A couple or readers of this website have asked us to write on Durgaprasad Datta (Swami Vivekananda’s grandfather). We have decided, therefore, to prepare an article for the world wide web discussing Durgaprasad’s biography.
Durgaprasad Datta
Durgaprasad Datta or Durga Prasad Datta (Bengali: দুর্গা প্রসাদ দত্ত) OR Durgacharan Datta (Bengali: দুর্গাচরণ দত্ত) was one of two sons (and seven daughters) of Rammohan Datta (Swami Vivekananda’s great grandfather). Rammohan Datta was a clerk and assistant of an English lawyer. It was Rammohan Datta, who built a big house at 3, Gourmohan Mukherjee Street, i.e. Swami Vivekananda’s birthplace (now acquired by Ramakrishna Mission and has been converted into a museum).
Durgprasad married at the age of sixteen or seventeen. He had a daughter and a son — Vishwanath Datta. Vishwanath was born in 1835 and soon after his birth, Durgaprasad renounced family-life and became a wandering monk (sannyasi). At that time he was 25 years old.
Durgaprasad was a learned man. He was well versed in Persian and Sanskrit languages and literature. He had, although, more inclination towards spirituality and monastic life.
Durgaprasad Datta — Swami Vivekananda’s “talks”
This section needs to be expanded
I was going to name this section “Durga Prasad Datta — Swami Vivekananda’s reminiscences” and then felt, “reminiscences” is not the right word.
Anyway, Swami Vivekananda talked about his grandfather, he told—
- My grandfather was married when quite a child.[Source]
Sources
We have studied the following books and works to prepare this article—
- Chaturvedi Badrinath (2006). Swami Vivekananda, the Living Vedanta. Penguin Books India. pp. 3–. ISBN 978-0-14-306209-7.
- Rajagopal Chattopadhyaya (1 January 1999). Swami Vivekananda in India: A Corrective Biography. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 8–. ISBN 978-81-208-1586-5.