The first Gujarati language political novel 'Hind and Britannia'

- Dr. Makrand Mehta

E Chchharam Suryaram Desai (18-1918) wrote a novel in 18 called "Hind and Britannia: A Political Picture". Born in Vanik caste in Surat, Suryaram Desai was a writer, scholar, writer, patriot and journalist. Great social reformers and writers like Durgaram Mehtaji, Narmad and Navalram played a major role in the intellectual and moral development of Ichcharam. Under his influence, Ichcharam started a newspaper called "Swatantrata" in Surat in the 19th century and started sharply criticizing the exploitative economic and political policy of the British rule. At that time there was no press freedom like today. The British regime could not tolerate even the slightest criticism. He seized "freedom" and imprisoned Ichcharam, but clever lawyers like Feroze Shah Mehta fought his case, won the case and released Ichcharam from prison.

After that Ichcharam left Surat and went to Mumbai. With Narmad's blessings, he started a monthly called "Gujarati" in Mumbai in 190. Narmad himself was the one who gave the name "Gujarati". Ichcharam started publishing this novel weekly in Gujarati. At one time it was very popular. It was known as the "political novel" of Gujarat. The third edition was published in 19. Before Munshi, Ichcharam Suryaram Desai was the author of historical-political novels in Gujarati language.

Historical-political novelist Ichcharam Suryaram Desai

Role of the novel: Dalpatram composed a long poem called "Hunnarkhanni Chadai" in 191, but it did not criticize the British rule. On the contrary, Dalpataram compared the British rule to 'Ram Rajya' through his prose and verse literature. Ichcharam was influenced by the liberal literary and political thinking of the West. He therefore adopted a progressive nationalist ideology, praising the British rule and condemning it. Earlier, the Viceroy of India, Lord Leighton, passed a "Vernacular Press Act" imposing censorship on newspapers and confiscated Ichcharam's "Freedom" monthly.

So he chose the medium of the novel and traced the history of British rule in India and organized a political debate between them by creating characters called 'Hind Devi', 'Britannia Devi', 'Freedom' and 'Patriotism'. 'Deshhit' is the child of Hind Devi.

Hind and Britannia: Some dialogues of the novel

The prose writing in the form of essays is so pervasive in this 'novel' that the question remains whether to call it a 'novel' or not. Some dialogue takes place between the characters in the novel.

Deshhit: O cursed goddess mother! What is your condition? The land on which great men like Rama, Parashurama, Krishna, Yudhisthira and Vyas and Valmiki were born and at the time when you were worshiped as Maharani, O mother, who did such a great thing to you! Where is your splendor!

Hind Devi: Son Deshhit! This Britannia has taken away all the glory of me and my people. He has stripped me of my clothes. Why do you ask me even though you know this?

Britannia: Be patient! Ball handling ball! The evil ones were bloodthirsty sons like Tara Haider Ali, Tipu Sultan, Nanasaheb Peshwa, Rani Lakshmibai and Tatia Tope.

Hind Devi: But they fought for the country and died. It was only when you plundered our country that this country was annihilated.

(Seeing the sharp attitude of Hind Devi, Britannia Devi took the baji and calmly explained it.)

Britannia: Sister Hind! I taught your uneducated children. They even made a widow sati! Widows' hair was cut to make it ugly. They were married when they were six or seven years old. O Dharma Gheli Hind Devi! I have saved you, and on the contrary you blame me! Just think. It was because of me that great men like Raja Rammohan Roy and Ishcharchandra Vidyasagar were born. Where are Tara Haider Ali, Aurangzeb, Alauddin Khilji and Tatyas, Peshwas and Holkars! And where are the great social reformers and educators I have baked!

Hind Devi: Don't talk too much. Some of you are right, but you have made our farmers, artisans, traders and the entire masses poor and unemployed. All the wealth of this country is deposited in your country, you do not see it !! You run the gamut to defeat me by remembering Ghazni, Mohammad Ghori, Alauddin Khilji and Aurangzeb. But rulers like Tara Clive, Hamsting and Wellesley have slowly killed us by giving us 'salt poison', what of it?

Freedom: Oh Goddesses! What do you want to do? Why don't you two goddesses see that a great ruler like Lord Ripon has come to rule this country. He is as great and generous as God. He is able to do good to both of you.

"Seeing this great man Ripon, sisters, embrace with love. From now on, O Goddess of India, no one will call you a 'slave', and O Goddess of Britannia, you too should believe that millions of people of this country are your children!

At the end there is a shower of flowers from the sky, and with it the following song sounds like a Sanskrit play!

'' The moon sets in front of the sunset

The sun shines in the other direction

East Kare Arun at the front of the chariot

That is why people all wake up

Both objects are very bright tomorrow

Astoday goes and gives true preaching

Like Dasha Amatani carries happiness and sorrow

Count the two as yours. "