Manik Bandopadhyay
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Manik Bandopadhay (Bangla: মানিক বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়) (1908-1956) is one of the most influential novelists in Bangla literature. His important works include Padma Nadir Majhi (The Boatman of River Padma) and Putul Nacher Itikotha (A History of Puppet Dance) and numerous short stories. His writing stands in stark contrast to that of other luminaries like Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay who portrayed life in rural Bengal in a gentle, lyrical light. Manik's writing dealt with the pettiness and wretchedness of existence in a village context. His primary concern was the dark alleyways of the human mind, even among the supposedly simple village folk, and not the serene beauty of nature that was always in the background in his novels. In Putulnacher Itikotha he took on rather savagely the touchy topic of hypocrisy in villages: an elderly couple are canonised as saints after committing morpheine - induced suicide; the daughter of one of the village's elders gets married off to a wealthy businessman in Kolkata who treats her as a 'kept'woman, she develops a drinking habit and comes back to her old home just a shadow of her former self. However, the people around her keep pretending that nothing untoward has happened. Numerous other examples abound.
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[edit] Life
Manik Bandopadhay was born on 19 May 1908 in a small town called Dumka in the district of Santal Paragona in the state of Bihar in India. His original name is Prabodh Kumar Bandhopadhay and family name Manik.He was the fifth of the fourteen children (eight sons and six daughters) of his parents. His father was Harihar Bandopadhyay and his mother was Niroda Devi. Harihar was a government official and was often transferred to different areas of then undivided Bengal. Manik hence had experience with different areas of Bengal in his childhood.
Since his childhood Manik was reckless and adventurous in character.But he also possessed a very sensitive heart.He lost his mother on 28 May 1924 at a very small age, this event left a deep mark in his sensitive heart.After the death of his mother Manik become more reckless and his family kinship grew weaker.
Manik passed entrance from Midnapore Zilla School in 1926 securing first division with letter marks in both compulsory and optional Mathematics.In the same year he got admitted in Welleslyan Mission College at Bankura.
In Welleslyan College Manik came in contact with a professor called Jackson.Being influenced by him Manik read Bible and got rid of religious inferiority.In 1928 he passed I. Sc. with first division.
He was admitted to the B.Sc. course in Mathematics at the Presidency College, Kolkata with the inspiration of his father.One day when he was sitting with his friends in their college canteen one of his friend told could he publish the story in "Bichitra" paper he said that he could publish his first story "Atshi mami". In those days "Bichitra" paper was famous & only famous writer could write. One day he went to "Bichitra" paper's office & posted the story on the editor's letter box.At the end of the story he wrote his name as Manik Bandhopadhay.After four months the story was published & the story became famous in Kolkata & from then he was popularly known as Manik Bandhopadhay.
Manik died in 1956 aged merely 48.His funeral took place at Nimtala Shashan Ghat.
[edit] Social and Political Views
Manik carefully read Marx and Engels and became a Marxist.He became an active politician of Marxism by joining the Communist Party in 1944.
[edit] Works
[edit] Novels
- Janani
- Diba-Ratrir Kabya(1935)
- Padma Nadir Majhi(1936)
- Putul Nacher Itikatha
- Ahinsa(1941)
- Chatushkone(1942)
[edit] Short Stories
- Atshi Mami
- Pragoitihashik
[edit] External links
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