Sunil Gangopadhyay

Sunil Gangopadhyay
Sunil Gangopadhyay image
Born (1934-09-07)7 September 1934
Faridpur, Bengal, British India (now Bangladesh)
Died 23 October 2012(2012-10-23) (aged 78)
Kolkata (Calcutta), India
Resting place N/A
Pen name Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay[1]
Occupation Writer
Language Bengali
Nationality Indian
Ethnicity Bengali Hindu
Citizenship Indian
Education Master of Arts (Bengali)
Alma mater University of Calcutta (1954)
Period 1953–2012
Notable works First Light (Prathama Alo), Those Days (Sei Somoy), East and West (Poorba Pashchim)
Notable awards Ananda Puraskar (1972, 1989)
Sahitya Akademi Award (1985)
Spouse Swati Bandopadhyay (m. 1967)[2]
Children Souvik Gangopadhyay (b. 1967)[2]
Signature
Sunil Gangopadhyay signature in Bengali
Website
www.sunilgangopadhyay.org

Sunil Gangopadhyay or Sunil Ganguly (Bengali: সুনীল গঙ্গোপাধ্যায় Shunil Gônggopaddhae), (7 September 1934 – 23 October 2012)[1] was an Indian Bengali poet and novelist based in the Indian city of Kolkata.[3] Born in Faridpur, in what is now Bangladesh, Gangopadhyay obtained his master's degree in Bengali from the University of Calcutta. In 1953 he and a few of his friends started a Bengali poetry magazine, Krittibas. Later he wrote for many different publications.

Ganguly created the Bengali fictional character Kakababu and wrote a series of novels on this character which became significant in Indian children's literature. He received Sahitya Akademi award in 1985 for his novel Those Days (Sei Samaya).[4] Gangopadhyay used the pen names Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.[1]

Early life

He was born in Faridpur into a Bengali Hindu family in what is now Bangladesh. He came to live in Kolkata from his ancestral town at an early age. Later, his ancestral town fell within East Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947. He studied at the Surendranath College, Dum Dum Motijheel College, City College, Kolkata - all affiliated with the University of Calcutta. Thereafter, he obtained his master's degree in Bengali from the University of Calcutta in 1954.[2]

He married Swati Banerjee on 26 February 1967. Their only son, Souvik, who stays in Boston, was born on 20 November 1967.[2]

Literary career

Krittibas

Main article: Krittibas
Sunil in the Krittibas stall in Nandan

Gangopadhyay was the founder editor of Krittibas, a seminal poetry magazine started publishing from 1953, that became a platform for a new generation of poets experimenting with many new forms in poetic themes, rhythms, and words.[1][5]

Other works

Later, he started writing for various publications of the Ananda Bazar group, a major publishing house in Kolkata and has been continuing it for many years.[1] He became a friend of the beat poet Allen Ginsberg while he was travelling in India. Ginsberg mentioned Gangopadhyay most notedly in his poem September on Jessore Road. Gangopadhyay in return mentioned Ginsberg in some of his prose work. After serving five years as the Vice President, he was elected the President of the Sahitya Akademi on 20 February 2008[6]

Sunil, along with Tarun Sanyal, Jyotirmoy Datta and Satrajit Dutta had volunteered to be defence witnesses in the famous trial of Hungry generation movement poet Malay Roy Choudhury.[7]

Works

Gangopadhyay in Science City, Kolkata in January 2010

Author of well over 200 books,[1] Sunil was a prolific writer who has excelled in different genres but declares poetry to be his "first love".[5] His Nikhilesh and Neera series of poems (some of which have been translated as For You, Neera and Murmur in the Woods) have been extremely popular.

As in poetry, Sunil was known for his unique style in prose. His second novel was Atmaprakash and it was also the first writing from a new comer in literature published in the prestigious magazine- Desh (1965).[8] It was critically acclaimed but some controversy arose for its aggressive and 'obscene' style. Sunil said that he was afraid of this novel and went away from Calcutta for a few days. Satyajit Ray thought to make a film on it but it wasn't possible for reasons. The central character of 'Atmaprakash' is a young man of core-calcutta'- Sunil, who leads a bohemian life-style. The novel had inspiration from ' On the road' by Jack Kerouac, the beat generation writer. His historical fiction Sei Somoy (translated into English by Aruna Chakravorty as Those Days) received the Indian Sahitya Akademi award in 1985. Sei Somoy continues to be a best seller more than two decade after its first publication. The same is true for Prothom Alo (also translated recently by Aruna Chakravorty as First Light), another best selling historical fiction and Poorba-Pashchim, a raw depiction of the partition and its aftermath seen through the eyes of three generations of Bengalis in West Bengal, Bangladesh and elsewhere. He is also the winner of the Bankim Puraskar (1982), and the Ananda Puraskar (twice, in 1972 and 1989).

