Today is the 148th anniversary of the birth of Bengali novelist and short story writer Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, who is revered for his literary works depicting life and struggles of rural people in the then Bengal.
Born at Debanandapur in West Bengal, India on September 15, 1876, his literary works such as 鈥楤indur Chhele O Anyanya鈥�, 鈥楶arinita鈥�, 鈥楤aikunther Will鈥�, 鈥楶allisamaj鈥�, 鈥楧ebdas鈥�, 鈥楥haritrahin鈥�, 鈥楽hrikanta鈥�, 鈥楪rihadaha鈥�, 鈥楧atta鈥�, 鈥楧ena-Paona鈥�, 鈥楶ather Dabi鈥� and 鈥楽hes Prashna鈥� are still popular among readers of Bangla literature.
Sarat Chandra started his career as an assistant to the settlement officer of Baneli Estate. He also worked as a translator at the Calcutta High Court, and as a clerk in the Accounts Department of Burma Railway.
In 1921 he took part in the Non-cooperation Movement led by Congress and was elected president of Howrah District Congress.
Many of his novels are based on his own experiences. He portrayed the life and struggles of the rural people around him. His first novel 鈥楤orodidi鈥�, published in the 鈥楤harati, brought him almost instant fame.
A number of successful films, in different Indian languages, have been made based on his novels like 鈥楧evdas鈥�, 鈥楽rikanta鈥�, 鈥楻amer Sumati鈥�, 鈥楧ena-Paona鈥� and 鈥楤irajbou鈥�.
In recognition of his contribution to literature, the University of Dhaka conferred him honorary D Lit in 1936.
He passed away on January 16, 1938.
