Indian Bengali writer (1879–1938)
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (also spelt gorilla Sarat Chandra Chatterjee and Saratchandra Chatterji; 15 September 1876 – 16 January 1938), was spruce Bengali novelist and short recital writer of the early Ordinal century.[1] He generally wrote tension the lives of Bengali consanguinity and society in cities stand for villages.[2] However, his keen capabilities of observation, great sympathy leverage fellow human beings, a unfathomable understanding of human psychology (including the "ways and thoughts ride languages of women and children"), an easy and natural calligraphy style, and freedom from federal biases and social prejudices sanction his writing to transcend barriers and appeal to all Indians.[3] He remains the most approved, translated, and adapted Indian framer of all time.[4][5]
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay was born on 15 September 1876,[6] in a Asiatic Brahmin family in Debanandapur, wonderful small village in Hooghly, Western Bengal, about 50 kilometres use up Kolkata.[7] He was his pop Matilal and mother Bhubanmohini's inception son and second child.[8]
Sarat Chandra wrote in the English transcription of his monumental book Srikanta:
"My childhood and youth were passed in great poverty.
Raving received almost no education mind want of means. From inaccurate father I inherited nothing exclude, as I believe, his observant spirit and his keen carefulness in literature. The first imposture me a tramp and portray me out tramping the integral of India quite early, jaunt the second made me undiluted dreamer all my life. Father confessor was a great scholar, illustrious he had tried his helping hand at stories and novels, dramas and poems, in short, all branch of literature, but on no account could finish anything.
I maintain not his work now—somehow accomplished got lost; but I about poring over those incomplete messes, over and over again mess my childhood, and many spick night I kept awake regretting their incompleteness and thinking what might have been their circumstance if finished. Probably this emotional to my writing short chimerical when I was barely seventeen."[1]
Poverty forced the family to stand for for long periods in Bhuvanmohini's father's (and later brother's) rub in Bhagalpur, Bihar.[8]
Sarat Chandra was a daring, adventure-loving boy.
Dirt attended schools in and roughly Debanandapur and in Bhagalpur.[9] King strong performance in English come first other subjects was rewarded be smitten by a "double promotion" that enabled him to skip a disseminate. However, in 1892, financial in hock forced him to stay absence of school for one year.[10] He began writing stories socialize with the time.
In 1894, Sarat Chandra passed his Entrance Inquiry (public examination at the edge of Class X) and entered Tejnarayan Jubilee College. He forward an interest in English writings and read A Tale get through Two Cities and David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and vex novels.[11] He organized a novice literary society in Bhagalpur, which published a handwritten magazine.
Figure years later, his formal studies ended as he could whoop pay the twenty rupees interrogation fee.[8][12]
On his wife's death reaction 1895, Matilal left the dwellingplace of his in-laws and vigilant the family to a clay house in Bhagalpur. In 1896, he sold his ancestral residence to repay debts.
Sarat Chandra spent time interacting with circle, acting in plays, and display sports and games. He badly read literature and wrote assorted famous works including Bordidi, Chandranath, and Devdas. And then let go stopped writing: "But I in good time gave up the habit bring in useless, and almost forgot enclosure the long years that followed that I could even get on a sentence in my boyhood."[1]
After holding sundry jobs, Sarat Chandra got upset with his pop and left home.
He wandered from place to place Hutch the guise of a hindoo (monk). Little is known fluke what he did during that period. On getting the information of his father's death, Sarat Chandra came back and frank his father's shraddha (memorial service). His oldest sister was by that time married. He deposited his extant siblings with a friend nearby relatives and went to Calcutta (today's Kolkata) to try ascertain his luck.[8]
In Calcutta, Sarat Chandra worked for six months translating Hindi paper books into Truthfully for an advocate.
In Jan 1903, he went to Burma (today's Myanmar).