Sunil Gangopadhyay giving autographs to his fans in Kolkata Book Fair 2010

Sunil wrote in many other genres including travelogues, children's fiction, short stories, features, and essays. Among his pen-names are: Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.[1]

Though he wrote all types of children's fiction, one character created by him that stands out above the rest, was Kakababu, the crippled adventurist, accompanied by his young adult nephew Santu, and his friend Jojo. Since 1974, Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote over 35 novels of this popular series, most of which appeared in Anandamela magazine.

Film based on his literary works

Death

Sunil Gangopadhyay died at 2:05 AM on 23 October 2012 at his South Kolkata residence, following a heart attack.[1][10][11] He was suffering from prostate cancer for some time[12] and went to Mumbai for treatment. He returned to Kolkata on the day of Mahalaya.[13] Although he was an agnostic and never followed any rituals, Gangopadhyay's body was cremated following Hindu custom on 25 October at Keoratola crematorium with several dignitaries and numerous fans paying their last tributes.However, Ganguly was an atheist and he never had any belief in any Hindu religious activities.[14]

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee condoled the death of Gangopadhyay saying–[11]

Gangopadhyay had enriched Bengali literature through his unique style. He was one of the best intellectuals among his contemporaries. The vacuum created by his death cannot be filled

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, who was closely associated with the writer since 1964, said that Bengali literature would remain indebted to him.[15]

Controversies

List of major works

Poetry

Novels

  • Atmaprakash (1964)[8]
  • Chaya Darshon
  • Anno Jiboner Shad
  • Shopno Somvob
  • Suniler Satdin
  • Rani O Obinash
  • Kothay Alo
  • Jol Jongoler Kabbo
  • Ekti Rat Tinti Jibon
  • Jomoj Kahini
  • Madhu Kahini
  • Otyagsahan
  • Gonesh Diye Shuru
  • Unmochoner Muhurte
  • Adhar Raater Atithi
  • Aakash Paatal
  • Asroy
  • Alpona Aar Shikha
  • Achena Manush
  • Aamar Swapna
  • Nadir Opar
  • Satyer Aral
  • Sei Somoy
  • Pratham Alo
  • Poorba-Pashchim
  • Nihsanga Samrat (2005)
  • Moner Manus (2008)
  • Bosudha o tar meye(2010)
  • Saraswati-r pa-er kacche(2012)

Autobiography

Kakababu series

Main article: Kakababu
  • Sabuj Dwiper Raja
  • Kakababu O Sindukrahasya
  • Kakababu O Bajralama
  • Santu Kothay,Kakababu Kothay
  • Vijaynagarer Hire
  • Jangaler Modhe Ek Hotel
  • Bhayankar Sundoor
  • Santu O Ak Tukro Chand
  • Kakababu Herey Gelen?
  • Kolkatar Jongole
  • Bhopal Rahashya
  • Pahar Churae Atanka
  • Khali Jahajer Rohosyo
  • Agun Pakhir Rohoshyo
  • Kakababu Bonam Chorashikari
  • "Sadhubabar haat(Short Story)"
  • Ulka Rahoshsho
  • Kakababu O Ek Chhodmobeshi
  • Ebar Kakababur Protishodh
  • Mishor Rohoshsho(Mystery in Egypt)
  • Kakababu O Ashchorjo Dweep
  • Agneyogirir peter madhye
  • Kakababu O Jaladashu
  • Golokdhandhay Kakababu
  • Kakababu Samagra (1-6)
  • 'Kakababu O Chadan Dossu'

Translated books

Awards and honours

Awards

Honors

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Bengali writer Sunil Gangopadhyay dies of a heart attack at 78". IBNLive. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Spouse and children of Gangopadhyay". Sunil Gangopadhyay website.
  3. ↑ "Sunil Gangopadhyay". LIbrary of Congress. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Ruth Vanita; Saleem Kidwai (22 September 2001). Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 336–. ISBN 978-0-312-29324-6. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Bengal's literary chameleon". The Age. November 1, 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Gangopadhyay elected Sahitya Akademi president". The Hindu. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  7. ↑ Indian and Foreign Review. Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1969. p. 271. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Sunil Gangopadhyay dies". BD News. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Tsui, Clarence (3 October 2013). "Vara: A Blessing: Busan Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Eminent Bengali writer Sunil Gangopadhyay passes away". Bengal Newz. 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  11. 1 2 "Eminent litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay passes away at his Kolkata residence". Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Bengali writer Sunil Gangopadhyay dies". NDTV. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Amaratwa ke tachhilya korte chaiten tini". Anandabazar Patrika. 26 October 2012.
  14. ↑ "The discovery of utility in death". Yahoo News. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Sunil Gangopadhyay passes away". The Hindu. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  16. 1 2 "The freedom song". The Times of India. Jun 19, 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Taslima Nasreen accuses author Sunil Gangopadhyay of sexual harassment". The Times of India. Sep 4, 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Taslima tweets: Sunil molested me". BDNews. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Translated Books of Sunil Gangopadhyay". Sunil Gangopadhyay's website. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Sunil Gangopadhyay awards". Sunil Gangopadhyay website. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  21. 1 2 3 "Eminent Litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay Dead". Outlook India. Retrieved 26 October 2012.

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