Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay

Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
(1876-1938)

If story telling is the best of the novelistic qualities, Sarat Chandra stands at its best among his peers. Born in the village of Debanandapur in Hoogly district, Sarat Chandra was reared by his maternal relatives in Bhagalpur. He finished his high school in 1894 and enrolled in a local college which he had to withdraw from due to lack of financial support. In 1903 young Sarat Chandra left poverty stricken Bangla (thanks to British colonialism) went to Burma to try his luck.

His first novel 'Ramer Sumati' was published in 'Jamuna' a leading Bangla magazine. His two other novels, Path Nirdesh and Bindur Chhele were applauded by the readers. In Rangoon, he wrote Biraj Bou, Panditmosai, Palli Samaj. On his return to Kolkata in 1916, he started lived Baje-Shibpur area for some time. Later he moved to his own house at Panitras village in Howrah district. His novel Mandi' received the Kuntaleen award. Using a psedonym Anila Debi Sarat Chandra wrote a couple of novels. Sarat Chandra's greatest romatic novels are Srikanto and Charitraheen. His patriotic novel Pather Daabi which idolised the Jagantarite / Annusialinte form of anti imperialist rebels was banned by the British rulers. In 1923, he received 'Jagattarini' Gold medal from Calcutta University and Dhaka Uiversity honored him with a DLit.