Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya (14 October 1924 – 6 August 1997) was an Indian writer. He was also a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese in 1961 for his Assamese novel Iyaruingam, which is considered a masterpiece of Indian literature.[1] He was one of the pioneers of modern Assamese literature. An interview of him conducted by India Today in 1980, was archived by the publication in 2014, 17 years after his death.[2]
Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 October 1924 |
| Died | 6 August 1997 (aged 72) |
| Occupation |
|
| Language | Assamese |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Notable works | Mrityunjay Iyaruingam Aai |
| Notable awards | Sahitya Akademi Award (1960) Jnanpith Award (1979) |
| Spouse | Binita Bhattacharya |
| Children | 3 |
He was the first ever Assamese writer to receive the Jnanpith Award, which was awarded to him in the year 1979 for his novel Mrityunjay (Immortal),[3] followed by Indira Goswami in 2001.[4] In 2005, a translation of the work published by Katha Books with the title Love in the Time of Insurgency was released.[5] Another famous novel written by Bhattacharya is Aai (Mother).
He was the President of Asam Sahitya Sabha (Assam Literary Society) during 1983–1985.[6] In 1997, Bhattacharyya died due to a brief illness at the private college hospital in Guwahati.[7]
Editor of 'Ramdhenu'
editBhattacharya was a respected figure in the Assamese modern literary sphere for his role in discovering, nurturing and promoting young literary talent in Assam from 1960s as the editor of the Assamese literary journal Ramdhenu. His role as the editor of this journal was so prominent that the period of its publication in the mid-20th century in Assam is referred as Ramdhenu Era of Assamese literature and considered as a golden era.
His major discoveries of Ramdhenu Era are deemed to be the top Assamese and Indian litterateurs of the second half of the 20th century. His most prominent literary discoveries during the Ramdhenu Era who left undeniable mark in different domains of Assamese literature during the next half century are Lakshmi Nandan Bora, Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Saurav Kumar Chaliha, Navakanta Barua, Bhabananda Deka, Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi, Padma Barkataki, Homen Borgohain, Hiren Bhattacharya, Chandraprasad Saikia, Nilmoni Phukan Sr, Hiren Gohain, Mamoni Raisom Goswami and several others. Even after Ramdhenu stopped publication, he remained active as the leading Indian literary critic, and continued his mission of discovering extraordinary literary talent in Assam.
Until the mid-1980s, he continued to write literary criticism and reviews of younger authors whose works he believed showed significant promise and the potential to become influential in later decades. One of his final literary discoveries was Arnab Jan Deka, then a school student, whose first published book, A Stanza of Sunlight on the Banks of Brahmaputra (Brahmaputrar Parot Ephanki Rhode - In Assamese), appeared in 1983 while he was in the 10th standard. Dr. Bhattacharya wrote a critical essay on the work, published in the literary journal Gandhaar in 1987.
Through his impartial critical judgment and encouragement of emerging writers, Dr. Bhattacharya earned a distinguished reputation in Indian literary circles during his lifetime. He was particularly noted for identifying and promoting promising literary talent.
Works
editNovels
edit- Dhanpur Lashkar (1986)
- Rajpathe Ringiay (1957)
- Aai (1958)
- Iyaruingam (1960) – Sahitya Akademi Award winning novel
- Sataghni (1964)
- Mrityunjay (1979) [8][9] – Jnanpith award winning novel
- Pratipaad
- Ranga Megh
- Billari
- Daaini[10]
- Love in the Time of Insurgency[11]
- Blossoms in the Graveyard[12]
Other works
edit- Kolong Aajiu Boi (1962) – collection of short stories
- Satsori (1963) – collection of short stories
- published some poems in the magazine Jayanthi.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ George, K. M. (1997). Masterpieces of Indian literature, (Vol.1). National Book Trust. p. 19.
- ↑ "We cannot build images: Birendra Bhattacharya". India Today. 30 June 1980. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Jnanpith Laureates Official listings". Jnanpith Website. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007.
- ↑ "Jnanpith award presented". The Hindu. 25 February 2002. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016.
- ↑ "Life beyond violence, vendetta". The Hindu. 15 July 2005.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Presidents since 1917". Asam Sahitya Sabha website. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010.
- ↑ "Rediff On The NeT: Litterateur Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya dead". Rediff. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ↑ Bhattacharyya, Birendra Kumar (1983). Mrityunjay. Translated by Bezboruah, D. N. Sterling. ISBN 9780865781351.
- ↑ Bhattacharya, Birendra Kumar (1980). Mṛtyun̄jaya (in Hindi). New Delhi: Nayı̄ Dillı̄ : Bhāratı̄ya Jñānapiṭha, 1980. OCLC 62923015.
- ↑ "Birendra Kumar bhattacharya". Biographical essay. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ↑ Bhattacharyya, Birendra Kumar (2005). Love in the time of insurgency. New Delhi: Katha. ISBN 81-87649-06-2. OCLC 62493734.
- ↑ Bhattacharyya, Birendra Kumar (2016). Blossoms in the graveyard. Mitra Phukan. New Delhi, India. ISBN 978-93-85285-47-9. OCLC 964293836.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
