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In
his literary career, Sarat Chandra had seen about 50 novelists and story
writers who happened to be his contemporaries. Some of them readily joined the Sarat Chandra bandwagon while some imitated the European style and attempted to
remodel Bengali literature with variety, novity, grace and poise.
Notable among them were Pramatha Chaudhuri, Dr. Naresh Chandra Sengupta, Manindralal Basu, Bibhuti Bhusan
Bandopaddhay, Sailajananda Mukhopaddhay, Jagadish Chandra Gupta, Premendra Mitra, Achinta Kumar Sengupta, Buddhadev Basu, Prabodh Kumar Sanyal,
Tara Shankar Bandopaddhay, Saroj Kumar Roy Chowdhury, Balai Chand
Mukhopaddhay, Kedar Nath Bandopaddhay, Annada Sankar Roy, Manik
Bandopaddhay etc. It goes without saying that all of them
had contributed immensely to the development and enrichment
of Bengali literature.
Let us discuss in brief the literary achievements of the
above-mentioned authors.
Pramatha
Chowdhury (1868 - 1946)
Inspite of being an austere essayist, he had ventured in the domain of stories and novels for a short spell. 'Chaar
Yarer Katha' (1916) and some other short stories of Pramatha
Chowdhury reveal his power of keen analytical study. He was also the editor of 'Sabuj Patra'.
Manindra Lal Basu wrote 'Ramala', 'Sahajatrini' (1941) etc. with a purely romantic outlook based on
the modern era and on the background of modern life. His stories saw a fusion of
romanticism with a supernatural hue.
Achinta Kumar Sengupta
Achinta Kumar Sengupta was an author of great potential. He belonged to the 'Kallol' clan. His
compositions were marked by technical variety of language, romantic zeal, symbolic gestures and gross sensuousness.
His different style made him immensely popular among the youth. His
notable composition 'Bibaher Cheye Baro' was accused of eroticism. After that,
he spent some time in penning down the lives and works of great men like Sri Ramakrishna in an emotional and lucid language.
This was very much appreciated by the masses. However, he
had a split personality when it came to writing. He wrote about the lives of
religious and spiritual men on the one hand, while on the other hand carried on writing
intense stories of man-woman relationship tinged with sensuousness.
Buddhadev Basu (1908-74)
Buddhadev Basu (1908-74) had once rebelled against R.N.
Tagore, the angel of romanticism in Bengali literature. However, his novels and short stories are replete with
romance of a spurious kind. He wrote 'Sara' (1930) in the preliminary phase of his literary career which created a sensation among the readers. Then came a series of novels like 'Jedin Phootlo Kamal' (1940), 'Ekoda Tumi
Priye' (1941), 'Mauli Nath' (1952), 'Tithidore' (1949) etc. which reveal an
artificial, rather impractical romance in Bengali life. These were
highly appreciated and admired by a particular class of young readers.
Sailaja Nanda (1901 - 1976)
Sailaja Nanda (1901 - 1976) was the editor of 'Kali Kamal', a progressive newspaper. He tried to change the stereotyped, conventional mode of the
Bengali novel and short stories prevailing in those days. He was against
the artificial flavour of writing.
The author had delineated the wornout and hackneyed lives of the coal
miners with sheer sympathy and subtle details. His works like 'Narimedha',
'Badhu Baran' etc. reveal the harsh reality which added a new feather to the
cap of Bengali literature. But he has not much stirred the psyche of the average reader because he has never endeavoured to establish any profound philosophy of the cardinal truths
of life.
JAGADISH GUPTA (1886 - 1957)
He had composed several stories on the basis of dry,
sombre and harsh realities of life. To some extent, he had a
cynical attitude to life. In 'Binodini', he had critically analysed and studied the
'female' character. This is of immense importance in the history of Bengali
literature.
PREMENDRA MITRA (1904 -
'88)
Premendra Mitra was a poet, story writer and a
remarkable essayist - all rolled into one. He had once cast a spell on the youth of
the society by authoring some spectacular stories. 'Paank' (1926) and 'Michil' (1931) are two of his ultra-modern novels which are praiseworthy for their
merit and treatment of themes.
