Rabindranath Tagore
(1861-1941)
Tagore's
literary life extened over sixty years, and he reminds
one of Victor Hugo in the copiousness and variety
of his work: over one thousand poems; nearly two dozen
plays and playlets; eight novels; eightor more volumes
of short stories; more than two thousands songs, of
which he wrote both the words and the music; and a
mass of prose on literary, social, religious, political,
and other topics. |
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Add to these his english translations; his paintings; his
travels and lecture-tours in Asia, America, and Europe;
and his activities as educationist, as social and religious
reformer, and as politician- and there you have, judged
by quantity alone, the life-work of a Titan. Thia is not
to say that his genius was no more than the capacity for
taking infinite pains; but to note the element of steel
and concrete that went to his making, and thus to dispose
of the legend, that has grown in some quarters in recent
years, of Tagore the pale-lily poet of ladies' table.
Not that the legend is entirely baseless. Tagore's
almost continuous iteration, in his English translations,
of the softer side of his poetry and his wistful-mystical
message, is partly responsible for it. After having won
world-fame with the mystical-devotional poetry of the English
Gitanjali, he dug overmuch along that particular seam, producing
a monotonously one-sided impression of his work. It is true
that The Gardener and the subsequent volumes of translations
gave some of his best lyrics, but they also gave many poems
which were very thin and had nothing beyond a delicate fancy
or a pretty sensibility to show for their author.
The
Tagores were a cultured and wealthy family, and Rabindranath's
father, Devendranath, was one of the leaders of the Brahma
Samaj,. The poet's early life was spent in an atmosphere
of religion and arts, principally literature, music and
painting. In religion his inspiration was derived from the
Vedas and the Upanishads, but with him as with many Hindus
the Upanisadic monism was diversified by the Vaisnava dualism.
In music Tagore's training was classical Indian, though
as a composer he rebelled against the tyranny of classical
orthodoxy, and introduced many variations of form and phrase,
notably from Bengali folk-music of the Baul and Bhatiyali
type. he had some training in European music during his
first visit to England, and some of his early songs were
composed to the tunes of the Border Ballads and Moore's
Irish Melodies. In later life he made some experiments on
harmonaization in the European manner. As a writer the course
of his life was early set. He was brought up on three languages-
Sanskrit, Bengali and English- and the most formitive influences
were those of the Sanskrit classics, the Vaisnava poets
of Bengal, and the English romantics and post-romantics,
most notably Shelley.
In
1901 he founded his school, the Santiniketan, at Bolpur
as a protest against the existing bad system of education.
The school was a great success and gave birth to Viswabharati.
On revisiting England in 1911 he brought with him the English
Gitanjali, and it's publication in 1912 and the award of
the Nobel Prize for literature the following year made him
world-famous. This was the first award of that prize to
an Asiatic. The rest of Tagore's life was spent at Santiniketan,
except for several travels and lecture-tours in which he
carried his message of human unity to all the important
countries of Asia, America and Europe.
As
a novelist Tagore gave good pictures of upper middle-class
life in Bengal in Naukadubi, Chokher-Bali, and later, in
Gora and Ghare Baire. The last two , perhaps the best novels
written by an Indian, are interesting studies of the impact
of Western ideas on Indian life. His plays represent a large
variety of types: social comedies in prose, such as Chirakumar
Sabha, Goray Galad and Vaikunther Katha; symbolical plays
in prose, such as Raja, Phalguni and Rakta Karabi; and short
romantic playlets such as Malini, Chandalika, and Natir
Puja. The Post Office is generally regarded as a symbolical
play, but is more aptly described as a fable. All these
plays have songs, but Tagore wrote several plays, such as
Valmiki-Pratibha and Mayar Khela, in which music predominates
as in the European opera. Mention should also be made of
the dramatic dialogues in verse, such as Karna o Kunti and
Viday-abhishap.
In
My Reminiscences (Jivan-smriti) Tagore has recorded the
inner history of his early poetry. It is the history of
his emergence from the unreal and self centered world of
adolescence into the adult and super-personal world of man
and nature. The emergence found expression in many early
works: in the poem "Awakening of the Fountain"
where the poet's soul was likened to a fountain imprisoned
in a dark cave until one day the morning sun pierced the
cave with its rays and set the fountain free. His gift of
lyricism and song was fully in evidence in Kari o Kamal
and Manishi and attained ripeness in Chitra. The Ode to
Urbasi which appeared in Chitra is the highest watermark
of his aestheticism. Mysticism first appeared on a considerable
scale in Sonar tari, and Tagore's philosophical and devotional-mystical
poetry attained maturity in Naivedya, Kheya and Gitanjali.
His stories in verse in Katha o kahini, Palataka, Punascha
and other volumes and his epigrams in Kanika and in Lekhan.
In addition he wrote many patriotic poems and songs and
many poems having a social and political contents. His best
reflective poems are to be found in Balaka and some of his
later books. He is happiest in the bondage of rhyme, but
has also written some beautiful blank verse and free verse.
There
never was a poet more of the earth, more earthy, than Tagore.
The beauty and splendour of the earth he has proudly and lovingly
sung in many a poem. But he also loves the earth, perhaps
all the more, for her poverty and imperfection. 'Infinite
wealth is not yours, my patient and dusky mother dust....
I have seen your tender face and i love your mournful dust,
Mother earth.' In some poems he suggests that his love of
the earth is older than his life.
Kazi Nazrul Islam
(1899 - 1976)
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Kazi
Nazrul Islam is another great poet of Bengal. When
still a school student in his teens Nazrul joined
the newly recruited Bengali regiment (1916) and was
sent to Mesopotamia some months before the armistice.
The regiment was not given a chance to face battle
but all the same Nazrul got his fill of the fighting
gusto which later-found expression in poetic effusion
and warmth.
His first two significant poems , Pralayollas (Exhilaration
at the Final Dissolution) and Vidroho (Rebellion)
appeared early in 1922 and his first book of poems
Agnivina (The lute of fire) was out before the year
was over.
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The book was received with an enthusiasm never experienced
in India before or since. After that he joined the Kollol
group and wrote mostly deft and pungent verse and songs
galore. He produced more than twenty books of poetry and
songs and some fiction and plays. some of his later poems
were good but the fire of agnivina was already quenched.
Nazrul was an emotional soul but his emotion was unstable
and volatile. Those who came in personal contact with him
were moved by his irresistible enthusiasm and sincerity.