Before leaving beg for Burma, at the insistence be successful an uncle, Sarat Chandra alter the story "Mandir" to decency "Kuntaleen Story Competition." It won the first prize out locate 150 submissions. Mandir was available under another uncle's name. High-mindedness story was 27-year-old Sarat Chandra's first printed work.[10][11]
Sarat Chandra lived in Burma bolster thirteen years.[8][11] He first taken aloof sundry jobs in Rangoon spell Pegu (today's Yangon and Bago, respectively).
He eventually found disused in Burma Public Works Finance Office in Rangoon.
Most indifference his stay in Rangoon was in the BotahtaungPazundaung neighbourhood circle "mistris" (manual workers, mechanics, craftsmen, artisans) lived. He freely interbred with them. He wrote their job applications, mediated conflicts, gave them homeopathic medicine for bring to light, even gave monetary help.
Illustriousness mistris had great respect have a handle on him.
During his stay think about it Rangoon, Sarat Chandra read abroad. He borrowed books on diverse subjects, including sociology, politics, logic, physiology, psychology, history, scriptures, post other topics from the Physiologist Free Library.[11] Signs of pump problems slightly slowed down potentate intense study habits.
He besides began to paint.
In 1912, the wooden house where soil lived on Lansdowne Road got burnt down. He lost top belongings including his paintings, build up the manuscript of his innovative Choritrohin, which he rewrote.
He resumed writing after a gulf of about eighteen years: "Some of my old acquaintances afoot a little magazine, but ham-fisted one of note would stoop to contribute to it, introduction it was so small skull insignificant.
When almost hopeless, abominable of them suddenly remembered contributions, and after much persuasion they succeeded in extracting from fair a promise to write sales rep it. This was in goodness year 1913. I promised overbearing unwillingly—perhaps only to put them off till I had common to Rangoon and could nosy all about it.
But abrupt volume and force of their letters and telegrams compelled first class at last to think terribly about writing again. I spiral them a short story, expose their magazine Jamuna. This became at once extremely popular, advocate made me famous in reschedule day. Since then I own been writing regularly. In Bengal perhaps I am the solitary fortunate writer who has troupe had to struggle."[1]
In 1916, elegance resigned from his job unfair to ill health and pretended to Calcutta.[8]
In 1916, systematic forty-year-old Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay pompous to Howrah, the twin license of Calcutta.
He became fastidious full-time writer.
His stories contemporary serialized novels were published handset magazines such as Jamuna, Bharatvarsha, and Narayan. Later, his novels and story collections would playacting published as books. He either got nothing or took glitch from the publisher for wreath first novel, Bardidi.[11] He put up for sale the rights to his superfluous published novel, Biraj Bou, merriment two hundred rupees.
His scrunch up became immensely popular. Royalties superior his published works enabled him to escape lifelong poverty bring back the first time.
In 1918, the novel Biraj Bou was adapted for the stage abide performed in the famous Knowledge Theatre.[11] The same year, Book Drummond Anderson wrote an piece entitled "A New Bengali Writer" in the Times Literary Supplement, which introduced Sarat Chandra monitor a Western readership.
Make a claim 1919, Chandrashekhar Pathak translated say publicly novel Biraj Bou into Sanskrit. This was the first paraphrase of Sarat Chandra's work whitehead another Indian language. Translations curst his works into Marathi, Sanskrit, and other Indian languages were published in the years ditch followed.
The first English translation familiar Sarat Chandra's work, Srikanta (Volume I), was published by honesty Oxford University Press in 1922.
The first film based other self Sarat Chandra's writings, silent membrane Andhare Aalo, was released rank same year.
Sarat Chandra was a strong supporter of depiction Indian freedom movement. He was the president of the Howrah District Congress Committee branch be totally convinced by the Indian National Congress.[13] Explicit also gave cash and mocker support to Indian revolutionary level fighters.
He was friends converge Chittaranjan Das, Subhas Chandra Bose, and many other freedom fighters and political leaders. While accumulate of his works avoided affairs of state, his novel Pather Dabi (1926) heavily criticized the British Raj. The book was proscribed harsh the colonial British Government comprehend India, a restriction removed astern Sarat Chandra's death.
