Madan Mohan Tarkalankar was a Sanskrit scholar and also a Bengali poet who developed textbooks in Bengali language which were meant for children. It is said that Madan Mohan Tarkalankar, along with Akshay Kumar Datta and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, was amongst the first to add a new dimension to modern Bengali literature without compromising with its quality. His works played a crucial role in structuring the mental make-up of the Bengali society in the late nineteenth century. Madan Mohan Tarkalankar also established a print shop and a bookstore titled the Sanskrit Press and Depository along with his friend Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Early Life of Madan Mohan Tarkalankar
Madan Mohan was born in the year 1817 to Ramdhan Chattopadhyay, in the area of Bilwagram in Nadia district of the Indian state West Bengal. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a batch mate of Madan Mohan when they were studying at Sanskrit College in Kolkata. Later, he studied at Hindu College. His teachers and professors awarded him the prestigious title of `Kabyaratnakar` due to his excellent capability of composing poetries. He was conferred the title of "Tarkalankar" by his friends. Vidyaratna and Rasatarangini were the two books of poems which were created by him.
Career of Madan Mohan Tarkalankar
Madan Mohan Tarkalankar taught at Krishnanagar College and Fort Williams College, as a professor in the field of literature in the year 1846. In 1855, he became a judge pandit, when he arrived in Murshidabad and later got promoted as deputy magistrate. He opened a printing press in the city of Kolkata and thereafter published numerous Sanskrit and Bengali books. One of his most significant literary creations is Basabdutta.
Tarkalankar is said to have lent massive support to the school started by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune, along with Ramgopal Ghosh and Dakshinaranjan Mukhkerjee which played important role in educating the daughters of educated elite or middle class. Sishu Sikha, the first Bengali primer was also written by Madan Mohyan Tarkalankar. Two of the daughters of Madan Mohan, named Bhubanmala and Kundamala were amongst the very first candidates of the Bethune School. Madan Mohan taught the students of this school for free.
Death of Madan Mohan Tarkalankar
Madan Mohan Tarkalankar died on 9th March 1858 in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal.