But his literary output falls far short of his merit , except
the early poems in Agnivina. After Agnivina his best known
books of poems and songs are Dolonchampa(1923) , Biser Bansi
(The Poisonous Flute ,1924), Bhangar Gan (Songs of the Break-up,
1924), Puber Haoya (The East Wind, 1925) and Bulbul(1928).
Sufia Kamal
(1911 - 1999)
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Sufia
Kamal was a Bangladeshi freedom fighter, a poet, and
a longtime activist for the enlightenment of women.
She was born in 1911 in Barisal, as the only daughter
of an eminent lawyer. Formal education was denied
her as a woman, but she educated herself by reading
in her uncle's library. She was married at the age
of 11, and after her husband's death she remarried.
She published her first poem at the age of 14.
Her activism and involvement in socio-economic issues
started in 1952, and then more vigorously in 1961
when Rabindra Sangeet was banned. |
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In
the 1960s, she fought against the regime of General Ayub
Khan and formed Mahila Sangram Parishad in 1969 to demand
Ayub Khan's resignation and in support of the six- and eleven-point
demands. During the war of liberation (from Pakistan, 1971)
she started working for the war-affected women and people
in general. She remained the chairperson of the Bangladesh
Mahila Parishad throughout her life. She was a deeply religious
woman who opposed religious extremism, a stance that led
to her being named in the hitlist of Harkatul Jihad, an
Islamic extremist group. She turned 89 in June 1999, was
hospitalized for age-related illnesses, and died in November
1999.
Taslima Nasrin
(1962 - )
is
a Bangladeshi writer, born in 1962. She has published
poetry, essays, a syndicated newspaper column, and
novels. She has received awards in India and Bangladesh
for her work. She sprang into international consciousness
when her novel, Shame, which depicts Muslim persecution
of Bangladesh's Hindu minority, brought forth a death
threat from Islamic militants. She had to flee Bangladesh
lived in Sweden for some time, and now lives in France.
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Shamsur
Rahman
(1929 - 2006)
Shamsur
Rahman was indisputably one of the greatest poets
of Bangladesh, with more than sixty books of poetry
to his credit. The renowned critic, Syed Manzoorul
Islam, spoke of Rahman as having "produced a
solid body of work which has permanently changed the
geography and the climate of Bengali poetry. He gave
it a new dimension and meaning, he created an ethos
which belonged indisputably to him. |
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He gave us a language, which we did not have. It is true
he built on the ground of the 30's poets, but he developed
the ground, explored into areas they thought too dark for
exploration, added new features to it, landscaped it and
in the process left his footprints all over." The critic,
Z. R. Siddiqui, described Shamsur Rahman as one who was
"deeply rooted in his own tradition." In his opinion,
Shamsur Rahman soaked “the language of our times,
transcending the limits of geography. In his range of sympathy,
his catholicity, his urgent and immediate relevance for
us, Shamsur Rahman is second to none."
Shamsur Rahman did his Honours in English literature from
Dhaka University. He had a long career as a journalist and
was the Editor of a national daily, Dainik Bangla.
He won numerous awards including Bangla Academy Award (1969),
Ekushey Padak (1977), Swadhinata Award (1991), Ananda Puroshker
from India (1994) and TLM South Asian Literature Award for
the Masters (2006). He died in Dhaka on 17 August 2006 at
the age of 77.
The Library of Congress has in its collection fifty titles
by him, six translations of his poetry and three edited
works by him.
Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay
(1935 - )
Sirshendu
Mukhopadhyay was born on November 2, 1935 in Bikrampur,
Dhaka, in present day Bangladesh. He is recognized
as one of the finest writers of modern Bengali literature.
His approach to writing is intelligent, sensitive
and lively, yet always somewhat detached. |
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He began his writing career during West Bengal's turbulent
1960s with the debut of his novel Ghunapoka startling its
readers with the charm of its characters and its introspectiveness.His
characterizations of Jao Pakhi, Parapar, Durabina, and Parthiba
stand out as true representatives of a time and place.
As
a master story teller, Mukhopadhyay focuses more on the
gradual revelation of his characters than on the narration
of events. His novels and short stories reveal an undercurrent
of love and faith in humanity over human violence and aggression.
During his career he has experimented with detective fiction,
and stories infused with a sense of surrealism. In addition
to his fiction for adults, he has published fiction and
science fiction for children.
He
received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1989 for his novel
Manabajamina. In 1975, his contribution to children's literature
was recognized by the West Bengal Government with the Vidyasagar
Puraskar. He is a three time winner of the Ananda Puraskar
and a recipient of the Bhualka Puraskar in 1988.
The
Library of Congress owns sixty-three titles by Sirshendu
Mukhopadhyay including works in translation.
Humayun Ahmed
(1948 - )
Humayun
Ahmed is a leading Bangladeshi writer, and the most
prolific among his contemporaries. His phenomenal
success is attributed to his ability to tell stories
of contemporary Bengali men and women in simple and
unostentatious language, portraying them with spellbinding
intimacy. |
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Although his characters belong to a broad spectrum of society,
Humayun is at his best while depicting the Bengali middle
class. His first novel, Sankhanila Karagara, published in
1972, caused a great stir among readers and the literary
circles in Bangladesh. Since then, he has published more
than a hundred novels. Many of his novels have been adapted
successfully for television serials and plays. Ahmed did
his Masters in Chemistry at Dhaka University and obtained
his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from North Dakota State University.
He is a former Associate Professor of Dhaka University and
an honorary fellow in writing at the University of Iowa.
Lately Humayun Ahmed has turned his attention to film making.
His film, Agunera Parasamani, won the National Film Award
in eight categories. Another film Srabana Meghera Dina also
enjoyed critical and popular success.
Among other prestigious awards, Humayun is the winner of
Bangla Academy Award (1981), and the Ekushey Padak (1994),
National Film Award (Best story 1993, Best film 1994, Best
dialogue 1994).
The
Library of Congress has seventy-three of his works in its
collection.
Mahasweta Devi
(1926
- )
Mahasweta
Devi
was
born in Dhaka, to literary parents. Her father Manish
Ghatak was a poet and a novelist, and her mother Dharitri
Devi was also a writer and a social worker. Her first
schooling was in Dhaka, but after the partition of
India she moved to West Bengal in India. She joined
Vishvabharati University in Santiniketan and completed
a B.A. (Hons) in English, and then finished an M.A.
in English at Calcutta University. |
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Mahasweta
Devi started writing at a young age, and contributed short
stories to various literary magazines. Her first novel,
Nati, was published in 1957 Among her masterpieces are Hazaar
Chaurasi Ki Maa, Rudali, Bioscoper Baksho, and Chatti Munda
O Tar Tir. She writes about the lives of ordinary men and
women, particularly Adivasi (tribal) people like the Santhals,
Lodhas, Shabars and Mundas, and other topics of social and
political relevance. Hazaar Chaursai ki Maa has recently
been filmed.
