Shakti Chattopadhyay

Shakti Chattopadhyay Biography

Shakti Chattopadhyay was a Bengali poet and writer who was literally associated with Hungry generation literary Movement in the 1960s. He was one of its founding members, though he left the group due to difference in opinion. He was also associated with Communist Party of India.

He was born in a small village Baharu of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on November 25, 1933. Bamanath Chattopadhyay and Kamala Devi were his parents. He lost his father at a younger age and later he was brought up by his grandfather. After primary education in his local village, he reached Bagbazar, Calcutta in 1948 where he completed his high school studies. It was during this time when he came into contact with the ideologies of leftism and Marxist party. He learnt those ideas from one of his school teachers. He started a hand-written magazine, Pragati in 1949 and later it turned to a published copy. He joined City College for intermediate studies and also took membership in CPI. After intermediate he joined Presidency College for graduation though he didn’t complete it.

In 1956 he moved with his mother to Ultadanga. The family lived on the small earnings by his brother. His poem "Yama" was published in Kabita, a literary magazine in 1956. His poem was published by Buddhadeb Bose. After that he regularly published poems for many periodicals and earned fame as a popular poet. In 1958, he ended his relationship with Communist Party. Though he worked in many firms, he didn’t stay at a job for a long period. He started heavy drinking as well and led a wayward lifestyle in his end phase.

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Updated: June 19, 2014