John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune and his love for the world of flora

 While residing at England, J. E. D. Bethune started taking keen interest on Indian education from the documents which reached him. He was convinced of the proficiency of the native students and the efforts of Government run institutions. Upon his arrival to India, Bethune started drawing attention of the Bengali men folk towards the necessity and benefit of women education. The refinement in taste of an educated woman was bound to enhance the quality of domestic life due to compatibility in intellectual capacity of the married couple. An educated mother plays pivotal role in shaping the intellect and moral faculties of her children during their formative years.  Thus she lays a solid foundation in the character of the future citizens. The progress of a nation is largely the outcome of the degree to which the womenfolk exerted their refined mental influence on societal matters.¹ Thus Bethune took upon himself to become instrumental in pioneering women education in India.

On 6^th November, 1876, at the occasion of acquisition of land jointly with Raja Dakshinaranjan Mookherjee and laying the foundation stone of The Female School, Bethune says “You have seen possession of this land symbolically given, by delivering to us a young Asoka tree, which I hope that one of the ladies present will presently do us the honour of planting in a conspicuous place, in that which is intended to become the garden of the school. The choice of the particular tree for that purpose has not been made unadvisedly, or without a meaning. I am told that its Bengali name may not be unfitly paraphrased as “The Tree of Gladness”. It is commended for this day’s ceremony not only by the gracefulness of its foliage, and the surpassing beauty of its flowers, but also because it is held in especial honour among Hindu women. I understand that formerly they believed that by eating its blossoms, they should bring a blessing on their children. It seemed to me therefore not an inappropriate representation of an institution of the fruits of which they will indeed consent to partake they will bring upon them the choicest blessings of which our nature is capable.”^{1, 2} It was on this occasion that Bethune declared that “the Asoka tree be made the symbol of female education in India, and not only here but by every school which has been already established in the villages round Calcutta in imitation of this, and near all those which shall hereafter be multiplied in the land. I suggest that the Asoka tree be planted, a new tree of liberty, to remind us of the bond of fellowship, which unites our labours in one common sense.”^{1, 2} Today, the majestic tree stands and the premises of Bethune College grandly displaying Bethune’s words on a picturesque plaque.

The connection between women and the Asoka tree (Saraca asoka) can be traced back to Indian mythology where Goddess Sita after her abduction chooses to stay in Asoka Vatika. The name translates to a-shoka meaning sorrow less in vernacular language. Ayurveda prescribes bark of Asoka tree for gynecological disorders by restoring hormonal balance between estrogen and progesterone. Other beneficial roles include curing of skin problems, helping in blood purification, lowering of cholesterol and acting as cardiac tonic. The tall and conical ornamental tree is also referred to as Asoka tree, but it is a different plant, Polialthia longifolia. In contrast the medicinal Asoka tree has a broader canopy and orange flowers.³

Bethune’s interest for floral nomenclature and documentation can be inferred upon from a few evidences at hand. He observes that “European botanists have also selected this tree to associate it with the memory of one whom England ever lent to India. The Jonesia Asoka, for that is its botanical name recalls the name of the great Sir William Jones one of the earliest who exerted himself to link together learning of the East and the Western worlds, for his zealous untiring labours in the universal spread of knowledge appeared to them to be fitly represented by the elegant and exuberant beauty of this tree”.^{1, 2}

From the Library and Archives at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew a correspondence between Bethune and Sir William Jackson Hooker; the then director, can be retrieved dating back to 8^th February 1850. Bethune was keen in publishing the specimen maps of Berghaus' plant geography in England and took upon himself the financial responsibility collecting funds along with Mr. Hodgson and Sir James Colvile. At that time Bethune was the president of The Calcutta School Book Society. He believed that undertaking the publication of this important document in England would enhance sale due to being associated with persons of repute such as Berghaus and Humboldt. He further stated that the Indian copyright of the work be given to himself, in trust for the Calcutta School Book Society. The English copyright would belong to Hooker. In another correspondence dated 2^nd June 1851 from Darjeeling, Hooper writes to Bethune that the work on Berghaus' geography has been withheld as the later has not provided relevant information. However, Bethune recollected that he had sent the botanical illustrations (probably engraved on steel plates) to London by Captain Cavanagh, who accompanied the Nipâl Ambassador addressing it either directly to Hooker or to his brother Captain Bethune.^{4, 5}. Bethune was amongst the few who sought for the cultivation of the Indian mind by the light of education. He believed that scholastic pursuits prepare one for life by inculcating practical wisdom.  His inclination towards different branches of knowledge ranging from mathematics, metaphysics, astronomy, logic, natural philosophy, foreign and vernacular languages stems from his belief that “the attention of the learner shall be fixed exclusively or almost exclusively on the truth taught, and little or not at all on the form of the vehicle through which it is conveyed.”⁶

Sir J. E. D. Bethune

Plaque at the Ashoka tree decorated on Bethune Day

 Published in Bethune College Commemorative Volume 2022

References:

¹ Bethune Commemorative Volume 1976

² The Bengal Harkara and the Indian Gazette 9^th November 1850

³ https://tdu.edu.in/ashoka-tree/

⁴ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Berghaus

⁵ https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.visual.kdcas424

⁶ Address at Kisnagaur. General Report on Public Instruction, in the lower provinces of the Bengal Presidency from1st October1850 to 30^th September 1851. Calcutta: F. Carberry, Bengal Militant Orphan Press. 1852.