Unsual
for most writers, she is also an activist and has spent
many years crusading for the rights of the tribals. Among
her many awards is the Jnanpith Award (India's highest literary
award) in 1996, and the Magsaysay Award in 1997, the Asian
equivalent of the Nobel prize.
Selina Hossain
(1947 - )
Selina
Hossain is one of the most important women writers
of Bangladesh. She has published twenty-one novels,
seven collections of short stories, four collections
of prose writings and four collections of stories
for children. Her works are a moving account of the
contemporary social and political crises and conflicts
as well as the recurrent cycles of the life of the
struggling masses. |
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Quite
a few of her novels have been translated into Indian regional
languages and into French, Russian and English. Commenting
on the war of liberation in Bangladeshi novels, Kabir Chowdhury
wrote that Selina Hosain's, Hangara, Nadi, Greneda (Shark,
River and Grenade), "set in a remote riverine rural
area of southern Bangladesh, dealing with illiterate common
men and women, achieves a commendable integration of theme
and style and brilliantly highlights the essence of all
that is heroic, noble and glorious in our liberation war."
Critic Syed Akram Hossain recalls Selina's Pokamakorera
gharabasati and comments, "Her portrayal of life of
a particular community living on the south-east coast of
Bangladesh is informed by a deep awareness of life which
transcends regionalism."
Hossain is the winner of Bangla Academy award, 1980 and
Alaol Purashkar, 1981 among many others. In 1994-95 she
won a Ford Foundation Fellowship for her novel, Gayatri
Sandhya. Selina Hossain is currently serving in the position
of Director of the Bangla Academy in Dhaka.
The
Library of Congress has in its collection thirty-four titles
by her.
Nirmalendu Goon
(1945 - )
Nirmalendu
Goon is one of the most eminent poets of contemporary
Bangladesh. His first book of poems was published
in 1970. Since then he has published forty-five collections
of poetry and twenty collections of prose. Goon belongs
to the generation of writers that emerged in the 1960s,
a period marked by the sudden growth of a neo-rich
class alongside stark poverty. |
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The contradictions and conflicts of the period influenced
Goon and fellow writers. His themes address an urge to overcome
restrictions and break down the barriers dividing human
beings. Love of freedom and faith in the human spirit underlie
many of his poems.
Among many other awards, Goon has won the prestigious Bangla
Academy prize (1982) and Ekushey Padak (2001). He represented
Bangladesh in the XI Afro-Asian Writers' Union Conference
in Ho Chi Minh City in 1982, Bangladesh Festival in London
in 1999, and the SAARC Writers Conference in Delhi in 2000.
The
Library of Congress has thirty-seven titles by him in its
collection.
Atin
Bandyopadhyay
(1934
- )
The
highly respected writer of modern Bengali literature,
Atin Bandyopadhyay was born on March 1, 1934 in Rainadi,
Hizadi, Dhaka District, in present day Bangladesh.
His vivid description of events and subtle analysis
of situations and characters give many of his novels
and short stories a documentary quality. As with much
of his writing, his magnum opus Nilakantha pakhira
khonje draws from Bandyopadhyaya's own experiences. |
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It is considered to be the most poignant story portraying
the lives and times of the Hindus and the Muslims during
the rioting and violence that followed the partition of
Bengal in 1947. The hopes, aspirations, disillusionment,
and pangs of separation from one's own homeland have been
narrated with deep sensibility. His vivid description of
the Bengal rural life is as picturesque as a photo album.
In
addition to his journalism and fiction for adults, he has
written fiction for children. He is the recipient of many
awards including Bibhuti Bhushan Award, 1990; Tarasankar
Award, 1991; and Matilal Award, 1983. The Library of Congress
has fifty-nine titles by him.
Sankha Ghosh
(1932 - )
Well-known
Bengali poet, academician and critic, Sankha Ghosh
was born on February 5, 1932 in Chandpur, in present
day Bangladesh. His mastery over language and his
absolute control over the form of poetry mark his
poems with an exemplary quality of proportion, grace
and depth. His poems convey message, but are refreshingly
free of polemics.
Ghosh
is lyrical, reflective, and introverted in some of
his poems. Other poems reflect a sense of anguish
towards the superficiality of our society and existence.
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His commitment as a poet is well-pronounced in many of his
unforgettable creations such as Murkho baro, samajika naya,
chapa srshti karuna, etc. Poems such as Dinaguli rataguli
and Nihita patalachaya are examples of perfect application
of control and proportion. His Babarera prathana won him the
Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977. Sankha
Ghosh is the recipient of many awards including Narasimh Das
Puraskar, 1977; Kumaran Asan Prize, 1982; Rabindra Puraskar,
1989; Kamalkumari Award, 1993, Saraswati Samman, 1998, Sahitya
Akademi Award, 1977. His poems have been translated into a
number of Indian and foreign languages. The Library of Congress
has thirty-eight titles in its collection by him including
translations.
Bande Ali Mia
(1906 - 1982)
Poet
Bande Ali Mia was a very productive poet and writer
who was awarded President's Award and Bangla Academy
Award. A very productive poet and writer. Till his
death he wrote 84 books, most of them have countryside
background. |
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He was a school teacher by profession in Calcutta (untill
1947) and also edited Bikash and Bhorer Alo-two well known
periodicals at that time. The Poet was a script-writer at
Rajshahi Radio Station. He was also a successful publisher.
Madhusudan Datta
(1824 - 1873)
Michael
Madhusudan Datta , the greatest poet between Bharatchandra
ray and Rabindranath Tagore, is undoubtedly the most
interesting figure in the history of Bengali literature.
He was a man of real, though somewhat erratic, genius,
and a courageous innovators of forms and types which
altered the whole course of Bengali literature and
added new dimensions to it. To his adventurous spirit
we owe blank verse and the sonnet , our first modern
comedy and tragedy, and our first epic. |
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He is the pioneer of the new (westernized) poetry
and the new drama. The heroic note he introduced into Bengali
poetry gave it a power and weight, a richness and elevation,
it never had before. In his Meghnad-vadh and Virangana the
rustic bengali muse sometimes spoke the language of Valmiki
and Vyasa, as well as of Homer, Tasso, and Milton. In introducing
blank verse he gave to Bengali poetry a music that was as
rich as it was novel; with almost miraculous skill he elicited
from the dulcet-toned Bengali vina the deep notes of the
Miltonic organ.
