3 Review(s)

About The Book: "The Travels of a Hindoo" by Baboo Bholanauth Chunder is a remarkable work deeply intertwined with India. These volumes provide an exceptional perspective on India, diverging from the conventional European travel accounts. Chunder's narrative enhances our comprehension of Indian life, customs, and thought, surpassing the observations of previous European travelers. The narrative commences with our earliest journey up the Hooghly, dating back to February 11, 1845. This time span may seem distant, characterized by budgerows, bholios, tow-ropes, and punt-poles—elements of a bygone era. About The Author: Bholanauth Chunder, a member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, was part of the Young Bengal movement. His collection of travel accounts, spanning the years 1845 to 1860, stands out for its exceptional narrative quality. Chunder displayed a remarkable command of the English language, weaving lyrical prose throughout his writings. His accounts read like the work of a highly refined English author, with the exception of his vivid descriptions of Hindu customs and pilgrimage sites. Particularly notable is his detailed report on his visit to Brindabun in the 1860s, possibly the sole English account of the place by a Hindu during Victorian times. Chunder also documented his journey by road from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Benares and on to Delhi during the immediate aftermath of the Mutiny. He was an opinionated individual, a member of the mercantile class, who showed little patience for the traditional Brahmin priests. In terms of language, visual storytelling, and dedicated perspectives, he surpasses his contemporary Lutfullah Khan, who had published his travel narrative on central and western India just prior to the Mutiny in English. The Title 'The Travels of a Hindoo To Various Parts of Bengal and Upper India written/authored/edited by Bholanauth Chunder, Introduction By J. Talboys Wheeler', published in the year 2023. The ISBN 9788121283090 is assigned to the