Jnanadanandini Devi was married to Satyendranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore's elder brother.
23 Facts About Jnanadanandini Devi
2.
In 1862, while pursuing his probationary training for the Indian Civil Service, Satyendranath asked for Jnanadanandini Devi to join him in England, however his father did not consent.
3.
Jnanadanandini Devi was tutored briefly by the famous Brahmo educationist Ayodhyanath Pakrashi.
4.
Jnanadanandini Devi even advertised in the monthly magazine Bamabodhini Patrika offering to train other women to wear the sari in her novel style.
5.
Jnanadanandini Devi left Jorasanko in 1868 to live by herself in a mansion on Park Street, adjacent to Debendranath's residence.
6.
Jnanadanandini Devi's son, Surendranath was born in 1872 while the couple was living in Poona and the following year, her daughter Indira Devi was born in Bijapur.
7.
In yet another undaunted act of courage, Jnanadanandini Devi appointed a Muslim woman as wet nurse for her children.
8.
Jnanadanandini Devi's third son Kabindranath was born in 1876 during the family's brief sojourn in Hyderabad, Sindh.
9.
Jnanadanandini Devi was received in London by her husband's uncle Gnanendramohan Tagore who, in spite of being the first Asian barrister and a Christian convert, shared in the shock.
10.
Jnanadanandini Devi's initial year in England was marked by grief with the birth of a stillborn child, and the demise of her youngest son Kabindranath.
11.
Jnanadanandini Devi arranged for Kabindranath to be buried beside Dwarakanath Tagore's grave at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.
12.
In Calcutta, Jnanadanandini Devi took up residence in a bungalow on Lower Circular Road.
13.
Yet, from the memoirs of her daughter Indira and niece Sarala, we learn that Jnanadanandini Devi never relinquished her attachment with the Tagore's Jorasanko house.
14.
Jnanadanandini Devi took an active role in Rabindranath's marriage and even mentored the young bride, Mrinalini.
15.
Jnanadanandini Devi started assisting him with the performance of his plays, often encouraging other women of the household to participate.
16.
From Indira Devi's recollection we learn that in spite of her high standing, Jnanadanandini did not socialize with the Calcutta glitterati of her time.
17.
That Calcutta society was not favourably disposed towards Jnanadanandini Devi either is evident from an article in the October 1889 issue of the popular Bengali journal Bangabasi, which slandered her for acting in the play Raja O Rani.
18.
In 1890, Jnanadanandini moved in with Jyotirindranath Tagore who had lost his wife Kadambari Devi in 1884.
19.
In 1881 - four years before the establishment of the Indian National Congress - Jnanadanandini Devi published an article titled Ingrajninda O Deshanurag, in which she called for the establishment of a nationwide organization which would have branches in the remote district towns.
20.
Jnanadanandini Devi argued "every benefit that the British have bestowed upon us is a blow to our mission of national liberation".
21.
In 1885, Jnanadanandini Devi established Balak, the first children's literary magazine in Bengali.
22.
Jnanadanandini Devi wrote two plays for children - Takdumadum and Saat Bhai Champa - both of which were highly appreciated in the literary circles.
23.
In spite of her many literary achievements, Jnanadanandini Devi did not write an autobiography.