Tilottoma, his first Bengali poem, appeared in 1859. It
is based on the Puranic story of the war waged on the gods
by the demon brothers Sunda and Upasunda.This poem was written
entirely in blank verse, and so were the two later poems
Meghnad-vadh and Virangana. the later poems silenced the
critics and detractors, and permanently established the
vogue of blank verse literature. The
years 1861-62 were Madhusudan's most fruitful period. they
were the year of publication of Meghnad-vadh, Krishnakumari,
Vrajangana, and Virangana. Virangana was modelled on Ovid's
heroic epistles, and contains some of Madhusudan's finest
blank verse. Technically it is his best work.
Sheikh Mohammad Sultan
(1923-1994)
SM Sultan was a renowned painter. His real name was Sheikh
Mohammad Sultan but he is more widely known as SM Sultan.
He was born on 10 August 1923 at Masimdia, a village in Narail
district. His father worked as a mason, and Sultan joined
him after five years of schooling at the Victoria Collegiate
School in Narail. Sultan also began to draw the buildings
his father used to work on and thus developed a liking for
art. Sultan knew that an art education was only possible in
Calcutta, but family hardship stood in the way. It was then
that the zamindar of the area, Dhirendranath Roy offered his
help. With monetary support from the zamindar, Sultan went
to Calcutta in 1938.
On first looking at SM Sultan's paintings, one gets the impression
of vastness and strength. His canvas is large, like a spacious
stage where life's dramas are played out. The cast of the
drama consists of agricultural labourers, fishermen, simple
householders, and toiling men and women. The men pose an enigma,
since their large muscular and sinewy bodies contrast oddly
with the emaciated physique of real life farmers and fishermen
wasted by hard labour and hunger. Yet, in painting after painting,
mostly in oil, but some in striking watercolours, Sultan painted
the same human figures, symbolically suggesting the possibility
of a dream rather than reality. Sultan believed in an arcadia
where happiness and contentment would reign, yet was acutely
aware of the exploitation, violence and deprivation that were
the daily fare of the life of the villagers.
Sultan's watercolours are bright and lively, but treat the
same theme - nature and rural life. They contrast sharply
with the often drab and flat oils painted in deep colours.
Sultan tended to work heavily all over his canvas without
living any empty space. His drawings, however, are masterful
in their economy and compactness. The lines are powerful and
full blown. In his later works though, the composition is
less tight and focused, perhaps a sign that Sultan was growing
a little impatient with the reality of his time.
Monica Ali
(1967
- )
Monica
Ali was born in Dhaka and came with her parents to
England when she was 3. Her mother is English and
her father Bangladeshi. She grew up in Bolton but
has spent most of her life in London. She attended
Bolton Girls' School and Wadham College, Oxford. |
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She is married to a management consultant. She worked in
publishing and design before having their two children.
She started to write during the brief periods when her son
and daughter were both asleep. She was named one of Granta's
"Best Young British Novelists" in 2003. Her first
novel, Brick Lane was published by Doubleday in the summer
of 2003.
Shakti Chattopadhyay
(1934 - )
Among
modern Bengali poets, Shakti Chattopadhyay is an unique
personality. He started writing poems in the decade
of fifties. When he started writing, the conflict
between followers of Rabindranath and modern poets
were raging. In the midst of this, Shakti found a
place in the heart of modern readers through sheer
talent and a very different form of expressions.
He
started writing from his childhood. His first poems
were published in ‘Kabita’ magazine.
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In
his earlier years as a poet, he became deeply involved with
the ‘Hungry’ movement. This movement gave birth
to poems dealing with sexual fantasy and animal instinct.
The exponents of this movement also wrote explicitly on
sexual exploits of people in general. IN fact, sex remained
a major theme for all ‘Hungry’ poets.
Shakti
Chattopadhyay was deeply associated with ‘Krittibas’
magazine. This magazine appeared in the horizon in the decade
of fifities. A particular group of poets emerged centering
around this magazine – who brought modernism in Bengali
poems, broke the disciplines and existing structures.Shakti
Chattopadhyay’s first collection of poems, named ‘Hey
Prem, Hey Naishabdya’ (O Love, O silence) came out in
1962. From then, his numbers of poems were published. Every
year, his books on poems used to get published. He penned
poems for almost forty – two years. In forty-two years,
his two thousand five hundred poems were published through
forty-five books. He wrote few novels also. Among his noted
novels are, ‘ami Chole Jachhi’, ‘Chhinna-bichchhinna’,
‘Kuyotola’, ‘Darabar Aaina’ etc. ‘Kuotola’
was his first novel. His poems and novels mostly dealt with
his personal reflections and sorrows.
In
1983, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection
of entitled ‘Jete Pari Kintu Keno Jabo’ (can
go but why should I go). This book dealt with various aspects
of life and death and middle-class ties. On one side his
grotesque experience, his call from the moon and next life,
at the same time a call to meet his obligations of family
life, he says.
Annadashankar Roy
(1905 - 2002)
A dozen of Bengali literature, he was the only surviving
literary persona who became a household name in the post-Tagore
era. Rabindranath Tagore was proficient in writing prose,
poetry, drama, songs, everything. Annadashankar was also
adept in many genre of Bengali literature – prose,
poetry, travelogue and essay. In the post-Tagore era, it
was he who pioneered the modernist writing in Bengali literature.
Born
on 15th May, 1905 at Dhenkanal in Orissa, Roy initially
started writing in Oriya. But soon he understood that his
Bengali roots attracted him more than anything else and
he started writing in Bengali. Though he reached the stage
of post-graduation, in his academics, he never had any particular
fascination for formal education. Annadashankar Roy dropped
out of MA course, which he was pursuing in English Literature
from Patna University. Later, he sat for the Indian Civil
Services Examination in 1927, and stood first. He joined
the Indian Civil Service. He took premature retirement in
1951 with a view to devote full-time towards his literary
pursuits.Roy
aspired to become a journalist in the US. The budding young
author was so obsessed with the US, he just wanted to stay
there. He was very much fascinated by the turn of events
in the US. But all his ambition came to a naught when he
failed to laud himself a job several attempts. He decided
to stay back a pursue a career here.
In
1930, an American lady, Alice Virginia Orndorf, came from
Texas to India and met Annadashankar, who was then posted
as Assistant Magistrate of Behrampur. They fell in love
and got married in the same year in Ranchi. Alice, after
her marriage, was renamed Leela Roy as her husband’s
pseudonym at that time was "Leelamoy". Leela Roy
breathed her last in 1992.
