Narayan Gangopadhyay

Narayan Gangopadhyay
Born	Taraknath Gangopadhyay 4 February 1918 Baliadingi, Dinajpur, Bengal (now Bangladesh)
Died	6 November 1970 Kolkata, India
Other names	Narayan Ganguly
Occupation	Author
Children	Arijit Ganguly(Son).

Narayan Gangopadhyay (Bengali: নারায়ণ গঙ্গোপাধ্যায়; 1918–1970), also known as Narayan Ganguly, was a renowned South Asian novelist, poet, essayist, and short story writer who was born at Baliadingi in Dinajpur in undivided Bengal, on 4 February 1918, son of Pramathanath Gangopadhyay. Named Taraknath Gangopadhyay, he took up 'Narayan' as his penname. His forefathers lived at Nalchira of Basudebpur in Barisal district.

Life

Gangopadhyay's hometown was Barisal. His father, Pramathnath, was a police officer. Because his father would be transferred often, he studied in Dinajpur, Faridpur, Barisal and Kolkata. Narayan Gangopadhyay matriculated from Dinajpur Zila School in 1933. He then took admission at Rajendra College in Faridpur but had to leave the town on 1 May 1935 on political grounds. He was interned as a 'revolutionary suspect' and could not appear in the college examinations. Later he took admission in the second year at B M College in Barisal and passed Intermediate Arts (IA) as a non-collegiate candidate in 1936. He passed the Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the same college in 1938. Famous poet Jibananda Das was his teacher there. In 1941, he completed the MA from the University of Calcutta, receiving the Brahmamayee Gold Medal for his outstanding results. He earned DPhil from the same university in 1960.

Narayan Gangopadhyay taught at a number of colleges, including Jalpaiguri College (1942-45) and the City College, Kolkata (1945-1955). He started teaching at the University of Calcutta in 1956.

Works

Narayan Gangopadhyay began writing poetry while still a student. In due course he became famous for his short stories, novels, plays etc. Narayan Gangopadhyay's first story was published in 'Bichitra'. He was a romantic writer. His novels include Upanibesh (3 volumes, 1944-1947), Samrat O Shresthi (1944), Mandramukhar (1945), Shilalipi (1949), Lalmati (1951), Krishnapaksa (1951), Baitalik (1955), and Asidhara (1957). His volumes of short stories include Trophy (1949), Bitangsa, Janmantar, Bhangabandar, Duhshasan, Bhatiyali (1957), Exhibition, Chhayatari, Ghurni, and Aleyar Rat. Among his other works are several volumes of essays: Sahitya O Sahityik, Sahitye Chhotagalpa (1955), Kathakobid Rabindranath (1965), and Chhotagalper Simarekha (1969). He also wrote stories for children, among them, Saptakanda, Andhakarer Agantuk, Chotader Shrestha Galpa (1952), Chhutir Akash, Khushir Hawa, Jhau Banglor Rahasya, Panchananer Hati, Pataldangar Tenida, Galpa Bali Galpa Shona, Abyartha Laksyabhed, Tenidar Abhiyan (1941). Bhadate Chai and Agantuk were two of his widely acclaimed plays. He also wrote a few screenplays and songs for films and gramophone records.

Narayan Gangopadhyay was a regular contributor to Shanibarer Chithi. Towards the end of his life, he used to write regularly for the weekly Desh under the pen name 'Sunanda'. His writings are informed by his historical sense and patriotic feelings as well as his love for the nature of Bengal. His short stories were highly acclaimed, and he was awarded the Ananda Award (1946) in recognition of his contribution to bangla literature. The weekly Basumati accorded him a reception in 1968. Narayan Gangopadhyay died on 6 November 1970 in Kolkata.

His literary works are included in the curriculum of school level, secondary, higher secondary and graduation level Bengali Literature in Bangladesh.

Novels

• Uponibesh-1 (উপনিবেশ -১)
• Uponibesh-2 (উপনিবেশ -২)
• Uponibesh-3 (উপনিবেশ -৩)
• Somrat O Sreshthi (সম্রাট ও শ্রেষ্ঠী)
• Mantramukhar (মন্দ্রামুখর)
• Mohananda (মহানন্দা)
• Swarnaseeta (স্বর্ণসীতা)
• Nishijapon (নিশিযাপন)
• Trophy (ট্রফি)
• Lalmati (লালমাটি)
• Krishnapakkha(কৃষ্ণপক্ষ)
• Bidushok (বিদূষক)
• Boitalik
• Shilalipi (শিলালিপি)
• Oshidhara (অসিধারা)
• Vatiali
• Podoshonchar (পদসঞ্চার)
• Amabossar Gan
• Alokporna (আলোকপর্ণা)

Story collections

• Golposongroho
• Saper Mathay Moni
• Sreshto Golpo
• Swanirbachito Golpo

Dramas

• Bhim Badh
• Varate Chai
• Agontuk
• Porer Upokar Korio Na (TENIDA STORY)

Satire

• Sunandar Journal

Essays

• Sahitye Chotogolpo
• Bangla Golpo Bichitra
• Chotogolper Shimarekha
• Kothakobid Rabindranath

Juvenile literature

• Charmurti
• Charmurtir Abhijan
• Abyartha Lokhyobhed Ebong (not a Tenida story)
• Jhaubanglar Rohosyo
• Kombol Niruddesh
• Tenida o Sindhughotok
• Porer Upokar Korio na (Drama)
• Tenida Somogro
• Rammohan
• Samagra Kishore Sahitya

References

• Golpo Songroho (Collected Stories), the national text book of B.A. (pass and subsidiary) course of Bangladesh, published by University of Dhaka in 1979 (reprint in 1986).
• Bangla Sahitya (Bengali Literature), the national text book of intermediate (college) level of Bangladesh published in 1996 by all educational boards.