger questions and value learning for
its own sake. This blog attempts to portray the life of a
short-lived intellectual who left behind a lasting impact as a true beacon of
wisdom and devotion.
Early Life
Harinath De was born on August 12, 1877, in
Ariadaha, a place near Kolkata. His father, Roy Bahadur Bhutnath De, was a
government official in Raipur, in the newly Chhattisgarh. This is where
Harinath spent his early childhood and received his primary education at Raipur
High School. He was a child prodigy with a remarkable ability to learn and master
languages from a very young age. His family and formal schooling
nurtured this natural talent. He later moved to Kolkata to attend Presidency
College, and his academic brilliance earned him a scholarship to study at
Christ's College, Cambridge, in England.
Multi-Linguistic Passion
Harinath De's linguistic abilities
were legendary. He was a true polyglot, reportedly mastering 34 languages in his short
life, including 20 European and 14 Indian languages. His command of these
languages was not just conversational; he was a scholar of comparative
philology, delving into the grammar, history, and relationships between
languages. His linguistic prowess was so astounding that an anecdote brings
about his conversation with Pope Pius X in flawless Latin, only to speak to him
in Italian after the Pope later jokingly suggested he learn the language. This
story, while often cited, speaks to the immense respect and awe he commanded
from even the most learned individuals of his time.
Career and Contributions
Harinath De's career was marked by
significant achievements and "firsts." He
was the first Indian to be appointed to the prestigious Indian Education
Service. He taught English at Dhaka University and Presidency College in
Kolkata and was also appointed as the first lecturer of the newly established
Department of Linguistics at Calcutta University in 1907.
Perhaps his most
notable role was as the first Indian librarian of the Imperial Library, now
known as the National Library of India. He assumed this position at the young age of 30, following the death
of John Macfarlane. In this role, he was instrumental in cataloguing and
preserving a vast collection of books and manuscripts, and his expertise in
multiple languages was invaluable in managing such a diverse collection.
His Works and Literary Legacy
Harinath De's scholarly output was
prolific, especially considering his brief life. His works, many of which are
now part of the "Harinath Dey
Collection" at the National Library of India, span 88 volumes on
literature, linguistics, and Hinduism. Some of his key works include:
Translations: He translated
significant texts from Sanskrit and Persian into English, including Kalidasa's Abhigyan Shakuntalam, Subandhu's Vasavdatta, and parts of the Rig Veda.
He also translated Ibn Battuta's famous travelogue, Rihla,
and Al-fakhri, a book on Arabic grammar.
Lexicography: His most important
original work is considered to be his English-Persian lexicon.
Edited works: He published a new
edition of Macaulay's "Essay on Milton" and a revised version of
Palgrave's Golden Treasury.
Enduring Influence and Conclusion
Harinath De's influence extended
beyond his own scholarly works. He was a mentor and a source of inspiration for
many, including the renowned linguist and language activist Muhammad
Shahidullah, who was one of his students. Harinath's
generosity was also well-known; he often used a significant portion of his
scholarship to help needy students.
His
untimely death from typhoid on August 30, 1911, at just 34 years old, was a
tremendous loss to the academic world. His life, though short, was a
powerful testament to the pursuit of knowledge and the beauty of language. He
was a pioneer who broke barriers and set new standards in Indian academia.
While he may not be as widely celebrated today as some of his contemporaries,
his legacy as a linguistic genius and dedicated scholar remains, forever
encapsulated in the vast collection of works he left behind. He was truly a man who lived up to the
wizard of rhythmic, poet Satyendranath Dutta's poignant words, a scholar whose
death felt like a "great library consumed by fire."
Disclaimer: This blog is crafted based on news, articles,
and printed documents available—the object, as stated in the introduction. With
my limited knowledge, I endeavour to pay homage to the virtuoso and outline the
enduring effect of the towering intellect. Readers are encouraged to consult
further records on the issue if they like.
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