Dom Antonio
Dom Antonio | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | c. 1643 |
| Died | 1695 |
| Religion | Christianity |
Dom Antonio de Rozario (c. 1643 – 1695) was a Christian missionary from Bengal. He was the first writer of Bangla prose.[1]
Biography[edit]
Antonio was born on circa 1643 in a jomidar family of Bhushana in the Jessore-Faridpur areas.[1] He was the prince of Bhushsna. His Bengali name could not be discovered.[2]
Antonio was kidnapped by Portuguese pirates in 1663.[1] He was taken to Arakan to sell him as a slave. He was rescued by a Portuguese priest named Manoel de Rozario.[1] Later, he was converted to Christianity and took the name Dom Antonio de Rozario.
Antonio returned to Bhushana in 1666 and started to preach Christianity.[1] He converted his wife, kith and kins and subjects into Christianity. He founded St. Nicholas Tolentino Church and Mission in Koshavanga village.[1] Later, the Church and Mission were transferred to Nagori village of Bhawal Pargana of Dhaka.
Antonio wrote a book titled Brahman Roman Catholic Sambad.[1] The 120 page book contained a religious debate between a Brahmin and a Roman Catholic.[3] The book was translated into Portuguese by Manuel da Assumpção and the translated book was published by Francisco Da Silva from Lisbon in 1743.[4] Later, the main manuscript was collected by Surendranath Sen and he edited the book. The edited book was published by the University of Calcutta in 1937.[5] The book was first Bangla book translated by a foreigner.[2]
Antonio died in 1695.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Sarker, Sushanta (2012). "Antonio, Dom". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b Paniker, K. Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 69. ISBN 81-260-0365-0.
- ^ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. p. 73. ISBN 81-7201-324-8.
- ^ "বাংলা গদ্যের বিকাশে ইউরোপীয় ও মিশনারিদের অবদান". Ittefaq (in Bengali). 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ "হরফ নির্মাতা পঞ্চানন কর্মকার ও তাঁর উত্তরসূরিগণ". Ittefaq (in Bengali). 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ "The first-ever bangla grammar and dictionary by a portuguese priest". The Daily Star. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2020.