Sanskrit Pandits Recall Their Youth
Two Autobiographies from Nineteenth-Century Bengal
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3965314 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Brian A Hatcher (0000-0003-2500-9012, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2001 |
| Volume | 121 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 580 |
| Publication date | 2001-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of the American Oriental Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0003-0279 • E-ISSN: 2169-2289 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/606500 |
| OpenAlex | W2315414959 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 8 |
This essay calls attention to two little-known autobiographies written by Sanskrit pandits in late nineteenth-century Bengal. These texts, by Isvaracandra Vidyāsāgara (1820-91) and Girisacandra Vidyaratna (1822-1903), are here examined in light of two overarching concerns. First, an attempt is made to justify treating these texts as examples of autobiographical writing, a status some have been unwilling to grant them. In this connection, the problems of reading autobiographies in non-Western or colonial contexts are also addressed. Second, an interpretation of the two texts is offered which suggests they represent two different responses to profound changes taking place in colonial Bengal. Despite their similar family backgrounds and life trajectories, Vidyāsāgara writes in a mode of intentional self-construction, while Vidyaratna writes in a mode of nostalgic recollection
Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · BENGAL · Cognitive psychology · Literature · Recall · Sanskrit · Socioeconomics · Sociology · West bengal · Anthropological Studies and Insights · History · Indian History and Philosophy · Psychology · South Asian Studies and Conflicts
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,19 |
| Citation span | 2005 - 2015 (11) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |