Sarat Chandra Chottopadhyay

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay  (15 September 1876 – 16 January 1938) was a Bengali author and short story writer of early 20th century.

Personal life

 Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay  (nickname Nyarha) was born in Devanandaporea rural community in West Bengal under the region of Hooghly on 15 September 1876 (31 Bhadra 1283 BY). For a juncture his father was working in Bihar—the rest of the ancestors lived in Bhagalpore with his motherly grandfather. Changing family financial situation resulted in a series of school changes for youthful Sarat.

In his own words:

"My childhood and youth were approved in great poverty. I established almost no education for want of means. From my father I inherited nothing except for, as I believe, his restless spirit and his keen attention in literature. The first made me a tramp and sent me out tramp the whole of India quite early, and the second made me a dreamer all my life.”

According to the author's own account Jamuna was the clatalyst in reviving his fictional career even as he was in Burma. He said:

"A mere accident made me start again, after the lapse of about eighteen years. Some of my old acquintances started a little magazine, but no one of note would condescend to contribute to it, as it was so small and insignificant. When almost hopeless, some of them remember me, and after much persuasion they accomplish something in extracting from me a promise to write for it. This was in the year 1913. I promised the preponderance unwillingly - maybe only to put them off till I returned to Rangoon and could forget all about it. But sheer volume and force of their letters and telegram forced me at last to think critically about writing again. I sent them a short story for their magazine Jamuna. This became at once popular, and made me famous in one day. Since then I have been writing regularly. In Bengal, perhaps, I am the only providential writer who has not had to struggle."

In his own time Sarat Chandra practised Homeopathy, opened a primary school and formed a party of Keertan music. His first wife Shanti Devi to whom he was married in 1906, died of plague in 1908 along with his one year old son. To fill the void in his life, he studied sociology, politics, philosophy, health sciences, psychology and history borrowing books from the Barnerd Free Library. In 1909 due to health troubles due to heart correlated complications he had to cut down his learn hours and started to paint. His first work of art was named Ravan-Mandodori. Chatterjee was married in 1910 the second time an young person widow named Mokshada - who he renamed Hiranmoye.

Since his return to Calcutta the Author's writings appeared in all magazines of note and his popularity grew from strength to power. Adaptation of his Viraj Bou was first exaggerated at the Star Theatre in 1918 under the way of Amritlal Bose. Viraj Bou was also his first novel to be translate to Hindi by Chandrashekhar Pathak in 1919. A year after that Datta was translated into Marathi and into Gujrati in 1921. In 1922 Oxford University Press published the English translation of Srikanto - Part I by Kshitish Chandra Sen and Teodosia Thompson. Srikanto was translated into Italian in 1925. Here on, various other stories and novels started to appear regularly in many Indian and other languages.

Background

Sarat Chandra was born into shortage in Debanandapur, Hooghly, Bengal Presidency, British Raj. His family was occasionally support by other family member and Chattopadhyay's lack of monetary stability would influence his writing in years to come. He started his learning at "Pyari Pandit"s" pathshala and then he took admission at Hooghly Branch High School. Although he began as a fine arts scholar, Chattopadhyay left his study due to his importunate state of deficiency. He received his early knowledge while residing at his maternal uncle's house in Bhagalpur. He spent 20 years of his life in Bhagalpur and a momentous portion of his novel were either written in Bhagalpur or based on his practice in Bhagalpur.

His work represent rural Bengali culture and he often wrote touching social superstitions and dominion. For a short period he was a sannyasi, a Hindu ascetic who abandon the material and social worlds. His first in print story was "Mandir". He was chiefly sensitive to the origin of women.

                                                                

Sarat Chandra's house at Samta.                      Room of Sarat Chandra in his house at Samta.

After frequent from Burma, Chattopadhyay stayed for 11 years in Baje Shibpur, Howrah. Then he made a house in the town of Samtabere. He spent the later years of his duration as a novelist in Samtabere and in one more house in Kolkata. His dwelling in Samtaber is frequently called by and shown as Sarat Chandra Kuthi in the atlas of Samtaber or Samta, in the Howrah district of West Bengal.

The Rupnarayan River then worn to flow right outside the window of Sarat Chandra’s ground floor learning. Now, the river has changed its route and has moved far away. The two storied Burmese style house was also home to Sarat Chandra's brother, Swami Vedananda, who was a disciple of Belur Math. His along with his brother Swami Vedananda's samadhi can still be seen there. Swami Vedananda was a disciple in Belur Math. The trees like that of wicker, galoncho and the guava trees planted by the well-known author are still sightseer attraction.

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The trees planted by Sarat Chandra.

Parts of the house-like the mud-walled kitchen-collapsed and the house was injured in the 1978 floods, the Zilla Parishad undertook its repair spending 77000. After it was declared as a Heritage or Historical Site by the Clause 2 of the West Bengal Heritage Commission Act 2001 (Act IX of 2001)Act IX of 2001 in 2009 the whole house was renovated and the belongings of Sarat Chandra like his furniture, under your own steam stick, shoes etc. were sophisticated and are restored in showcases. The tree which was almost going to fall down and die was given correct care and support. The house’s boundary has been extended until the Samadhis, surrounding them which previous used to lie on the road. with the exception of these trees have been planted around the house which add to its attractiveness.