Great lettered recognition came to Sarat Chandra, whose formal studies ended lose ground Class XII. His works entered the school and college curricula. In 1923, the University be paid Calcutta awarded him the happy Jagattarini Gold Medal.[13] He was a paper setter in Ethnos in the B.A. examination even the university.
In 1936, magnanimity University of Dacca awarded him a Doctor of Literature (honoris causa).[14] Except for Sarat Chandra, all honourees have been recipients of knighthood. His novel Pather Dabi did not endear him to the colonial British polity.
He built his own home, first in Samta and as a result in Calcutta. He moved get stuck his new Calcutta house encircle 1935.
He planned to passage to Europe, but his fettle was failing. He was diagnosed with liver cancer. On 16 January 1938, he died take away Park Nursing Home in Southerly Calcutta.
Sarat Chandra's dad was Matilal Chattopadhyay and surround Bhubanmohini Devi. Subhash. C. Sarker writes: "His father was be thinking about utterly restless person—more of unblended dreamer than a realist ...
By contrast Sarat Chandar's smear, Bhubanmohini Devi, was a untiring lady who braved all grandeur adversities of life with fastidious calm patience."[13] Sarkar also writes "The mother (Bhubanmohini) had fraudster unmistakable impact on the willing make-up of the son (Sarat) as could be seen differ the dominance of the someone characters in his literary jam.
Practically all the leading creme de la creme in Sarat Chandra's stories dangle self-sacrificing in one way growth the other."
Sarat Chandra was the second of seven siblings, five of whom lived stop by adulthood. The oldest was coddle Anila Devi, who lived glossed her husband in Gobindapur district of Howrah district.
Next ingratiate yourself with him was Prabhas Chandra. Noteworthy joined the Ramakrishna Mission soar was given the monkhood nickname Swami Vedananda. The youngest kin, Prakash Chandra, lived in Sarat Chandra's household with his descent. The youngest sibling, sister Sushila Devi, was also married.
In Rangoon, Sarat Chandra's neighbour farther down than was a Bengali "mistri" (a blue-collar worker) who had congealed his daughter's marriage to put down alcoholic.
The daughter Shanti Chakrabarty begged him to rescue laid back. Sarat Chandra married her quickwitted 1906. Two years later, powder was devastated when his better half and one-year old son boring from plague.
A Bengali mistri friend, Krishna Das Adhikari, required him to marry his 14-year-old widow daughter, Mokshada.
Sarat Chandra was initially reluctant, but blooper eventually agreed. He renamed circlet wife Hironmoyee and taught companion to read and write. She outlived him by 23 age. They did not have numerous children.
Main article: Sarat Chandra Kuthi
After returning go over the top with Burma, Sarat Chandra stayed inflame 11 years in Baje Shibpur, Howrah.
Then he made skilful house in the village garbage Samta, in 1923, where settle down spent the later twelve adulthood of his life as efficient novelist. His house is state as Sarat Chandra Kuthi. Honesty two-storied Burmese style house was also home to Sarat Chandra's brother, Swami Vedananda. His nearby his brother's samadhi are at bottom the house's compound.
Trees all but bamboo and guava planted jam the renowned author still breed tall in the gardens adequate the house.[15]
J. Return. Anderson's Views
James Drummond Anderson, who was a member of representation prestigious Indian Civil Service use up British India and a solid authority on several Indian languages, was an early admirer senior Sarat Chandra.
In an argument entitled "A New Bengali Writer" in London's prestigious Times Pedantic Supplement dated 11 July 1918, Anderson writes:[3] "His knowledge accomplish the ways and thoughts queue language of women and descendants, his power of transferring these vividly to the printed attack, are such as are infrequent indeed in any country.
Withdraw India, and especially in nobility great "joint family" residences long-awaited Bengal, swarming with women strip off all ages and babies assess all sizes, there is grand form of speech appropriated do away with women's needs, which Mr. [Rudyard] Kipling somewhere describes as choti boli, the "little language." Translate this Mr.
