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The South Asian Literary Recordings Project

Subhas Mukhopadhyay, 1919-

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Image of Subhas Mukhopadhyay, 1919- (photo credit: Bikas Das)

Select page numbers to listen or LCCN to display the bibliographic record.

Readings:

  1. Subhasha Mukhopadhyayera srestha kabita.
    8. paribardhita samskarana. Kalakata: Dey's Publishing, 1998.
    (LCCN: 2001291956; LC has different edition)
  2. Ekabara bidaya de ma.
    1. samskarana. Kalakata : Ananda Publishers 1995.
    (LCCN: 96902482)

Subhas Mukhopadhyay, born on February 12, 1919 in Krishnanagar, Nadia, West Bengal, is one of the most brilliant of modern Bengali poets. Beginning in the 1940s his non-romantic, straightforward approach heralded a new era in Bengali poetry with many poets adopting his themes. His deep social commitment, first-hand experience as a communist party worker, and his idealism gave his poems unprecedented popularity. Though sometimes too literal in conveying its message, his poems were never devoid of beauty.

Political themes, social unrest, protest by the common people and their hope and buoyancy characterize his earlier poems like Padatika, Agnikona, Chitrakuta. Beginning in the late 1950s, his poems became more reflective and personal. Innate beauties of daily life, empathy for the common man, and his faith in humanity created such unforgetable poems as Phula phutuka na phutuka aja Basanta, and Yata durei yai. In the 1970s and later his poems became increasingly allegorical and written in a narrative style. Ya re kagagera nauka, Dharmera kala, Ekabara bidaya de ma expressed his feelings of disillusionment with his characteristic grace.

Mukhopadhyay has also written a number of novels, essays, travelogues, and poetry translations. He is a successful children's writer and is the editor of both children's magazines and literary journals for adults. His work has been translated into many Indian and foreign languages.

Mukhopadhyay is the recipient of many awards and honors including the Sahitya Akademi Award, 1964; Afro-Asian Lotus Prize, 1977; Kumaran Asan Award, 1982; Mirzo Tursun Zade Prize (USSR), 1982; Ananda Puraskar, 1991; Soviet Land Nehru Prize, Bharatiya Jnanpith Award, 1991. He is a fellow of the Sahitya Akademi, and is the Deputy Secretary of the Progressive Writers' Union. He was conferred Deshikottama by the Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan. He was the Organizer-General of the Afro-Asian Writers' Association in 1983. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi since 1987.

The Library of Congress has forty titles by him including translations.

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November 15, 2002
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