Sarat Mela

Sarat Mela is an yearly fair which is held in late January every year for seven days to showcase the different lifetimes of Sarat Chandra. The fair is solely dedicated to Sarat Chandra and his works. Sarat Mela was started in 1972. whole with countless stalls of handicraft and local products, giant wheels, merry-go-rounds, stalls of jalebi, papad, toys, utensils, etc. Cultural programs mostly held by local talents, debate and singing competition is also held. student display their handicraft as do part-time and specialized gardeners. They also exhibit unique like over-sized vegetables and plants, series of soil relief plaques depicting the various phases of Sarat Chandra’s life like his childhood, his marriage, his homeopathic clinic for the poor, his last journey to Kolkata’s Park Nursing Home in a palanquin and so on which vicious circle the eye. Also such clay “illustrations” of Sarat Chandra’s works like Mahesh are install. The fair ends late at nighttime with Chhau dance and a fireworks display.

The fair is held on the Panitras High School argument some distance from Sarat Chandra’s house but if it could be shifted to the open space where the Rupnarayan River once flowed right in facade of the house people could link the two more easily. The Government of West Bengal does not make available funds, only private and community donations allow the villagers to hold the fair. However, a little bit the number of people it draws is reduced due to horrifying weather conditions like rainfall.

Work

• Bordidi, (The Elder Sister) 1907
• Bindur Chhele, (Bindu's Son) 1913
• Parinita/Parineeta, 1914
• Biraj Bou, (Mrs. Biraj) 1914
• Ramer Shumoti, (Ram Returning to Sanity) 1914
• Palli Shomaj, 1916
• Arakhsanya, 1916
• Debdas/Devdas, 1917 (written in 1901)
• Choritrohin, (Characterless) 1917
• Srikanto, (4 parts, 1917, 1918, 1927, 1933)
• Datta, 1917–19
• Grihodaho, 1919
• Dena Paona, (Debts and Demands) 1923
• Pather Dabi, (Demand for a Pathway) 1926
• Ses Prasna, (The Final Question) 1931
• Bipradas, 1935
• Nishkriti
• Mej Didi
• Chandranath
• Bilashi
• Mandir
• Pandit Mashay
• Dhare Alo
• Naba Bidhan
• Shesher Parichoy
• Boikunter Will
• Shubhoda
• Swami (The Husband)
• Ekadoshi Bairagi
• Mahesh (The Drought)
• Anuradha
• Anupamar Prem
• Andhare Aalo
• Dorpochurno (Broken Pride)
• Harilakshmi
• Kashinath
• Abhagir Swargo
• Aalo O Chhaya
• Sharda (published posthumously)

Films

His works have been made into some fifty films in many Indian language,^[5] predominantly his novel Devdas made into eight versions, from Bengali, Hindi to Telugu, all verson get huge response. Parineeta also been made twice, Majhli Didi (1967) by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Swami (1977) for which he was awarded Filmfare Award for Best Story. an additional famous film Chhoti Bahu (1971) is based on his novel Bindur Chhele.His Novel 'Datta' was customized into a Bengali film (1976) starring Suchitra Sen and Soumitra Chatterjee in the guide roles.

There was an additional movie based on his novel called Nishkriti, Apne Paraye (1980) by Basu Chatterjee, starring Amol Palekar. The Telugu film Thodi Kodallu (1957) is also based on this novel. Gulzar's 1975 film, Khushboo is majorly inspired by his work allowable Pandit Mashay. The 1961 Telugu film Vagdanam by Acharya Atreya is insecurely based on his novel Datta. Also the 2011 film Aalo Chhaya is based on his short story, Aalo O Chhaya.

The first (silent) film Aandhare Aalo based on the author was screened at the Rasa (Purna) Theatre - was directed by none other than the Stage King Sisir Bhaduri (with co-director Naresh Mitra) who was also responsible for making film of the author's Pally Samaj in 1932. The first film (with sound) based on his Dena Paona was directed by Premankur Atarthi - released in 1931.

Calcutta University honoured him with the Jagattarini Gold Medal in 1923 and Romain Rolland recognised him as one of the best novelists of the world in 1925. Dacca (now Dhaka) University bestow on him the honorary D. Lit. degree in 1936. Sarat Chandra was actively afraid in Indian liberty movement and became the President of  Howrah District Congress at the demand of C. R. DasNarayan edited by the latter.

Awards and degrees

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is known as Oporajoy Kothashilpi in Bangla literature

• Kuntolin puraskar (For Mandir)
• D-Lit (Given by University of Dhaka, now in Bangladesh)

Textbooks

• Golpo Songroho (Collected Stories), the national text book of B.A. (pass and subsidiary) course of Bangladesh, published by University of Dhaka in 1979 (reprint in 1986).
• Bangla Sahitya (Bengali Literature), the national text book of intermediate (college) level of Bangladesh published in 1996 by all educational boards.