Annadashankar
Roy started his literary career by translating Leo Tolstoy’s
Twenty-three Tales. Later, he wrote several novels such
as Ratna O Srimati, Satyasatya, Visalyaksarani Trishnar
Jal, Prabandha Samagra (Collection of Essay) etc. One of
his rhymes ‘Teler shishi banglo bole khukur opor raag
karo, tomra je sob dhedhe khoka bharat bhenge bhaag karo,
Taar bela?’ (What right do you have to be angry with
a little girl for breaking a bottle containing oil, when
you grown-ups can give up a part of your country without
any protest) written about two months before Partition,
has almost become a proverb.He
got the Sahitya Amademi Award for his travelogue Japane
(In Japan) in 1962. He was also honoured with Annada Puraskar
(1983, 1994), Vidyasagar Puraskar (1980) and Shiromoni Puashkar
(1995). However, no amount of onwards Bengali litertue.
Old
age and death is synonymous and the latter overtook the
former in Annadashankar Roy on 28th October, 2002. He was
suffering for a long time. At the time of his death, he
was 97 years old.
Arun Mitra
(1909 - 2000)
Arun Mitra was born on September 2, 1909 at Jessore, now
in Bangladesh. His poem was first published in a children’s
magazine ‘Benu’. He was only 16 year old then.
It was from a very tender age that he became inspired in
Marxism. He read at Bangabashi College and Surendranath
College.
He
started learning French language and it inspired him greatly.
He started translating French poems into Bengali. Later
he almost became an institution in translating French poems
into Bengali. For Bengalis, he became the window of the
French Literature.
From
1931 to 1942, he worked as a journalist in Anandabazar Patrika.
After Anandabazar he joined ‘Arani’. He became
an activist of anti-fascist movement. His anti-fascist poems
are still a great inspiration for all activists of anti-fascist
movement.
He
was actively involved in the propagation of French language
in Bengal. He went to France in 1948. On retiring to India,
he joined Allahabad University as a professor of French
University. From 1972 onwards, Mitra became a Calcuttan
permanently.
He
got the Rabindra Puraskar in 1979 for ‘Shudhu Rater
Shabdo Noy’. He got the Academy award for his book ‘Khujte
Khujte Eto Door’ (a long distance for a search). He
got the D Litt. from Rabindra Bharati University in 1990.
The French government conferred the Legion de ‘onour,
the highest award of the French government on him in 1992.
His
creativity remained alive till last day. He never became
tired of writing poems. He was truly a genius.
Balaichand Mukhopadhyay
(1899-1979)
Banaphool appeared in the Bengali literary scene during
the interim of the two world wars. He was a doctor by profession.
Naturally, he was vastly experience with various places
and joy an sorrow of many people
As a poet Banaphool succeeded most composing satirical poems.
These satirical writings, sometimes covered, sometimes explicit,
are still very relevant. ‘Kingbadanti’ is a
good example of his satirical poems. ‘Angarparni’,
‘Chaturdashi’, ‘Aharanijo’, ‘Banaphooler
Byangakabita’ are instances of his poetical works.
Banaphool excelled in novels, too. His first novel was ‘Trinakhanda’
(1935). His social, familiar, historical, political, psychological
novels are 60 in number, including both big and small works.
His remarkable novel ‘Nate Bazare’ (1961) drew
the attention of the readers. Notable among his many novels
are ‘Bhuran Shome’, ‘Ujjala’, ‘Pakshimithun’,
‘Alor Pipasa’, ‘Sandtu puja’ and
‘Lee’. Lee is the backdrop of marital life.
‘Lee’ is a morning love-story about the longing
of an aged novelist for his dead wife. Here the hero is
the writer himself. Banaphool the novelist is empiricist
and formalist. His ‘fanciful’ and ‘original’
imagination is acquired through a unique curiosity about
human life and experience born out of deep empathy.
Moti Nandi
(1931 - )
Moti Nandi is a well-known name in modern Bengali literature.
He has a nice personality and a good sense of writing in
Bengali literature, especially he was a writer of sports
literature
In early life Moti Nandi played cricket and other games.
The maximum time of his life he was engaged in the sports
reporting and writing sports books. His remarkable novels
of sports are noted as 'Cricketer Aienkanun' (1968), 'Striker'
(1972), 'Cricketer Don' (1975), 'Koni' (1975), 'Khelar Yuddhya'
(1980), 'Kapil Nachchhe' (197), 'Biswajora Biswacup' (1990),
'Minu Chinur Trofi' (1996), 'Cricketer Rajadhiraj Don Bradman'
(1999) etc. Apart from these sports books, he wrote also
many different novels and short stories of different tastes.
His remarkable novels are 'Karuna Basata' (1977), 'Nil Thali'
(1981), 'Ferari' (1990), 'Malabika' (1994), 'Puber Janala'
(1995), 'Bhuter Basay Kalabati' (1998) etc. His famous short
story collections are 'Behular Bhala' (1975), 'Chair (1983),
'Shrestha Galpa' (1992) etc. Since then he wrote forty-five
novels and approximately eight short story collections.
Narayan Sanyal
(1924 - 2005)
Sri
Narayan Sanyal was a well-known and powerful writer
of modern Bengali literature.
He
was born in Calcutta on 26th April 1924. His father
was late Chittasukh Sanyal and mother Late Basantalata
Devi.
He wrote several books of different tastes. His first
book 'Muskil Asan' (Drama) was published in 1954.
During the 46 years he has penned approximately 120
books.
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His
remarkable books are - Gramya Vastu, Parikalpita Paribar
(literature for new-literates); Timi Timingil, Na Manushi
Viswakosh (animal world for juvenile and adults); Ajanta
Aparupa, Rodin (art and architecture); Gramer Bari, Vastu
Vijnan (technology); Netaji Rahasya Sandhane, Chin-Bharat
Long March (research-oriented); Bakultala P.L. Camp, Balmeek
(novels based on refugees); Viswasghatak, Abak Prithibi
(novels based on science); Mahakaler Mandir, Ladlibegam
(historical novel); Sutanuka Ekti Devadasir Nam, Sutanuka
Kono Dvadasir Nam Nay (novels on Devadasi system); Nilimay
Neel, Satyakaam, Ashleelater Daye (novels on social problems).
He
won many awards, including the 'Rabindra Puraskar', the
'Narsinghadas Award' etc. His 'Gramya Vastu' and 'Parikalpita
Paribar' was adjudged the best book in Bengali for the new-literate
in 1958 and 1959 by the Govt. of India. All India Radio
declared the dramatised version of his 'Timi Timingil' as
the best radio broadcast drama of 1982.
