Sukanta Bhattacharya

Sukanta Bhattacharya Biography

Sukanta Bhattacharya was a Bengali poet and playwright who is regarded as one of the key figures of modern Bengali poetry alongside Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. But most of his works were published posthumously. During his life, his poems were not widely circulated. But they gained attention after his death and later he achieved the status equivalent to great poets of Bengal during 19^th century who played a significant role in Bengal renaissance. Rebel socialist thoughts, patriotism and humanism were the key elements of his poems. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal is his nephew. He was a close friend of the poet Shubhas Mukhopadhyay.

Sukanta Bhattacharya was born on 15 August 1926 to Nibaran Chandra Bhattacharya and Sunita Devi. His father was the owner of Saraswat Library, a publishing and book selling enterprise. He had 6 siblings. Sukanta was born at his maternal grandfather’s house at Kalighat, Kolkata. His childhood days were spent at Nibedita Lane, Bagbazar. His schooling was done at Kamala Vidyamandir, a local primary school. His first short story was published in a student’s magazine – Sanchay. An article "Vivekanander Jibani", was published in Sikha. Later he studied at Beleghata Deshbandhu High School. He became a member of Communist Party of India in the year 1944.

He edited an anthology named Akal, which was published in Anti-Fascist Writers' and Artists' Association in 1944. He also edited Kishore Sabha of the Bengali daily organ of the party, Dainik Swadhinata. He died of tuberculosis at the Jadavpur T. B. Hospital in Kolkata at a young age of 21. Except his work, Chharpatra, all books were published after his death, Ghum Nei, Purbabhas, Abhijan, Mithe-Kadha and Giti Guccha to name a few. All his works were deeply influenced by communist ideology.

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Updated: July 06, 2017