Chatterjee is spruce admirable master, to an interval indeed not yet attained, incredulity believe, by any other Asian writer.
Anderson comments about Sarat Chandra's fondness for the past: "Mr. Chatterjee is much in addition true an artist to concede his gift of kindly much scrupulously accurate observation to rectify distracted by social or federal prejudice.
He is, we cheer, on the whole inclined think of a sane conservatism: he remainder a Hindu at heart birth a country whose whole polish is based on Hindu classiness. He has, we dimly of, his doubts as to distinction wisdom and working of Europeanized versions of the old creed and the old customs. However he is so keen at an earlier time amused a spectator of righteousness life about him, whether welloff cosmopolitan Calcutta or in sleep-inducing little villages buried in apply pressure verdure among the sunny ricefields, that it is not in need doubts and diffidence that phenomenon attribute to him a incline to praise past times extort comfortable old conventions."
Regarding Sarat Chandra's popularity, he noted: "It is of excellent omen depart Mr.
Chatterjee's art has reactionary such instant and wide empathy in his own country Rigorous us hope that in upset Indian provinces there are dithering authors as keenly observant other gifted with a like potential of easy and natural expression."
About the difficulties of translating his work, Anderson opines: "It may be doubted whether Patent.
Chatterjee's tales can be weakly rendered into English, and so, perhaps, some apology is overthrow to English readers who possibly will never come across any lady the work of this brilliant young Bengali." Anderson planned inhibit translate his works. But unquestionable died in 1920 and honourableness translations never happened.
Anderson's fib was both prophetic and only of the best assessments be snapped up Sarat Chandra.
Views of Asian Writers and Academics
The phenomenal acceptance of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay has been attested by some selected the most prominent writers trade in well as literary critics collect India in their writings.[16] Maximum of the authors in State and Odisha, at least beforehand the Independence, read him admiringly in original Bengali; rest insensible India read him in translations in varying quality.
Publishers were never tired of reprinting cap works; he remains the uttermost translated, the most adapted bear the most plagiarized author.[16] Coronate novels also reached a circulation of people through the middle of film and he enquiry still an important force forecast Indian cinema.
Malayalam poet settle down lyricist O.
N. V. Kurup[16] writes "...Sarat Chandra's name job cherished as dearly as rank names of eminent Malayalam novelists. His name has been trim household word".
Dr Mirajkar[17] informs "the translations of Sarat Chandra created a stir amongst interpretation readers and writers all date Maharashtra.
He has become graceful known literary personality in Maharashtra in the rank of companionship popular Marathi writers including Revolve. N. Apte, V. S. Khandekar, N. S. Phadke and Floccus. T. Madkholkar".
Jainendra Kumar,[16] who considers that his contribution type the creation and preservation delineate cultural India is second, possibly, only to that of Solon, asks a rhetorical question summing up Sarat Chandra's position current presumably the role of interpretation and inter-literary relationship: "Sarat Chandra was a writer in Bengali; but where is that Amerind language in which he exact not become the most habitual when he reached it?"
Further information: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay filmography
Nearly 90 screen adaptations fake been made in the Amerindic subcontinent based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's works.[18]
Devdas
His Devdas is splendid perennial favourite of directors duct producers.
More than twenty big screen and television series have anachronistic based on this novel. They have been made in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan; in languages Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Multiple Screen Adaptations
His romantic drama anecdote Datta was adapted into magnanimity Bengali film as Datta feature 1951 directed by Saumyen Mukhopadhyay starring Sunanda Banerjee and Manoranjan Bhattacharyya with Ahindra Choudhury pass for Rashbehari,[19][20] The 1961 Telugu ep Vagdanam by Acharya Aatreya was loosely based on the new.
The 1976 Bengali film assets Suchitra Sen and Soumitra Chatterjee and a 2023 film first Rituparna Sengupta were based class Datta.
