Suchitra Mitra Biography 
Suchitra Mitra was a composer and exponent of Rabindra Sangeet. She is also known as a playback singer. She has also served as a professor and the Head of Rabindra Sangeet Department at the Rabindra Bharati University for many years till 1984. She has also acted in Bengali movies and was associated with theatre organization, IPTA. She has been honoured with Padma Shri in 1973 and Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1986 by the Government of India. Desikottama from Visva-Bharati, HMV Golden Disc Award, Shiromoni Puraskar from Asian Paints, Tagore Hymn Prize in 1945 from London Tagore Hymn Society and Allauddin Puraskar from the Government of West Bengal are among the honours received by this renowned singer. Rabindra Bharati University, the University of Burdwan and Jadavpur University have honoured her with honorary doctorates also. She was also the Sheriff of Kolkata.
Mitra was born on 19 September 1924 in Bengal as the daughter of Saurindra Mohan Mukherjee, celebrated litterateur. She studied from Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta and Visva-Bharati University. Her singing talent was recognized by Pankaj Mullick who taught her primary lessons. In 1941, Suchitra Mitra received a scholarship to Sangeet Bhavan in Santiniketan. Thus she learnt Rabindra Sangeet from some leading names of the subject. She received a diploma and returned back to Kolkata in 1945. She completed Master’s degree from Scottish Church College.
In 1946, along with Dwijen Chowdhury she founded Rabitirtha, a school to teach Rabindra Sangeet. She was also an exponent and an interpreter of Tagore's musical compositions. She has also produced Rabindra Nritya Natyas in which she has acted as well. She is also known as a writer to write poems as well as rhymes for kids. She has also published many books in Bengali on Rabindra Sangeet. She is always regarded as one of the great exponents of Rabindra Sangeet.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 28, 2014
