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Subhash Mukhopadhyay

スブハス・ムコパッダイ

Subhash Mukhopadhyay

Aliases: Subhas Mukhopadhyay

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1919-02-12 （Krishnanagar, Nadia district, Bengal Presidency, British India）
Died
2003-07-08 （Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India） age 84
Nationality
Indian
Languages
Bengali, English
Residence History
Krishnanagar (birth) → Kolkata (long-term residence) → Santiniketan (periodic association)

Career

Occupations
poet, novelist, essayist, translator, editor, journalist, children's writer
Active Years
1940-2003
Affiliations
Sahitya Akademi, Progressive Writers' Union, Afro-Asian Writers' Association
Memberships
Fellow of the Sahitya Akademi, Progressive Writers' Union (leadership roles)
Influenced By
Sukanta Bhattacharya, Nâzım Hikmet

Education

Scottish Church College
Philosophy
Degree: Bachelor (Honours)
Year of Graduation: 1941
Country: India
Graduated with honours

Awards

Sahitya Akademi Award
1964
Work: Joto Dureii Jai
Organization: Sahitya Akademi
Result: winner
Jnanpith Award
1991
Organization: Jnanpith
Result: winner
Padma Bhushan
2003
Organization: Government of India
Result: recipient
Afro-Asian Lotus Prize
1977
Organization: Afro-Asian organisations
Result: winner
Kumaran Asan Award
1982
Organization: Kumaran Asan Award body
Result: winner
Mirzo Tursunzoda Prize
1982
Organization: USSR/Central Asian cultural body
Result: winner
Ananda Puraskar
1991
Organization: Ananda
Result: winner
Soviet Land Nehru Award
Organization: Soviet Land Nehru
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Padatik

1940 poetry

An early landmark collection characterized by a direct, political voice reflecting the upheavals in Bengali society during the mid-20th century.

social justicethe common peoplepolitics

Phul Phutuk

poem/poetry

One of his well-known lyrical poems reflecting a more personal voice in his later work, using nature and seasons to explore human feeling.

natureseasonsindividual emotion

Joto Dureii Jai

1963 poetry

A 1960s collection combining social themes and personal reflection; awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award.

alienationmemorysocial critique

Cheley Gechhey Boney

poetry/verse

Works addressing migration and separation, portraying family and personal narratives against social change in Bengal.

migrationseparation

Bangalir Itihaash

essays

A collection of essays on Bengali culture and history, discussing regional identity and historical consciousness.

cultural historyregional identity

Bibliography

  • Padatik
  • Chirkut
  • Agnikone
  • Phul Phutuk
  • Joto Dureii Jai
  • E Bhai
  • Kaal Modhumash
  • Cheley Gechhey Boney
  • Bangalir Itihaash
  • Desh Bidesher Rupkotha

Translations by Author

  • Works of Nâzım Hikmet (Turkish→Bengali)

Translations of Works

  • As Day is Breaking (English translations, 2014)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
direct and forceful voiceinfluences of socialist realismlater work shows lyrical and narrative turn
Recurring Motifs
the common people and workersseasons and naturenostalgia and separation

Health

  • heart disease
    晩年
    Declining health in late life limited his activity
  • kidney disease
    晩年
    Required treatment and contributed to his eventual death

Legacy

One of the foremost 20th-century Bengali poets. Known as the 'Padatik' or 'foot-soldier poet' giving voice to workers and common people. Recipient of Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith awards; commemorated in Kolkata place and train names.

Academic Societies

  • Sahitya Akademi

Archives

  • Library of Congress holdings (USA)

In Popular Culture

  • Kavi Subhash Metro Station in Kolkata (named after the poet)
  • Padatik Express (train named after his book 'Padatik')

Quotes

  • Whether flowers bloom or not, it's Spring today
    Source: Excerpt from the poem 'Phul phutuk na phutuk, aaj Boshonto'
  • When you see, may you not feel hurt... (from English translation of 'Jol Saite')
    Source: English translation of the poem 'Jol Saite'

Trivia

  • He co-edited the children's magazine Sandesh with Satyajit Ray for a period.
  • His work has been commemorated in Kolkata through station and train names.