Hana Catherine Mullens

Hana Catherine Mullens
Born 1826
Chinsurah, India ?
Died 1861
Occupation Author

Hana Catherine Mullens is credited by some with having written the first novel in the Bengali language, Phulmani O Karunar Bibaran (Description of Phulmani and Karuna), in 1852.[1] There are other claimants to being earlier novels. Nababababubilas published by Bhabani Charan Bandopadhyay in 1825 is claimed as one by some[2] but others think of it as being merely a story.[3] Similar reservation has also been expressed about Phulmani O Karunar Bibaran.[4]

Early life

Her father, Rev Francois Lacroix was a Swiss citizen who went to Chinsurah in India in 1821 to preach Christianity on behalf of the London Missionary Society. Hana learnt Bengali from the servants at home and at the age of 12 started teaching Bengali in a newly established school in Calcutta (now, Kolkata). In 1845, she was married to J. Mullens, who was also engaged in preaching Christianity in India.[1] It was a period when Sanskrit was used for literary expressions, and Bengali was only a language of conversation.

Achievements

Her first Bengali book Phulmani O Karunar Bibaran was written for native Christian women in 1852. The objective was to preach Christianity. This book was published six years before Peary Chand Mitra published his Alaler Gharer Dulal.[1]

The first Bengali woman to write a novel was Swarnakumari Devi, with her Deepnirban in 1876.[2][5]

Mullens wrote another book, The Missionary on the Ganges or What is Christianity, in both English and Bengali. She translated Daybreak in Britain into Bengali.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), (1976/1998), Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, (Bengali), p 423, ISBN 81-85626-65-0.
  2. 1 2 Aziz, Mahibul (2012). "Novel". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ↑ Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali, pp. 374-375.
  4. ↑ Bandopadhyay, Brajendranath, Sahitye Banga Mahila, in Bethune College and School Centenary Volume, edited by Dr. Kalidas Nag, 1949, p. 196
  5. ↑ Banerjee, Hiranmay, Thakurbarir Katha, (Bengali), p. 119, Sishu Sahitya Sansad.
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