Sukumar Ray

Sukumar Ray Biography

Sukumar Ray was a Bengali humorous poet, story writer and playwright. His main works are children books. He is the son of noted writer, Upendrakishore Ray and father of renowned Indian film maker, Satyajit Ray. His grandson Sandip Ray is a noted film maker of present times. His collection of poems "Aboltabol", novella "HaJaBaRaLa”, short story collection "Pagla Dashu" and play "Chalachittachanchari" are his most significant works. His works are often compared to Alice in Wonderland and still popular among kids even after 80 years of his death. Sukumar Ray was also known as the convenor of "Monday Club", a weekly gathering of like-minded people at Ray residence, where people used to freely speak and express their ideas of the world and surroundings.

Ray was born in a Brahmo family in Kolkata on 30 October 1887 in the era of Bengal Renaissance. He was grown up in an atmosphere filled with literary talents. His father was a noted writer and musician. He owned a printing press as well. Upendrakishore was also a close friend of Rabindranath Tagore and Tagore’s company has influenced him a lot. Noted scientists, Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Roy were his family friends. Like father, he learnt the technology of blockmaking and conducted experiments and later got involved with M/s U. Ray & Sons aside his brother, the press started by his father. In 1906, he graduated with honours in physics and chemistry from Presidency College. He also learnt photography and printing technology from School of Photo-Engraving and Lithography, London.

As a technologist, he also developed new methods of halftone blockmaking, and his articles were published in journals of England. As an author, a few of his books are Jhalapala O Onanyo Natok, Lakkhaner Shoktishel, Bhasar Atyacar, Abol tabol and Pagla Dashu. He died at a younger age of just 36.

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Updated: March 14, 2014