Subhash Mukhopadhyay(;12 February 1919 – 8 July 2003) was one of the foremostIndianBengalipoetsof the 20th century. He is also known as the "podatik kobi" ( "foot-soldier poet" ) in the field of Bengali literature. A book of thirty of Subhash's best known poems in English translation, titled ' As Day is Breaking', was published in 2014 by Anjan Basu, a Bangalore-based writer/critic. The book includes a rather detailed introduction to the poet's work as well.[1][2]He was honoured withJnanpith Awardin 1991.[3]
Subhash Mukhopadhyay | |
|---|---|
 Subhash Mukhopadhyay | |
| Born | 12 February 1919 Krishnanagar,Bengal Presidency,British India |
| Died | 8 July 2003 (aged 84) Kolkata,West Bengal,India |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Genre | novels, poetry, libretto |
Early life
editMukhopadhyay was born in 1919 inKrishnanagar,a town inNadia districtin the province ofWest Bengal.[4][5]An excellent student, he studiedphilosophyat theScottish Church CollegeinCalcutta,graduating with honours in 1941.[6]
Career
editLike his contemporarySukanta Bhattacharya,Mukhopadhyay developed strong political beliefs at an early age. He was deeply committed to the cause of social justice, and was active inleft-wingstudent politics through his college years. Following graduation, he formally joined theCommunist Party of India.He thus became one of a handful of literary practitioners with first-hand experience as a party worker and activist.
In 1940, while still a student, he published his first volume of poetryPadatik(Pedestrian).[5]Many critics regard this book as a milestone in the development of modern Bengali poetry. It represented a clear departure from the earlierKallolgeneration of poets; and Subhash's distinctive, direct voice, allied with his technical skill and radical world-view, gained him great popularity. In his poetry, Subhash grappled with the massive upheavals of that era which ruptured Bengali society from top to bottom. The 1940s were marked byworld war,famine,partition,communal riotsand mass emigration in Bengal. Subhash's writings broke away from the traditional moorings of the establishment poets, and instead addressed the despair and disillusion felt by the common people. He remained throughout his life an advocate of the indivisibility of the Bengali people and Bengali culture. His radical activism continued unabated. He was one of the leaders of the "Anti-Fascist Writers' and Artists' Association", formed in March 1942 in reaction to the murder ofSomen Chanda,a fellow-writer andMarxistactivist. Subhash remained attached with the Communist Party until 1982, and spent time in jail as a political prisoner briefly in the late 1960s. From the late 1950s onwards, Subhash's poetry evolved into something more personal and introspective. The lyricism ofPhul phutuk na phutuk, aaj Boshonto,one of his most famous poems, was a result of this period.
Later in the 1970s, Subhash's poetry took a turn toward the narrative and theallegorical.But he never lost his technical facility nor his unique voice. Besides verse, Subhash also wrote works of prose including novels, essays and travelogues. He was active in journalism too, having served on the editorial staff of daily and weekly newspapers. He was an editor of the leading Bengali literary journalParichay.He was also an accomplished and popular writer for children. He edited the Bengali children's periodicalSandeshjointly withSatyajit Rayfor a few years in the early sixties.[7]
Besides the above, Subhash's work as a translator is notable. He is credited with having translated many ofNazim Hizmet's works into Bengali (from Turkish).
Personal life
editMukhopadhyay married Gita Bandyopadhyay, also a well-known writer, in 1951. They adopted three daughters and a son.
According to those close to him, Mukhopadhyay had become disillusioned with politics in his final years. He suffered from severe heart and kidney ailments, and died inKolkatain July 2003. He was 84.
