Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay

Born On: 12 September 1894
Born In: Ghoshpara-Muratipur village, Bengal, British India
Died On: 1 November 1950
Career: Writer, novelist
Nationality: Indian

A renowned figure and a celebrated name amongst the Bengali literary fraternity, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was a critically acclaimed Bengali novelist and writer born on the 12th of September 1894. He is known for his autobiographical novel "Pather Panchali", which got incorporated into 'Apu Trilogy' films by Satyajit Ray. Bibhutibhushan was a man of simple living and simple words and his ideologies were very visible in his writings. Realism was one of the main plots of his writings apart from the themes he picked up from the happy and sad real life experiences. He was a writer who portrayed a beautiful combination of human beings and nature and showed the peaceful aspect of life. It was his ability of putting across serious thoughts and realms of life in simple language to the people that gained him the popularity and respect he enjoys. In order to learn more on Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's profile, childhood, life, and timeline read on.

Childhood
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on the 12th September 1894, in Kalyani, Muratipur village in the Nadia of Bengal, British India. He was born at his maternal uncle's house in a Hindu Brahmin family. His father Mahananda Bandopadhyay, was a 'Kathak' - a person who recites stories for a living - and also a Sanskrit scholar. Bibhutibhushan finished his schooling in Bongaon High School, which happened to be one of the oldest institutions in British India. He also taught in the same school at the beginning of his work life. Bibhutibhushan's childhood and early life was shadowed by the clouds of poverty, but he nevertheless fought his way through to complete his undergraduate degree in History from the Surendranath College in Kolkata. However, since he was not financially strong to enrol for the postgraduate course at the University of Calcutta, he had to discontinue his studies. After this, the burden of his family's economic wellness came on to his shoulders.

Early Life
The career of a writer did not come easy to Bandopadhyay. Due to the economic crisis of his family, he had to take up various odd jobs to make ends meet before taking up writing seriously. He taught at the school from where he completed his schooling, he also took up the job of a secretary and even managed an estate until finally, in 1921 he got an opportunity to publish his first short story "Upekshita" in a leading literary magazine of Bengal named 'Probashi'. But, it was not until 1928 that Bandopadhyay published his first novel, "Pather Panchali", for which he received critical attention and acclaim. It was with this novel that he became a prominent name in Bengali literature.

Career And Work
Bibhutibhushan took up writing novels and short stories at a time when there was a lot of research going on regarding the social degradation and economic imbalance. However, his writings did not emphasize on these aspects of research, rather they focused on simple life, human figures and the environmental pleasure of rural Bengal and the people of Bengal. He wrote in simple language and in a way that his ideas reached the common man. Realism is another major aspect that his writings portrayed. His writings picturised the subtle relationship shared by human beings and nature and put across a peaceful picture of human beings, animals, birds, rivers and other aspects of nature.

Bandopadhyay used to walk miles into the woods every day and carried a book along usually. He loved to put down his thoughts in writing amongst the peaceful environment of wilderness. His famous novel "Pather Panchali" was picked up by film-maker Satyajit Ray and converted into a movie of the same name as a part of the memorable 'Apu Trilogy'. Some of the famous works of Bandopadhyay apart from 'Pather Panchali' are 'Aparajito', 'Aranyak', 'Chander Pahar', 'Heera Manik Jwale', 'Adarsha Hindu Hotel', 'Ichhamati', 'Bipiner Sangsar', 'Anubartan', 'Kosi Pranganeyer Chitthi', 'Dristi Pradeep', 'Debjan', 'Ashani Sanket', 'Kedar Raja', 'Dampati', 'Sundarbane Sat Batsar' (which he couldn't complete), 'Dui Bari', 'Kajol' (Sequel of Aparajito, completed by his son Taradas), 'Mismider Kabach', 'Jatrabadol', 'MeghaMallar', 'Mauriphool' and 'Tal Nabami' etc.

Marriage And Relationships
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's first wife, Gouri Devi, died during childbirth one year after their marriage. This tragic occurrence and the loneliness that it brought about and shadowed his life became a prominent theme in his early writings. He remarried at the age of 46 to his second wife, Rama Chattopadhyay, from whom he had his only son, Taradas, in 1947.

Death
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay left for holy abode on the 1st of November 1950 after suffering a coronary attack. He was 56 years old then and was staying in Ghatshila.

Timeline And Literary Works
1894: Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on 12th September
1921: He published his first short story "Upekshita" in a leading Bengali literary magazine
Early 1920s: Married Gouri Devi who died in childbirth a year after the marriage.
1928: Bandopadhyay published his first novel, "Pather Panchali"
1940: Got married to Rama Chattopadhyay
1947: His only son Taradas was born.
1950: Bandopadhyay suffered a fatal heart attack and breathed his last on 1st November in Ghatshila.