The Art of the Intellect : Uncollected English Writings
of Sudhindranath Datta/edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri. New Delhi, Chronicle
Books an Imprint of DC Pub., 2008, xviii, 326 p., ISBN
81-8028-033-0.
The Art of the Intellect : Uncollected English Writings
of Sudhindranath Datta/edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri. New Delhi, Chronicle
Books an Imprint of DC Pub., 2008, xviii, 326 p., ISBN
81-8028-033-0.
Contents: Introduction: Sudhindranath Datta and the art of the intellect. Literature: 1. The necessity of poetry. 2. The highbrow. 3. Preface to a proposed compilation of Bengali verse. 4. Whiggism, radicalism and Treason in Bengal. 5. Review: Rabindranath Tagore, Rabindra Rachanabali Vol.1. 6. Review: Rabindranath Tagore, Rabindra Rachanabali Vols. 2-3. 7. European literature after the war. 8. Diarists beyond their days: Andre Gide. 9. Goethe and valery. 10. T S Eliot. 11. The turn of the century in literature. 12. Whither English literature? modern essay and iconoclast biography. Indian art: 13. The art of Atul Bose. 14. Mr. Atul Bose's exhibition. 15. Jamini Ray's Art. Early history and archaeology: 16. Digging up the past. 17. The evolution of Durga. 18. Sartorial habits of the Hindus. 19. Holi: the feast of spring. Politics and society: 20. Freedom of expression. 21. Draft on Marxism. 22. Proposal for The Marxian Way. 23. The rise of the nation. 24. Science and democracy. 25. Society and the ethos. 26. The liberal retrospect. 27. The new war. 28. The aftermath of the Russian revolution. 29. Observations on the Russian situation. 30. Commentary on international affairs. 31. The international situation. 32. News commentary. 33. Red imperialism. 34. The state of Europe. 35. Left right. 36. After freedom. 37. The divided provinces. 38. Gandhi's assassination: Chairman's remarks. 39. Bengal today: The agitational approach. 40. Bengal today: the most remarkable feature. 41. Bengal today: communism in Bengal. 42. Leadership in Bengal. 43. Bengal topics. 44. The South Calcutta by-elections. 45. Homage to M.N. Roy. 46. The legacy of the Raj. 47. India and progress. Shorter Book Reviews: 48. Albert Einstein, The World as I See It. 49. V. Lesny, Rabindranath Tagore. 50. Charu Chandra Dutt, Krishnarao and Other Stories. 51. Freedom of expression and Sidney Keyes, collected poems. 52. Arthur Koestler, The Yogi and the commissar. 53. Marg. 54. Guido de Ruggiero, Existentialism. 55. Buddhadeva Bose, An Acre of Green Grass.............. Drama Reviews: 77. Shakespeareana: Othello. 78. English repertory company: Pygmalion. 79. Shakespeareana: arms and the man. 80. Samghat at the Rungmahal.
"This volume contains all the recoverable English writings of the Bengali poet and critic Sudhindranath Datta, outside those already gathered in an earlier collection, The World of Twilight. They include a hitherto unknown introduction for a projected Oxford Book of Bengali Verse, drafted by Sudhindranath for the proposed editor, Rabindranath Tagore. Other pieces testify to his informed interest and original thought about Indian and European literature, ancient history, international politics, philosophical speculation and the social mores of his time. There are also a number of book and theatre reviews, and many other pieces that he wrote for The Statesman.
The range of subjects and depth of treatment reflect one of the most erudite and original minds of Bengal's post-Tagore, post-independence generation. They recreate the political, cultural and intellectual milieu of that age of transition.
The core material is drawn from the Datta archives at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Some of it was never published. Other items may have been printed but are virtually untraceable: they have been recovered from drafts and typescripts. Some pieces have also been recovered from The Marxian Way, other rare journals, and from The Statesman archives." (jacket)