Awards
editMukhopadhyay received numerous awards and honours in his lifetime, including the two highest literary prizes in India: theSahitya AkademiAward in 1964 (forJoto Dureii Jai), and theJnanpith Awardin 1991. The Government of India awarded the civilian honour of thePadma Bhushanin 2003.[8]
Bibliography
editSample work
edit- Excerpt fromPhul phutuk na phutuk, aaj Boshonto
Phul phutuk na phutuk, aaj Boshonto
Shaan-badhano footpath-ey
Pathorey paa dubiye
Ek katth-khotta gachh
Kochi kochi patae
Paanjor phatiye hashchhey.
Translation to English:
Whether flowers bloom or not, it's Spring today
Standing on the concrete pavement
Dipping his toes into the rock
A curmudgeonly tree
Decked out in new leaves
Laughs his heart out.
- English translation of the poemJol Saite[9]
When you see, may you not feel hurt,
May your sight be soothed and you feel good,
For that
I have stuck flowers in all the thorns pricked in my breast,
Do smile.
May you not feel sad when you hear,
May your ears be soothed with sweet sound and you feel good,
For that
I have wrapped my weeping heart in melodious tunes
Do smile, all ye, do enjoy...
Notable works
edit- Padatik (The Foot Soldier)
- Chirkut(The Parchment)
- Agnikone
- Phul Phutuk(Let the Flowers Bloom)
- Joto Dureii Jai(How Distant I may be)
- E Bhai(Hey, Brother)
- Kaal Modhumash(Tomorrow is Spring)
- Cheley Gechhey Boney(The Son has gone to Exile)
- Bangalir Itihaash(History of Bengalis)
- Desh Bidesher Rupkotha(Fairy Tales from Home and Abroad)
Recognition
edit- Sahitya Akademi Award,1964
- Afro-Asian Lotus Prize,1977
- Kumaran Asan Award,1982
- Mirzo Tursunzoda Prize(USSR), 1982
- Ananda Puraskar,1991
- Soviet Land Nehru Award
- Jnanpith Award,1991.
He was a fellow of theSahitya Akademi,and was the Deputy Secretary of the Progressive Writers' Union. He was conferred Deshikottama (Honorary D.Litt.) by theVisva-Bharati University,Santiniketan.He was the Organizer-General of theAfro-Asian Writers' Associationin 1983. He was also a member of the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi since 1987.
The U.S.Library of Congresshas a collection of forty titles by him including translations.
Legacy
edit- In 2010 a metro railways station in KolkataKavi Subhash Metro Stationhas been named after poet.[10]
- In 2009 Sealdah-NJP Express was named "Padatik Express" after this book in memory of the poet.[11]
References
edit- ^Biography of Subhash Mukhopadhyay fromThe South Asian Literary Recordings ProjectArchived13 August 2016 at theWayback Machineloc.gov.
- ^"Everyman's poet bids final farewell" Obituary of Subhash MukhopadhyayThe Telegraph.Calcutta, 9 July 2003.
- ^"Everyman's poet bids final farewell: Obituary [Subhas Mukhopadhyay]".The Telegraph (Calcutta).9 July 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved22 May2016.
- ^"End of revolution for everyman's poet".Telegraph Calcutta.9 July 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2013.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^abSubhash Mukherjee; Surabhi Bandyopādhyāẏa (1 January 1996).The Cape.Orient Blackswan. pp. 3–.ISBN978-81-250-0936-8.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^Some Alumni of Scottish Church Collegein175th Year Commemoration Volume.Scottish Church College, April 2008, p. 591
- ^""Sandesh: Reborn on May, 1931" article from http:// satyajitray ".Archived fromthe originalon 7 May 2007.Retrieved16 January2008.
{{cite web}}:External link in|title= - ^"Padma Awards"(PDF).Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015.Archived(PDF)from the original on 19 October 2017.Retrieved21 July2015.
- ^"Ode to a poet"The TelegraphCalcutta, 6 August 2003
- ^"Kolkata metro reaches New Garia".Railway Gazette. 7 October 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 13 January 2012.Retrieved23 July2011.
- ^"Tracks & trains for 'backward' region".Telegraph Calcutta.5 October 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved7 October2012.
