Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay (19 July 1899 â 9 February 1979) was an Indian Bengali-language writer, physician, and playwright, best known by his pen name Banaphul, (meaning "Wild / Forest flower" in Bengali). His oeuvre spanned novels, poetry, plays, essays and over 400 short stories, the genre for which he is best remembered. For his contribution to literature, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1975, India's third-highest civilian honor.
Life
Mukhopadhyay was born in Manihari village of Purnia district (now Katihar District), Bihar on 19 July 1899. His family originally hailed from Sehakhala situated in Hooghly District of present-day West Bengal. His father, Satyacharan Mukhopadhyay, was a doctor, and his mother was Mrinalini Devi. He originally took the pen name Banaphul ("the wild flower") to hide his literary activities from a disapproving teacher. He attended Hazaribag College and was later admitted, into the Calcutta Medical College. He moved to Lake Town, Calcutta, in 1968, and died there on 9 February 1979. He is the elder brother of famous Bengali film Director Arabinda Mukhopadhyay.
Literary works
He is best known for his short vignettes, which were often just half-page long, and centered on a single powerful moment with sharp observation and unconventional perspective, but his literary career spanned sixty-five years and included thousands of poems, over 586 short stories (a handful of which have been translated to English), 60 novels, 5 dramas, a number of one-act plays, an autobiography called Paschatpat (Background), and numerous essays." His short stories often revolve around a single, powerful moment, defined by sharp observation, unconventional perspectives, and exceptional storytelling.
Novels
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- Krishnapaksha à ¦Âà §Âà ¦·à §Âà ¦£à ¦ªà ¦Âà §Âà ¦·
- Sandhipuja à ¦¸à ¦¨à §Âà ¦§à ¦¿à ¦ªà §Âà ¦Âà ¦¾
- Hate Bajare à ¦¹à ¦¾à ¦Âà §Âà ¦¬à ¦¾à ¦Âà ¦¾à ¦°à §Â
- Kanyasu à ¦Âà ¦¨à §Âà ¦¯à ¦¾à ¦¸à §Â
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- Swapna Sambhab à ¦¸à §Âà ¦¬à ¦ªà §Âà ¦¨à ¦¸à ¦®à §Âà ¦Âà ¦¬
- Kashti Pathar à ¦Âà ¦·à §Âà ¦Âà ¦¿à ¦ªà ¦¾à ¦¥à ¦°
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- Lakshmir Agaman à ¦²à ¦Âà §Âà ¦·à §Âà ¦®à §Âà ¦° à ¦Âà ¦Âà ¦®à ¦£
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Short stories
- Pratibaad
- swadhinata
- "Bonofuler Golpo"
- "Bonofuler Aro Golpo"
- "Bahullo"
- "Bindu Bishorgo"
- "Adrisholok"
- "Anugamini"
- "Tonni"
- "Nobomonjori"
- "Urmimala"
- "Soptomi"
- "Durbin"
- "Bonofuler Sreshto Golpo"
- "Bonofuler Golpo Songroho-1"
- "Bonofuler Golpo Songroho-2"
- "Banaphooler Chhoto Galpa SamagraâÂÂ1 & 2"
- "Fuldanir Ekti Ful"
Film adaptation of his literature
Postage stamp
On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Government of India issued a postage stamp featuring his image.
See also
Further reading
- à ¦¬à ¦¨à ¦«à §Âà ¦²à §Âà ¦° à ¦Âà §Âà ¦ à ¦Âà ¦²à §Âà ¦ª à ¦¸à ¦®à ¦Âà §Âà ¦° (Complete Short Stories of Banaphul), published by Banishilpa, Kolkata in January 2003
- à ¦Âà ¦ªà ¦¨à §Âà ¦¯à ¦¾à ¦¸ à ¦¸à ¦®à ¦Âà §Âà ¦° (Complete Novels), published by New Bengal Press (Private) Limited, Kolkata in July 1999
- à ¦ªà ¦¶à §Âà ¦Âà ¦¾à §Âà ¦ªà ¦ (Background), the autobiography of Banaphul, published by Banishilpa, Kolkata in 1999
References
External links