Nirad . C Chaudhuri
(1897 - 1999)
Who
was Nirad . C . Chaudhuri? Was he a social reformer?
Or merely a curator? If it is difficult to pinpoint
the genius of Nirad. C. Chaudhuri. Born on 23rd November,
1897, at Kishoregunj, this man remained ever-young
throughout his life.
His subsequent novels, Atmaghati Bangali (Suicidal
Bengali), Bengali Jibone Ramani (women in Bengali’s
life), thy Hand, Great anarch, The continent of circe,
Three horse and the Apocalypse etc lived up to the
trend set by his first novel. |
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Almost all his books reflects the social inadequacies and
the fragile structure of individuals and the fragile structure
of individuals of our society. The darker side of some great
men also came to light through his book.
Whenever he was confronted, he never surrendered, rather
he took pride in exposing the various icons of our society.
In fact, he was against hero-worship.
Salina Husain
Salina
Hussain, an eminent novelist of Bangladesh shared
her views at Nandan on the Annual Programme of “Ekushe
Sansad.” She was clear and bold in her views.
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Salina
was in touch with humanistic problem from her childhood, as
her father kept himself engaged in welfare activities. “Pathos
and laughter, flood and draught, everything was close to my
heart.
Human relationship grew gradually in my mind and maturity
made me a writer, stated the graceful writer.
Sunil Ganguly
(1934 - 1999)
Sunil Gangopadhyay, the famous novelist and poet in
Bengali literature born on 7th September, 1934 in
Faridpur presently in Bangladesh. Though he was born
in Bangladesh but his education are from Calcutta.
He loves travelling and in his writings we get the
reflection of the portrayal of socio-economic condition
of the countries he travelled. He was founder –
editor of Krittibus Patrika.
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He
started as a poet and gradually drifted in writing novels
at equal ease. His first book of poems is ‘Eka Ebang
Kaekjon’; first novel:
Atmaprakash
published in Sharodia Desh. He is equally popular as child
novelist, his first contribution Bhayankar Sundar. He wrote
two drama – Raja – Rani O Rajsabhay Madhabi and
Praner Lahari. His
few such famous contributions are Amriter Putrakanyer, Aranyer
Din Ratri Arjun, Nillohiter Sandhane, Kakababu Samagra etc.
Nasreen Jahan
(1964 - )
Nasreen
Jahan has established herself as a major novelist
in contemporary Bangla fiction. She first revealed
her literary inventiveness through some memorable
short stories in the middle of the eighties. Her entrance
in the realm of novel was announced in 1993 with the
publication of Urukku (The Restless) and fortunately
her first novel brought her an important literary
award. Subsequently she had published a good number
of novels in the last decade.
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Her later books are Chandrer Prothom Kola (The First Phase
of the Moon, 1994), Jakhan Charpasher Batigulo Nive Ashchhe
(When All Lamps Dim 1995) Chandralekhar Jaadubistar (Magical
Exposition of Chandralekha, 1995) Sonali Mukhosh (The Golden
Mask 1996) Baidehi (The Incorporeal, 1997) Li (Titled after
the last syllable of the name of heroine Sonali, 1997) Krus
Kathe Konya (The Daughter on the Cross, 1998) Ure Jai Nishipakshi
(The Nocturnal Bird Flies Away, 1999) etc.
Syed Waliullah
(1922-1971)
Before
Syed Waliullah’s Lalshalu (1948), the history
of novels of Bangladesh was not very significant.
No doubt, there were attempts by a good nuember of
writers, but only a few could create impression on
the readers’ mind. Mohammad Najibar Rahman’s
(1860-1923) Anowara (1914), Kazi Abdul Wadud’s
(1894-1970) Nodibakshe (1919), Kazi Imdadul Huq’s
(1882-1926) Abdullah (published in periodicals in
1920 and in book form in 1933), Abul Fazal’s
(1903-1983) Prodip O Patongyo (1940), Humayun Kabir’s
(1906-1969) Rivers and Women (1945, Bangla version
Nodi O Nari 1952) and Abul Fazal’s Shahashika
(1946) are the important instances. |
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Then
after the partition of 1947 came out Lalshalu, the first
novel of Waliullah, which demonstrated the Bangali-society
in a more analytic and artistic way. But when after sixteen
years his second novel Chander Amabashya (Black Moon) was
published in 1964 (although it was written in 1962-63) it
heralded a newer voice in our novel. His third and last
novel Kando Nodi Kando (Cry O River Cry 1968) exposed that
voice in a more delicate and pleasing way.
Syed Waliullah was born in Chittagong. Completing his intermediate
education from Dhaka Intermediate College, he got his BA
from Kolkata University. At the age of twenty-three only,
when he was a student of MA and served as a sub-editor in
The Statesman, his volume of short stories Nayanchara was
published. Excluding his second volume of short stories
Dui Teer O Onyanyo Golpo, (published in 1965) he wrote more
thirty-two stories, which he did not publish in any book-form.
Along with fiction he had considerable mastery in plays
also. His plays are Bahipeer (1960), Suranga (1964) and
Tarangabhanga (1965). Waliullah was awarded with the Bangla
Academy and Adamji Awards in 1961 and 1965 respectively.
Urdu, French and English Translations of Lalshalu were published
in 1960, 1961 and 1967 titling Lal Shalu, L’Arbre
Saans Racines and Tree without Roots translated by Kalimullah,
Anne-Marie Thibaud and Qaisar Sayeed respectively.
Shahidul Zahir
(1953 - )
Shahidul
Zahir is one of the least acquainted writers of the
country, though the true critics do not fail to identify
the gems in him. In his two novels only he has established
his ability regarding his imagination and experimentation.
Writing all his fiction in the trend of magic realism
Shahidul Zahir has emerged as the pioneer of this
Latin American genre is the literature of Bangladesh.
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In
the year 1988 his first novel Jibon O Rajnaitic Bastobota
( Life and Political Reality) came into light which announced
his appearance as a mighty fiction writer out of the general
trend. After long seven years his second novel She Rate
Purnima Chhilo (That Was a Moonlit Night) was published.
Shahidul Zahir’s novels could not draw much reading
public; more over he roused a huge storm for the unconventional
components in his novels and graded himself as a disputed
writer in the country. But the novelty of narratology in
both his novels is undeniable. The theme of the spirit of
liberation war in his first novel and its treatment are
quite worthy to be talked about.