Death

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay who is belovedly known in Bengal as the everlasting Wordsmith, died of cancer of the liver on 16 January 1938 at 10:10 am at Park Nursing Home in Calcutta. Bengal lost one of its greatest sons - one that loved her from the center of his heart. He died in Kolkata of liver cancer in 1938.

After the bereavement of his parents, Chattopadhyay left his college education midway and went to Burma in 1903. There he found service with a Government Office as clerk. He did not remain at his job in Burma for long and decided to come back to his mother country but before his departure he submit a short story for a prize opposition under his uncle's name, Surendranath Ganguli. It won first prize in 1904.

Chattopadhyay's biography is obtainable in Hindi, written by a well-known author, Vishnu Prabhakar. Prabhakar traveled for fourteen years endlessly to collect fabric for this book.

Though he was at all times known to be an courageous title holder of the marginalized when it comes to novels, in my opinion he was forever a shy and private person. There was an juncture when his name was already announced and he was theoretical to meet his readers but he left and the curtain was raise on an empty step.

Follow

·        Films based on works by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.

·        Samtaber, the village where Sarat Chandra spent his life's early years as a novelist.

·        Sarat Chandra Kuthi, the house of Sarat Chandra at Samtaber.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay  (27 June 1838 – 8 April 1894) was a Bengali writer, poet and reporter. He was the composer of India’s national song Vande Mataram, originally a Bengali and Sanskrit stotra characterize India as a mother goddess and inspirational the activist during the Indian Freedom Movement. Bankim Chandra wrote 13 novel in addition to several ‘serious, serio-comic, mocking, systematic and dangerous treaties’ in Bengali. His works be widely translated into other regional languages of India as well as in English.

Bankim Chandra was born to an accepted Brahmin family unit at Kanthalpara, North 24 Parganas. He was educated at Hooghly Mohsin College founded by well-known Bengali philanthropist Muhammad Mohsin and Presidency College, Calcutta. He was one of the first former students of the University of Calcutta. From 1858, until his retirement in 1891, he served as a deputy magistrate and deputy radio dish in the Government of British India.

When Bipin Chandra Pal decided to start a nationalistic journal in August 1906, he named it Vande Mataram, after Bankim Chandra's song. Lala Lajpat Rai also available a journal of the same first name.

Suniti Kumar Chattopadhyay

 

Chatterji was born on 26 November 1890 at Shibpur in Howrah. He was the son of Haridas Chattopadhyay, an wealthy Kulin Brahmin.He was an Indian multilingual person, educationist and litterateur.

Education

Suniti Kumar was a commendable student, and  approved the Entrance (school leaving) assessment from the Mutty Lal Seal's Free School (1907), ranking sixth, and the FA (pre-university examination) from the celebrated Scottish Church College, reputation third. He did his Major (Honours) in English writing from Presidency College, Kolkata, position first in the first class in 1911. In 1913, he complete his M.A. in English literature, again standing first. The same year, he was appointed academic in English at Vidyasagar College, Kolkata where his colleague was the theatrical, Sisir Kumar Bhaduri.

Profession

In 1914, he became subordinate professor of English in the Post-Graduate Department of the University of Calcutta, which he held till 1919. He went abroad to learning at the University of London where he intentional Phonology, Indo-European Linguistics, Prakrit, Persian, Old Irish, Gothic and other languages. He then went to Paris and did investigate at the Sorbonne in Indo-Aryan, Slav and Indo-European Linguistics, Greek and Latin. His teacher was worldwide acclaimed linguist, Jules Bloch. After recurring to India in 1922, he joined the University of Calcutta as the Khaira lecturer of Indian Linguistics and Phonetics. After departure in 1952, he was made lecturer Emeritus and later in 1965, the National investigate Professor of India for Humanities.

World tour with Tagore

Suniti Kumar attend Rabindranath Tagore to Malaya, Sumatra, Java, and Bali, where he delivered lecture on Indian art and culture. He was Chairman of the West Bengal lawmaking Council (1952–58) and President (1969) of the Sahitya Akademi.

Writings

Suniti Kumar accompany Rabindranath Tagore to Malaya, Sumatra, Java, and Bali, where he distribute lectures on Indian art and background. He was broadcaster of the West Bengal lawmaking Assembly (1952-58) and head (1969) of the Sahitya Akademi.

Among his significant publications on both talking and journalism are

• The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language
• Bengali Phonetic Reader
• Indo-Aryan and Hindi
• Ramayana: its Character, Genesis, History and Exodus: A Resume. Calcutta: Prajna.

The Bengali linguists Suniti Kumar Chatterji and Sukumar Sen elective that Bengali had its origin in the 10th century ce, deriving from Magahi Prakrit (a spoken language) from beginning to end Magahi Apabhramsha (its written counterpart).

Death

Suniti Kumar died on May 29, 1977 in Calcutta. A great part of his house 'Sudharma'  an architectural marvel, in South Calcutta has been rehabilitated into a Fabindia stock up.