BANAPHOOL (BALAI CHAND
MUKHOPADDHAY)
He was another renowned author. Some of his famous
compositions are 'Trina Khhanda' (1942), 'Mrigaya' (1940), 'Dwai Rath' (1944), 'Jangam'
(1950), 'Sthabar' (1956) etc. His short stories are of an
ecstatic taste in style and content. Some notable specimens
are 'Baitoronner Tire' (1951). Even at the terminal phase of his life, his skill has not lessened a bit. 'Hate Bajare' - a novel published a little time ago is an evidence to his masterly art.
ANNADA SANKAR ROY
He has composed several novels based on sheer acumen, analytical outlook, critical thinking and
subtle treatment of themes. 'Jar Jetha Desh' (1932), 'Agnyata
Baash' (1933), 'Kalankabati' (1934), 'Apasaran' (1942) are some of his novels which have been compiled in the epic pattern and came to be known as 'Satyasatya'. These novels also indicate signs of imitation from European
realistic novels.
BIBHUTI BHUSAN
BANDOPADDHAY (1894 - 1950)
Bibhuti Bhusan was an author par excellence. He was an ardent lover
and worshipper of nature. One of the salient features of his writings
is the inscrutable relationship between man and nature. On
the background of such awe-inspiring nature with its minute details,
he wrote the timeless novel 'Aranyak' (1945).
Another immortal work of Bibhuti Bhusan is 'Pather Panchali'.
Incidentally, 'Pather Panchali' had distinctive resemblances with 'Jean Christophe' by
Roma Rolland. The movie maestro Satyajit Ray had made a film on
'Pather Panchali' in 1955 which shot him into limelight overnight. Some of Bibhuti Bhusan's
classic novels are enlisted below :-
'Drishti Pradeep' (1942), 'Adarsha Hindu Hotel' (1947), 'Devjani'
(1951), 'Ichhamati' (1956) etc. Some of his outstanding stories
include 'Megha Mallar' (1938), 'Mouri Phool' (1939), 'Jatra-Badal'
(1941) etc.
Bibhuti Bhusan has won the hearts of millions of Bengalis over
decades. This is because of his lucid, pictorial and detailed style of writing. He writes about nature, man and everything with which
an average man can identify himself. He reveals in a unique manner the
truths, enigmas symbolical suggestions and shaded aspects of
human nature and psyche.
TARASHANKAR BANDOPADDHAY
(1898 - 1971)
Tarashankar was another gem of an author in those days. His valuable contribution in Bengali
literature was manifested through classic novels like 'Raikamal'
(1935), 'Dhatri Devata' (1939), 'Kalindi' (1940), 'Gana Devata' (1942),
'Neel Kantha' (1943), 'Hansuli Banker Upakatha' (1947) etc.
In the field of modern Bengali short stories, Tarashankar made remarkable contribution with
masterpieces like 'Jalshaghar', 'Bedeni', 'Chhalanamoyee' etc. With the versatile Rabindranath as the only exception, no other author has penned down the variety and multitudinous colours of life so immaculately within the limited periphery of short stories. Tarashankar had
even dramatized some of his unique novels which had attained mass popularity.
MANIK
BANDOPADDHAY (1910 - 1946)
Manik Bandopaddhay was an outstanding author with distinctly different qualities. His original name was Prabodh Kumar
Bandopaddhay. However, he is known to the world at large as Manik
Bandopaddhay. He started writing around 1935 (Beng.
calendar). Like Tarashankar who was familiar and adept in dealing with the lives of people of West Bengal, Manik
Bandopaddhay was acquainted with the ambience and lifestyle of the inhabitants of East Bengal. He was attracted by the intricate and paradoxical relationship between man and woman. Accordingly, he wrote 'Padma Nadeer Majhi' (1936) which
became very popular among the connoisseurs of Bengali
literature.
Notable among his novels are 'Diba Ratrir Kavya' (1935), 'Putul Nacher Itikatha'
(1936), 'Shahartali' (1940) and 'Ahimsa' (1948) etc. Apart from these,
some of his famous stories like 'Atasi Mami' (1935), 'Pragoitihasik'
(1937), 'Mihi O Mota Kahini' (1934), 'Sarisreep' (1939) etc. deserve special mention.
