Dutt, Romesh Chunder: The literature of Bengal: being an attempt to trace the progress of the national mind in its various aspects, as reflected in the nation’s literature from the earliest times to the present day ; with copious extracts from the best writers (Calcutta, 1877)

BEABAT CHANDRA KAL 163

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the Kotwal or Head Policeman are we|l described. We
must add, however, that in this respect also, as well, as
in plot and descriptions Bharat is an imitator of M^kun-
da Earn. The Malini or flower-woman is an imitation
of I>urbola, and the Kotwal that of Kalketu. >

The last thing that we shall mention about Bharat
Chandra's poetry is the vividness of hij descriptions.'
As his descriptions are not always of a healthy character,
we regret that they are so vivid, but still we must
ccftifess that they are so. He has the power of raising in
the reader's mind the very feeling he describes, though
the feeling is often of a repreheqsible character. His
poetry has the character of Satan, but it has also the
power of Satan, to tempt and to seduce.

Such are the chief merits of Bharat Chandra as a poet.
In all the higher qualifications of a poet, in simplicity
and truth, in imagination, in sublimity"and grandeur of
conception and thought, nay, even in true tenderness
and pathos, such as we meet with in almost every other
Bengali poet, Bharat is singularly and sadly wanting. In
spite therefore of the fascination of his descriptions and the
richness of his language, we are tempted, on readmg his
books, to exclaim with Hamlet, " Words, words, words."

We have judged Bharat Chandra perhaps harshly
because we have judged him by the standard of criticism
of the nineteenth century. Much that we object to as
puerile or»unhealthy was perhaps the theme of never-
failing admiration in the Court of Nadiya. The invoca-
tion of Kali in the 50 letters of the Bengali alphabet,
(an imitation of a. similar passage of Makunda Ram's V