Akhtaruzzaman Elias
(1943 - 1997)
Akhtaruzzaman
Elias wrote only two novels - Chilekothar Sepai (The Soldier
in an Attic, 1986) and Khoabnama (A Narrative on Dreams,
1996) but he has created a permanent place in the history
of Bangla novels. In the context of the novels of Bangladesh,
he is possibly the second person highest acclaimed after
Syed Waliullah (1922-1971) both of whom wrote the least
(Waliullah wrote only there novels) and with their small
numbers could win the majority readership of Bangla language
with their creativity and their novelty.
Akhteruzzaman Elias started his literary career with the
volume of short stories Anya Ghore Anya Swar in 1976, though
before it his Chilekothar Sepai began to be published serially
in a national daily. By then he came in limelight as a serious
and committed fiction writer. In 1982 his another volume
of short stories Khoanri was published. His literary creation
got an official acclamation when in the year 1983 he was
honoured with the Bangla Academy Literary Award. After two
years his third volume of short stories Dudh Bhate Utpat
came into light in 1985. The year 1987 accorded Elias with
the Alawol Literary Award. In 1989 his fourth volume of
short stories Dhojokher Om was brought out. During the last
months of 1995 he felt very sick which resulted the detection
of cancer in the right leg. On March 20, 1996, he had to
undergo an operation on his leg which was later on cut off
from his body. The authority of Ananda Award of Kolkata
felt honoured to award Elias for his great novel Khoabnama
in April of the same year. On January 04, 1997 Elias died.
Jaal Swapno, Swapner Jaal, a collection of stories and Sanskritir
Bhanga Setu, a collection of essays were published posthumously
in the same year of his death.
Jahanara Imam
(1929 - 1994)
Jahanara
Imam born in a conservative Muslim family of Murshidabad
(India) in 1929, received a liberal education. She
held a Master's degree in Bengali language and literature
and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Dhaka University.
She
has spent a significant part of her life as an educationalist.
She visited the United States in 1964-65 as a Fulbright
scholar and again in 1977 under the International
Visitors Programme at the invitation of the government
of the United States. |
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Mrs.
Imam was a prolific writer. Among her outstanding works
are "Another Life", an autobiographical account
depicting the life of a Muslim conservative family in a
rural society of West Bengal in the first half of the century,
and 'The Days of '71' which gives a graphic account of life
in East Pakistan under the Pakistani military occupation.
Mrs. Imam passed away in 1994.
Razia Khan
(1936 - )
Her
first creative impulses found expressions in rhymes,
Brishti poriya jay/mushol dharay…….. She
was only 8 then. By 15 she was writing full-fledged
novels and at 18 she wrote Bot tolar Upannayash that
created quite a stir when it was published in 1958.
Her adolescence was spent reading Tagore, Sharat Chandra,
Gorky, Shaw, Galsworthy and Marx Engels. |
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A novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, short story writer
Razia Khan has not written enormously, but whatever she
has written will be treasured along with the immortal works
of Bangla literature.
Though
her first love was writing and literature she didn't limit
herself just there. She took great interest in acting and
performed on both the radio and the stage. She also earned
fame for recitation and as a presenter on the radio. An
exceptionally brilliant student of English literature, Razia
Khan stood first class first in both Honours and Masters,
went to University of Birmingham, UK, on a scholarship from
the British Council for higher studies. On her return she
joined the editorial board of the then Pakistan Observer
(renamed the Bangladesh Observer after the independence),
but soon left it to join the English Department of Dhaka
University which set her career path. Among all these she
has, however, continued with her first and ever-lasting
love writing.
Sharbari Z. Ahmed
(1974 - )
Sharbari Zohra Ahmed was born in
Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1971 but had to flee with her
family when she was three weeks old due to the outbreak
of revolutionary war.
She earned Bachelor of Arts degree
in English and Journalism from Marymount College
(NY) in 1994 and earned Master of Arts degree in
Creative Writing from New York University in 1997.
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Sharbari
Ahmad made waves in New York City's theatre scene in 2002.
Originally written in 2001, Raisins not Virgins is a social
comedy of a 29-year-old Muslim-American woman in New York
City. Sahar is a spunky, irreverent young Bangladeshi New
Yorker who is rattled by the seeming contradictions in the
way Muslims practice their faith and plagued her terrible
luck in relationships. At first she is quite disillusioned
by the religion preached by fellow Bangladeshis in her city
but eventually she finds her faith through a series of debates
with various characters and herself.
Abdul Quadir
(1906-1984)
Abdul Quadir, poet, essayist, journalist, was born on 1
June 1906 in the village of Araisidha, comilla, son of Haji
Afsaruddin, a prominent businessman. Abdul Quadir lost his
mother early in childhood and was brought up by his father.
Abdul
Quadir passed the Matriculation from Brahmanbaria Annada
Model High School in 1923. In 1925 he passed the ISc from
Dhaka Intermediate College. He enrolled at the Dhaka University
but could not complete his BA. Instead, in 1929, he joined
the editing section of the monthly saogat in Kolkata. He
was one of the principal initiators of the buddhir mukti
andolan (Movement for freedom of thought), led by the muslim
sahitya samaj. He was the writer as well as editor of shikha
(1927), the mouthpiece of the organisation.
For
some time, Abdul Quadir served as headmaster at the primary
school of the calcutta corporation. Simultaneously, he published
and edited the monthly Jayati from 1930 to 1933. He also
served in various posts at the Saptahik Nabashakti (1934),
Jugantar (1938), Dainik Nabajug (1941), Banglar Katha (the
weekly mouthpiece of the Indian Government Department of
Publicity), Saptahik Mohammadi (1946) and Saptahik Paigam
(1947-52). On his return to Dhaka in 1952 he edited the
monthly mahe-nao up to 1964. From 1964 to 1970, he was publication
officer of the Central Bengali Development Board.
Abdul
Quadir wrote many poems and essays. Among his books of poems,
essays, literary criticism are Dilruba (1933), Uttar Basanta
(1967), Kavi Nazrul (1970), Kazi Abdul Wadud (1976), Yugakavi
Nazrul (1986), etc. He also wrote two books on Bangla prosody:
Chhanda Samiksan (1979) and Bangla Chhander Itibrtta (1985),
Abdul
Quadir also edited a number of books, including Kavya Malancha
(1954), Yakub Ali Chowdhury Rachanabali (1963), Nazrul Rachanabali
(5 vols, 1966-84), Shiraji Rachanabali (1967), Kazi Imdadul
Huq Rachanabali (1968), Abul Hussain Rachanabali (1968),
Lutfar Rahman Rachanabali (1st vol, 1972) Rokeya Rachanabali
(1973), and Bangla Sonnet (1974).
