Bani Basu

Bani Basu Biography

Bani Basu is an accomplished writer associated with Bengali literature. Apart from poetry and short stories, she also writes essays and literary criticisms. She is active in her literal career since early 1970s and some of her noted works include – Gandharbi, Swet Patharer Thala, Mohana, Ekushe Pa, Maitreya Jataka, Ashtama Garbha and Upanyasa Panchaka. In 2010 she was awarded with Sahitya Academy Award for her contributions to Bengali literature. In 1997 her novel Maitreya Jatak earned Ananda Puraskar. Her novel - Antarghat won her the Tarashankar Award. She is also a recipient of Sushila Devi Birla Award Sahitya Setu Purashkar. She published 17 novels in total, apart from short stories and other forms of work. She wrote both fiction and non-fiction works.

Bani Basu was born on March 11, 1939 in Kolkata. She graduated from Scottish Church College affiliated to Calcutta University. She took Master’s in English literature and later started her career in teaching profession. She started her literal career since 1970s and her works attracted the critics than readers. Her early works were published in Janmabhoomi Matribhoomi. Later she published many works in Bengali magazine Desh. Characteristic use of dialogue, portraying of events in the backdrop of concrete situations and deep understanding of history and sociology are the major features of her writings.

Apart from her works, she translated many works of Somerset Maugham, D H Lawrence and Sri Aurobindo into Bengali language. She retired as a English lecturer at Krishna Girls’ College in Howrah. She owns her own distinct story telling techniques and is verse in rearranging events and presenting readers with powerful dialogs. Gandharbi, Pancama purusha, and Ashtama garbha are her most popular novels. Svetapatharera thala and Radhanagara are best among her short stories.

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Updated: June 26, 2016