Rasik Krishna Mallick was an Indian journalist, editor, reformer, educationist and a leading member of Young Bengal group.
Background
Son of Naba Kishore Mallick, he was born in 1810 at Sinduriapatti in Kolkata. His father was engaged in thread trading and was linked to the Seths, the original residents of Govindapur, which was one the villages that developed into the city of Kolkata.
Education
Presidency University, Kolkata.
Career
He had shocked the court in British India in the 1820s with the statement that he did not believe in the sacredness of the Ganges. The family had a great standing in society. While still a student, Rasik Krishna Mallick appeared as witness in some case in the supreme court at Kolkata.
An Oriya Brahmin came with these things to every witness.
When the process was repeated with Rasik Krishna Mallick, he refused to comply. The result was that his family drugged him and wanted to take him forcibly to Varanasi for penance and reformation.
However, Rasik Krishna Mallick recovered and ran away. His family turned him out of the house.
He worked in Hare School for some time.
When Indians were allowed for the first time to be appointed or promoted as deputy collectors Rasik Krishna Mallick was one of the beneficiaries and was posted to Bardhaman. While he was in Bardhaman, his old friend Ramtanu Lahiri, then posted in the same town, created a sensation by discarding his sacred thread. He became religious-minded and carried out his duties fearlessly.
He spurned all efforts to bribe him and established a great reputation for honesty.
He was editor of the magazine Jnananwesan and was one of the sponsors of Parthenon, the first English magazine to be edited and published by Indians in 1830.