Sunil Gangopadhyay

48

Sunil Gangopadhyay : biography

7 September 1934 – 23 October 2012

Notes

Literary career

Krittibas

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.

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. He became friends with 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

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.

Awards and honours

Awards

  • 1972: Ananda Puraskar in general category
  • 1979: "National poet" honour was given by Akashbani Kolkata
  • 1983: Bankim Puraskar for the book Sei Somoy
  • 1984: Sahitya Akademi Award for the book Sei Somoy
  • 1989: Ananda Puraskar for the book Purbo-Paschim
  • 1989: Sahitya Setu puroskar
  • 1999: Annada-Snowcem puroska for the story Nil Lohiter Golpo
  • 2003: Annadashankar puroskar
  • 2004: Saraswati Samman for Prothom Alo
  • 2011: The Hindu Literary Prize, shortlist, The Fakir
  • 2012: Sera Bangali Lifetime Achievement Award by Star Ananda

Honors

  • 2002: Sheriff of Kolkata.
  • Honorary D.Litt from The University of Burdwan

Early life

He was born in Faridpur in what is now Bangladesh. 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.

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

Controversies

  • In 1970 Satyajit Ray’s film Pratidwandi released which was based on Gangopadhyay’s novel. In the novel Gangopadhyay depicted how a poor nurse used to entertain men for some moolah. This arose controversy and nurses across the city of Kolkata protested against such depiction.
  • In 2006 Gangopadhyay’s novel Ardhek Jibon where he expressed his carnal desire for Hindu goddess Saraswati created some controversies . A retired IPS officer lodged a case against Gangopadhyay in the Calcutta High Court. Against this controversy Gangpadhyay felt– he had no freedom to express what he felt. Another Bengali writer Buddhadeb Guha found this a cheap gimmick and he told– "I don’t support such cheap gimmicks. An author should set an example for the younger generations. If an author thinks it’s cool to say that he loves to booze and enjoys going to Sonagachhi, then this only speaks poorly of him."
  • In September 2012 Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen accused Sunil Gangopadhyay of sexually harassing her and other women. She also alleged that Gangopadhyay was involved in banning her novel ‘Dwikhandito’ and her "banishment" from West Bengal.

List of major works

Poetry

  • Eka o Koyekjon
  • Hathat Nirar Janya
  • Bhorbelar Upohar
  • Sada Prishtha tomar sange
  • Sei Muhurte Nira
  • Kaydata Shikhe Nebe

Novels

  • Atmaprakash (1965)
  • 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
  • Aashray
  • Alpona Aar Shikha
  • Achena Manush
  • Aamar Swapna
  • Nadir Opar
  • Satyer Aral
  • Sei Somoy
  • Pratham Alo
  • Purbo-Paschim
  • Nihsanga Samrat (2005)

Kakababu series

Translated books

  • First Light ISBN 0140004304
  • Those days ISBN 0140268529
  • East-West Penguin Books India
  • The Lovers and the other stories ISBN 81-7189-838-6
  • Pratidwandi ISBN 81-250-1902-2
  • Murmur in the Woods ISBN 81-220-0568-3
  • The Youth ISBN 81-291-0125-4
  • Ranu O Bhanu Translated by Sheila Sengupta
  • The Lonely Monarch Translated by Swapna Dutta, ISBN 978-93-5009-628-4

Death

Sunil Gangopadhyay died at 2:05 AM on 23 October 2012 at his South Kolkata residence, following a heart attack. He was suffering from prostate cancer for some time and went to Mumbai for treatment. He returned to Kolkata on the day of Mahalaya. Gangopadhyay’s body was cremated on 25 October at Keoratola crematorium, Kolkata.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee condoled the death of Gangopadhyay saying– 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.