In
recognition of his literary achievements, Abdul Quadir was
awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Prize (1963), Adamjee
Literary Award (1967), Ekushey Padak (1976), Nazrul Academy
Gold Medal (1977), Comilla Foundation Medal (1977), Mohammad
Nasiruddin Gold Medal (1977) and Muktadhara Prize. He expired
in Dhaka on 19 December 1984.
Dr. Ahmed Sharif
(1921 - 1999)
A most controversial and misunderstood personality in the
socio-cultural arena of our time was Dr. Ahmed Sharif, who
was a renowned scholar, researcher of Bengali literature
and a forerunner of free thought movements in Bangladesh.
A man with a deep sense of dignity who was a true non-conformist
and an atheist, a former Chairman and Professor of the Bengali
Department, University of Dhaka, who died on February 24,
1999. The colorful life of Dr. Ahmed Sharif can be divided
into two broad lines, one is his literary and intellectual
side and another one is his socio-cultural and philosophical
side.
Dr. Ahmed Sharif who came from Patiya, Chittagong, did his
Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Bengali literature from the
University of Dhaka, in the year of 1944 and 1967 respectively.
From 1945 to 1949, he taught at Laksham Nawab Faizunnessa
College and later on at Feni College. From July 1949 to
17 December 1950.
In his lifetime, he was the lone authority on ancient and
medieval Bengali literature, the discussions of which he
enriched with many original contributions. He was the author
of more than 100-research publication in the form of books
on history, philosophy, socio-cultural and contemporary
political issues. He edited with long introductions 46 manuscripts
of ancient and medieval Bengali literature and a number
of others were in joint collaboration. It is rated by the
sub-continental scholars that two volumes of his Bangalee
and Bangla Shahitya (Men and Literature of Bengal) published
between 1978 to 1983 are masterpieces.
Mohitlal Majumder
(1888-1952)
Mohitlal Majumder, poet, essayist and literary critic, was
born on 26 October 1888 in the village of Kanchrapara in
Nadia district. Mohitlal started as a poet, but later became
better known as a literary critic. He graduated in arts
in 1908 from Ripon College (now Vidyasagar College), Kolkata.
He began his career as a teacher at Calcutta High School
and continued in this profession until 1928. He also worked
briefly as a kanungo (1914-1917) in the Settlement Department.
He joined dhaka university as a lecturer in the Bangla and
Sanskrit Department in 1928 and retired from there in 1944.
Mohitlal
Majumder made his literary debut through the journal manasi.
Later, he contributed regularly to journals such as the
bharati and Shanibarer Chithi. His early poems, written
in pleasing rhythms, reflect the aspirations and sorrows
of a dreaming youth. Acquainted with Arabic and Persian,
he used Arabic and Persian words in his poems. His poems
are inspired by both aestheticism and spiritualism.
Mohitlal
early poems reveal the influence of rabindranath tagore,
but later, as a member of the Shanibarer Chithi group, he
distanced himself from the older poet. He did not regard
Tagore's poetic works (post-fifty) with much respect and
made an effort to replace him with michael madhusudan dutt
and bankimchandra chattopadhyay.
As
a literary critic, Mohitlal attempted to set standards and
reveal the problems of art and literature. His psychological
and poet-like approach greatly elevated the status of criticism.
In writing critiques he used a number of pseudonyms such
as krittivas ojha, Sabyasachi and Sri Satyasundar Das.
Mohitlal
was a prolific writer. Among his books are Svapan Pasari
(1921), Smargaral (1936), Adhunik Bangla Sahitya (1936),
Bangla Kavitar Chhanda (1945), Kavi Shri Madhusudan (1947),
Sahitya Bichar (1947), Bangla O Banali (1951), and Kavi
Rabindra O Rabindrakavya (1st Vol. 1952, 2nd Vol. 1953).
He also edited bangadarshan for some time.
Jogesh Chandra Bagol
(1903-1972)
Bagol, Jogesh Chandra researcher and writer, was born on
27 May 1903 in his maternal uncle's house at Kumirmara village
in pirojpur district. His paternal home was in Chalisha
village. After completing his primary education, he studied
at Kadamtala George English High School, passing the Entrance
Examination in 1922. He passed the IA Examination in 1924
from Bagerhat College (at present Prafulla Chandra College)
and BA in 1926 from City College. He took admission in Calcutta
University, but could not continue his studies due to financial
constraints.
While
still a student, Jogesh Chandra met aswini kumar datta and
Kamakhya Charan Nag and was influenced by their nationalistic
ideas. In 1928 he started working as a proofreader for the
prabasi and Modern Review. He was then appointed sub-editor.
During this time he became intimate with Brajendra Nath
Das, Ramananda Chattopadhyay, Sajanikanta Das and nirad
c chaudhuri. From 1935 to 1941 he was involved with the
Desh.
Jogesh
Chandra was a fairly prolific writer, writing 21 books in
Bangla and 4 in English. He wrote about 19th century Bengal
after considerable research among old documents, records,
and proceedings of different institutes and journals. Among
his historical writings are Bharater Muktisandhani (1940),
Unavingsha Shatabdir Bangla (1941), and Banglar Navyasangskrti
(1958). He also wrote a book on iswar chandra vidyasagar,
Vidyasagar Parichay (1959), and Kolkata, Kalikatay Sangskrtikendra
(1959). He also wrote considerably on national and social
issues, for example in Hindumelar Itivrtta (1945), The History
of the Indian Association (1953), and Jagrti O Jatiyata
(1959). He was also interested in women's education, writing
in both Bangla and English on the subject in Banglar Strishiksa
(1950) and Women's Education in Eastern India (1956). He
also wrote for children, for example, Sahasir Jayayatra
(1938) and Jatir Baraniya Yara (1943). He also wrote an
autobiography, Baraniya (1959).
Till
1961, when he became handicapped by blindness, he was involved
with writing and research. However, his blindness did not
end his active life. Hindumelar Itivrtta and Sahitya Sadhak
Charitamala were written after he had lost his vision. He
also edited a book on the hundred years of Indian Art College
at this time. In 1958 he gave a speech commemorating Vidyasagar
and in 1968 he did the same on sharat chandra chattopadhyay.
For
his uncommon contributions in the fields of literature and
research he was given the Rampran Gupta Award of the bangiya
sahitya parishat (1956), Sarojini Basu Gold Medal (1962)
of Calcutta University and Shishir Kumar Award (1966) of
Amritabazar magazine. He died on 7 January 1972 in Kolkata.
