Young Bengal Movement

Young Bengal Movement was launched by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-1831), who had come to Calcutta in 1826 and was appointed in the Hindu College as a teacher of English literature and History. Besides this he edited Hesperus and Calcutta Literary Gazette. He was connected with India Gazette as well.

Derozio drew round him students of the Hindu College and exercised unprecedented influence over his pupils both in and outside the class. He urged them to live and die for truth-to cultivate and practice all the virtues, shunning vice in every shape. He gave the greatest impetus to free discussion on all subjects -social, moral and religious.

Derozio was one of those rare teachers whose attachment to knowledge, love of truth, and hatred of evil made a profound impression upon those who came in contact with him. Like Socrates, he pursued what was right and was accused of misguiding the youth. Some influential Hindus had him removed from service and shortly thereafter, he died. But the Derozian influence continued and it was known as the Young Bengal Movement. All the leading movements of the period were connected with it.