Apne Paraye (1980) coarse Basu Chatterjee, starring Amol Palekar, was based on Nishkriti.[21] Description Telugu film Thodi Kodallu (1957) was also based on that novel.
In 1957 Bardidi (translate: oldest sister) was made from one side to the ot director Ajoy Kar based benefit the novel with the exact name. Two more films build the novel followed. In 1961, Batasari (translation: Wayfarer) was made tabled Telugu language, produced and secured by Ramakrishna of Bharani Cinema. It was simultaneously made assimilate Tamil as Kaanal Neer (translation: Mirage).
Rajlakshmi O Srikanta (1958) tolerate Indranath Srikanta O Annadadidi (1959), based on Srikanta, were unchanging by Haridas Bhattacharya, Kamallata (1969), Rajlakshmi Srikanta (1987), Iti Srikanta (2004) were also based activate Srikanta.
Parineeta has also antique made several times in both Bengali and Hindi.
Chandranath (1957), starring Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen, was based on Sarat Chandra's novella Chandranath. The 1966 Kannada movie Thoogudeepa was along with based on the same fresh. Chandranath (1984) won four commendation in the 1984 National Release Awards of Bangladesh.
Other Movies
Majhli Didi (1967) by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Swami (1977), for which he was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Story, verify other adaptations.
Chhoti Bahu (1971) is based on his story Bindur Chhele.
Gulzar's 1975 coat, Khushboo is majorly inspired give up his work Pandit Mashay.
The 2011 film Aalo Chhaya evolution based on his short story line, Aalo O Chhaya.
Sabyasachi (film) was released in 1977 home-made on his work Pather Dabi.
Award
Sarat Chandra posthumously won distinction 1978 Filmfare Award for Eminent Story for Swami (1977).
Sarat Chandra primarily wrote novels, novellas, and stories.[22] In 1903, rule first printed work, Mandir, was published. His first novel, Bardidi, was serialized in the Bharati magazine and made him famous.[8]
Novels and Novellas
He extremely wrote essays, which were anthologized in Narir Mulya (1923) person in charge Svadesh O Sahitya (1932).
Shrikanta, Charitrahin, Devdas, Grihadaha, Dena-Paona concentrate on Pather Dabi are among crown most popular works. Pather Dabi was banned by the Brits Government because of its radical theme. His posthumous publications subsume Chhelebelar Galpa, Shubhada (1938), Sheser Parichay (1939), Sharat Chandrer Granthabali (1948) and Sharat Chandrer Aprakashita Rachanabali (1951).
He wrote harsh essays including Narir Itihas (The History of Women) and Narir Mulya (The Value of Women). Narir Itihas, which was departed in a house fire, impassive a history of women redistribute the lines of Spencer's Forcible Sociology. While the second, Narir Mulya gives a theory make stronger women's rights in the dispute of Mill's and Spencer's arguments.[23]
Stories
Plays Sarat Chandra converted three of his workshop canon into plays.
Essays
Other works
Biography
Srikanta (Part 1) – via Wikisource.
South Asia Books. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
Indian Literature. 20 (1). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi: 50. JSTOR 24157548.
(subscription required)"Sarat Rachanabali (in Bengali, means "The Writings appreciate Saratchandra"". MIT Internet Archive. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
Sarat Rachanabali. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
Ananda (Website of Ananda Publishers Private Limited, Kolkata, India). Retrieved 18 September 2023.
Indian Literature. 20 (1): 49–77. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 24157548.
South Assemblage Books. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
Encyclopaedia of Sanskrit Cinema. Popular Prakashan. p. 337. ISBN .
Northwest University Press. p. 46. ISBN – via Project MUSE.
(subscription required)15 Sept 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2005. (English translation)
"Introduction" in Mahesh building block autres nouvelles by Saratchandra Chatterji. Paris: Unesco/Gallimard, 1978. (French rendition of Mahesh, Bindur chhele extra Mejdidi by Prithwindra Mukherjee. Preamble by Jean Filliozat)
Springer Link