Manik Bandopaddhay has looked at man from the cynically materialistic perspective. He did not want to portray human life and society under the false pretence of sentimental and emotional
ecstasies.
In his personal life, he was submerged in the whirlpool of a
grossly indisciplined life. His stories and novels sometimes
reflect this gross attitude. In the terminal phase of his life, he played havoc with his
gifted creative talent and wasted it. This was a sheer loss
for Bengali literature. However, it remains an undeniable fact that Manik
Bandopaddhay was and still is one of those rare genre of authors
which Bengali literature has not much produced.
In this context, another important characteristic of Bengali
prose-literature is worth mentioning. This was the department of frivolous stories noted for their levity
and light-hearted spirit Rabindranath had epitomized this form of writing and had framed out certain set norms for this. Kedarnath
Bandopaddhay, Bibhuti Bhusan Mukhopaddhay and Rajshekhar Basu (Parashuram) were giants in this form of creative writing.
KEDARNATH
BANDOPADDHAY
Kedarnath had spent most of his life in the sacred place of Kashi. He started writing at a
young age not to so much effect. However, at a ripe age, he attained tremendous fame and his stories and novels are replete with stunning, humorous
effects. The comic stunts and jerks in his writings are very much akin to the comedies of the days of yore. His notable compositions were 'Kushthir
Phalaphal' (1929), 'Bhaduri Masai' (1932), 'Eye Has' (1935) etc. In those days, these books gained immense popularity among the readers.
Notable among his books of stories were 'Kabulati', 'Amra-Ki-O-Ke'
(1927) etc. These books sell like hot cakes even to this
day.
BIBHUTI
BHUSAN MUKHOPADDHAY
Bibhuti Bhusan Mukhopaddhay showed rare class as a humorist and writer of
subtle comedies. But his comedies were not cheap, coarse or
frivolous. They had profound inner significance. The salient feature of his writing was the tragic undertone which
was latent behind the apparent humour. Some of his famous novels and short stories deserve special mention viz. 'Ranur Pratham Bhaag',
'Dwitiya Bhaag', 'Tritiya Bhaag', 'Ranur Katha Mala'
(1944-48), 'Barjatri' (1959), 'Nilanguriya' etc.
RAJSHEKHAR BASU (Parashuram)
(1880 - 1960)
He was deeply involved with the branches of science, especially
chemistry, which was related to his work. With this scientific knowledge,
he ushered a new style of scientific approach in creative writing which impressed
even Rabindranath Tagore. Rajshekhar took the nom de plume of 'Parashuram' while writing humorous
pieces for a monthly magazine. He has been universally appreciated and admired as a prodigy in comic style of
writing. He was a minute observer of life and society and his satires have touched human manners, mannerisms,
talkings, contemplations, joys and woes and the ambience all around
as well as the different shades of the eternal paradox called human psyche.
Some of his outstanding stories include 'Gaddalika' (1924),
'Kajali' (1927), 'Hanumaner Swapna' (1937) etc. He elevated the standard of comedies to a
'classic' level.
In the history of Bengali literature, the names of a few
authoresses shine gloriously. Some of the eminent names are Ashapurna Devi,
Pratibha Basu, Mahasweta Devi, Bani Roy, Kavita Singha and Sukanya.
They have imprinted their names in the history of Bengali literature with an
indelible ink.
Ashapurna Devi has composed her novels with women dominating the themes and
playing the stellar roles. But her characterization, plotting and
subtlety in the treatment of subjects have crossed the
narrow limits of time, space or characters and represent
life and mankind of all ages.
Pratibha Basu has a supple feminine touch in her compositions with a lucid style which brings her very near to the average reader.
Bani Roy, on the other hand, did not choose to pick up the stereotyped, conventional
style of writing. Some of her characters stand out prominently for their strength,
integrity and brilliance.
Kabita Singha authored stories and novels in an
unconventional manner like Bani Roy. She has often been
called an 'irate' writer for spewing fire in some of her
writings.
Mahasweta Devi has earned immense popularity among the readers as an authoress of 'quality' novels. Her topics have varied from time to time. However her writing lacks integrity and at times
tends to be superficial.
'Sukanya' had also earned fame as an eminent authoress for a couple of her novels.
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