19th century[edit source | editbeta] In the middle of 19th century, Bengali literature gained momentum.

During this p eriod, the Bengali Pandits of Fort William College did the tedious work of trans lating the text books in Bengali to help teach the British some Indian languages including Bengali. This work played a role in the background in the evolution o f Bengali prose. In 1814, Raja Ram Mohan Roy arrived in Calcutta and engaged in literary pursuits. Translating from Sanskrit to Bengali, writing essays on relig ious topics and publishing magazines were some the areas he focussed on. He esta blished a cultural group in the name of 'Atmiya Sabha' (Club of Kins) in 1815. A nother significant contributor of Bengali literature in its early stage was Ishw ar Chandra Bandyopadhyaya. Michael Madhusudan Dutt[edit source | editbeta] Michael Madhusudan Dutt Michael Madhusudan Dutt (1824 1873) introduced blank verse (Amitrakshar Chhanda), literary epics and sonnets in Bengali language. Dutt s first epic Tilottama Sambha b Kabya (?????????????? ?????, Birth of Tilottama) was published in 1860. This w as the first Bengali poem written in blank verse. The story of Tilottama Sambhab Kabya is taken from Hindu Puranas. Dutt s greatest work Meghnad Badh Kabya (????? ??? ?????, Slaying of Meghnad) was published in two parts in 1861. The story of Meghnad Badh Kabya was borrowed from Hindu epic the Ramayana and deals chiefly t he final battle, death and funeral of Meghnad, son of Ravana during the Lanka Wa r. Dutt also wrote a lyrical poem Brajangana Kavya (?????????? ?????, Women from B raj, 1861) and an epistolary poem Birangana Kavya (????????? ?????, Valiant Ladies , 1861 62). Dutt s last book of poems, Chaturdashpadi Kabitabali (?????????? ??????? ?, Sonnets), is a collection of 102 sonnets written at Versailles, France in 186 5. Dutt also wrote four plays Sharmishtha (?????????, 1859), Padmavati (????????, 1860), Krishnakumari (???????????, 1861) and Maya-Kanan (?????-????, The Magical Forest, 1874) and two farces Ekei Ki Bole Sabhyata? (???? ?? ??? ??????, Is That Wh at You Call Good Manners?, 1860) and Buro Shalikher Ghare Ro (????? ??????? ???? ? ??, Old Man Rejuvenated, 1860) In this time, Michael Madhusudan Dutt emerged as the first epic-poet of modern B engali literature. Dutt, a Christian by conversion, is best known for his Ramaya na-based masterpiece, "The Slaying of Meghnadh," (in Bengali "Meghnadh Bodh Kaby o" (?????? ?? ?????)), which essentially follows in the poetic tradition of Milt on's Paradise Lost. Those who have read it consider this work a world-class epic poem of the modern era. Michael Madhusudan Dutta is also credited with the intr oduction of sonnets to Bengali literature. He ruled the Bengali literature world for more than a decade (1858 1863). Dutt can also be credited to be a pioneer of the blank verse in Bengali literature. His style was deemed as "Amitrakshar Chha nda".In 1857, the famous 'Sipahi Bidroha' (Sepoy Mutiny) took place. With the wi nd of it, 'Nil Bidroho' (Indigo Revolt) scattered all over then Bengal region. T his Nil Bidroha lasted for more than a year (In 1859-1860). The literature world was shaken with this revolt. In the light of this revolt, a great drama was pub lished from Dhaka in the name of 'Nil Darpan' (The Indigo Mirror). Dinabandhu Mi tra was the writer of this play.