Dwijendralal Ray also known as D. L. Ray was a Bengali poet, playwright, and musician. He was known for his Hindu mythological and nationalist historical plays and songs known as Dwijendrageeti or the Songs of Dwijendralal, which number over 500, create a separate subgenre of Bengali music. Two of his most famous compositions are 'Dhana Dhanya Pushpa Bhara' and 'Banga Amar Janani Amar'. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in early modern Bengali literature.
Dwijendralal Ray was born on 19 July 1863 at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, in modern-day Indian state of West Bengal. His father, kartikeya chandra roy, was the dewan Chief Officer) of Krishnanagar palace. His mother, Prasannamayee Devi, was a descendant of Adwaita Prabhu. Ray had six elder brothers and a younger sister.
Dwijendralal composed about five hundred songs on different topics. Initially his songs were known as Dwijubabu's songs, subsequently became known as Dwijendragiti. Dwijendralal's first collection of songs, Aryagatha, was published in 1882 with one hundred and eight songs, all composed before the age of seventeen. The themes of these songs are the beauty of nature, a romantic agony, devotion to God and patriotism.
The songs collected in the second part of Aryagatha, published in 1893, include several love songs, written to his wife, Surabala Devi. A number of these songs are composed in kirtan style. Some of these songs combine western tunes with Bangla lyrics. The song 'kemane tui re Jamuna pulin' borrows the tune of a Scottish song, 'Ye banks and braes'. Similarly, 'jao jetha jash achhe' is based on the Irish tune of 'Go where glory awaits thee'.
In 1905 Dwijendralal established a literary society, Purnima Milon, in Kolkata. He became the editor of the monthly bharatvarsa in 1913. Dwijendralal had a literary bent of mind and started writing poems while still in his teens. While still a student he wrote Aryagatha (part 1, 1882). During his stay in England he wrote The Lyrics of Ind in 1886. Most of his plays were successfully staged in Kolkata and elsewhere. He is specially remembered for his historical plays. He was also a well-known composer of modern songs; dwijendragiti still form a regular feature of radio and television programmes.'
During his posting at Bhagalpur and Monghyr, Dwijendralal learned Tapkheyal and subsequently introduced the style of Tapkheyal into his songs. Inspired by the patriotic urge of the times, Dwijendralal also composed many satirical songs. One such song, ridiculing selfish politicians and so-called patriots, is 'Nandalaler Gun' (Virtues of Nandalal). In this song he exposed the real character of the selfish politicians and rebuked them for deceiving the people under the pretext of service to the motherland.
The death of his wife in 1903 affected Dwijendralal who stopped composing songs of mirth and gaiety. At the same time, the anti-British movement and the swadeshi movement inspired him to write patriotic and nationalistic songs for the motherland and against the partition of Bengal.
Among the popular patriotic songs composed by Dwijendralal are 'Banga amar janani amar' (O Bengal of mine, my motherland), 'Dhanadhanya puspabhara' ([My land], abounding with wealth and grain). As in his earlier songs, in these songs as well Dwijendralal combined western music with Indian raga. 'Dhanadhanya puspabhara,' for instance, is based upon the Kedara Raga, but the line 'se amar janmabhumi (It's my motherland), with three types of musical tempo, imitates the English music pattern.
The antipathy of Dwijendralal towards the colonial rulers was mingled with his uncommon musical talent, and this is reflected in many of his patriotic songs. However, he did not reject the west totally as revealed in his melding Bangla lyric and western music. Dwijendralal's songs, characterised by truth and beauty and a sense of joy, have become a part of the Bangla tradition. He died in 1913.
July 19 marked the 154th birth anniversary of Dwijendralal Roy.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
