Sudhir Chakraborty

Bengali writer (1934–2020)

Sudhir Chakravarti

Born| (1934-09-19)19 September 1934
Shibpur, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died| 15 December 2020 (aged 86)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Occupation| Literary, teacher, educator, music specialist
Language| Bengali, India
Alma mater| B.A Krishnagar Government College, M.A. University of Calcutta, Ph.D. Jadavpur University
Notable works|

Gabhir Nirjan Pathe

Baul Fakir Katha Ganer Lilar Sei Kinare

Sadar Mafaswal
Notable awards| Ananda Puraskar
Sahitya Akademi Award (1985)
Shiromani Award
Acharya Dinesh Chandra Sen Award
Narashinga Das Award
Sarojini Basu Gold Medal
Spouse| Nivedita Chakravarti
Children| Sananda Chakravarti Sreya Chakravarti
Signature

Sudhir Chakravarti (19 September 1934 – 15 December 2020) was a Bengali educationist and essayist. He made a vast contribution in Bengal's folk culture development and research.

## Early life and career

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Sudhir Chakravarti or Sudhir Prasad Chakravarti was born on 19 September 1934 at Shibpur. His father's name was Ramaprasad Chakravarti and his mother Beenapani Chakravarti. He was the youngest of the nine sons of Ramaprasad. Due to the fear of the Japanese bombardings in Kolkata, Chakravarti's father had shifted to Dignagar, Nadia, (where they had ancestral lands as Zamindars) from Shibpur, Howrah in his childhood. After that his family came to Krishnanagar, Nadia.[1][2] Chakravarti completed his studies in Calcutta University. Chakravarti is known for his research works on Folk religion, Lalan Fakir and Cultural Anthropology in Bengal. He spent 30 years researching the folk culture by traveling to different villages all over the West Bengal.[3] He was a professor of Bengali literature from 1958 to 1994, but even after retirement kept on teaching until 2011. Chakravarti worked in Krishnagar Government College, guest lecturer of Jadavpur University and was also associated with the Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata. He wrote and edited more than 85 books on various subjects like music, art, folk-religion, cultural anthropology. He was the editor of Bengali literary Magazine Dhrubapada.[4] He died on 15 December 2020 in Kolkata.[5][6]

## Literary career

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From Rabindranath to Lalan Fakir, from Baul culture to clay modellers, modelling and painters and painting of rural Bengal, everything had become the subject of his interest and research. Besides research and writing, he also edited 'Dhruvapada' journal.[7]

His contribution to the study of Bengali folk culture is immense. His pen had authored immense detailed work on the sub-religions and cult of Kartabhaja, Balahari, Sahebdhani, their belief community and their songs, which were never paid much attention to by the intellectuals.[8] It is to be noted that after William Hunter and Akshay Kumar Datta in the 18th century, few have paid attention to work on these sects. His book 'Bratya Lokayat Lalon' is considered as a milestone in the practice of Lalan Fakir.

## Works

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1. Sahebdhani Sampraday O tader gaan (সাহেবধনী সম্প্রদায় তাদের গান), 1985
2. Ganer Lilar Sei Kinare (গানের লীলার সেই কিনারে), 1985
3. Krishnagarer Mritshilpo o Mritshilpi Samaj (কৃষ্ণনগরের মৃৎশিল্প ও মৃৎশিল্পী সমাজ), 1985
4. Balahari Sampraday o Tader Gaan (বলাহাড়ি সম্প্রদায় আর তাদের গান), 1986
5. Gabhir Nirjan Pathe (গভীর নির্জন পথে), 1989
6. Dwijendralal Smaran Bismaran (দ্বিজেন্দ্রলাল রায় স্মরণ বিস্মরণ), 1989
7. Bangla Ganer Sandhane (বাংলা গানের সন্ধানে), 1990
8. Sadar -Mafaswal (সদর-মফস্বল), 1990
9. Agradwiper Gopinath (অগ্রদ্বীপের গোপীনাথ), 1992
10. Nirjan Ekaker Gaan Rabindrasangeet (নির্জন এককের গান রবীন্দ্র সংগীত),1992
11. Bangla Ganer char diganta (বাংলা গানের চার দিগন্ত), 1992
12. Bratya Lokayata Lalan (ব্রাত্য লোকায়ত লালন),1992
13. Chalchitrer Chitralekha (চালচিত্রের চিত্রলেখা), 1993
14. Bangla Filmer Gaan O Satyajit Ray (বাংলা ফিল্মের গান ও সত্যজিৎ রায়),1994
15. Nirbas (নির্বাস), 1995

Panchagramer Karacha (পঞ্চগ্রামের কড়চা), 1995

1. Paschimbanger Mela o Mohotsav (পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মেলা ও মহোৎসব), 1996
2. Debabrata Biswaser Gaan(দেবব্রত বিশ্বাসের গান), 1997
3. Lalan (লালন), 1998
4. Mati-Prithibir Tane (মাটি-পৃথিবীর টানে), 1999
5. Baul Fakir Katha (বাউল ফকির কথা),2001
6. Bangla Ganer Alokporbo (বাংলা গানের আলোকপর্ব),2001
7. Gane Gane Gaoya (গানে গানে গাওয়া),2003
8. Banglar Gounadharma : Sahebdhani O Bolahari (বাংলার গৌণধর্ম সাহেবধনী ও বলাহাড়ি), 2003
9. Rupe Barne Chande (রূপে বর্ণে ছন্দে),2003
10. Lekha Pora Kore Je (লেখা পড়া করে যে), 2003
11. Utsabe, Melay Itihase (উৎসবে মেলায় ইতিহাসে), 2004
12. Ghanaran Bahirana (ঘরানা বাহিরানা),2006
13. Kabitar Vichitra Pathe (কবিতার বিচিত্রপথে), 2006
14. Gaan Hote Gaane (গান হতে গানে),2008
15. Lokayoter Antarmohol (লোকায়তের অন্তরমহল), 2008
16. Shamuk Jhinuk (শামুক ঝিনুক), 2009
17. Akhyaner Khoje (আখ্যানের খোঁজে),2009
18. Loksomaj O Lokchitra (লোকসমাজ ও লোকচিত্র), 2009
19. Rabindranath Anekanta (রবীন্দ্রনাথ অনেকান্ত), 2010
20. Nirjansajane (নির্জনসজনে), 2011
21. Alaldost Sevakamalini lalan (আলালদোস্ত সেবাকমলিনী লালন),2011
22. Manini Rupmati Kubir Gosai (মানিনী রূপমতী কুবির গোঁসাই), 2012
23. Kabitar Khonje (কবিতার খোঁজে),2012
24. Dekha na Dekhaye Mesha (দেখা না দেখায় মেশা),2012
25. Sudhir Chakravarti Rachanavali -1 (সুধীর চক্রবর্তী রচনাবলি-প্রথম খণ্ড),2012
26. Sudhir Chakravarti Rachanavali -2 (সুধীর চক্রবর্তী রচনাবলি- দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড),2013
27. Chorano Ei Jibon (ছড়ানো এই জীবন),2013
28. Bhadrajaner Drishtite Lalan Fakir (ভদ্রজনের দৃষ্টিতে লালন ফকির), 2013
29. Sahityer Lokayata Path (সাহিত্যের লোকায়ত পাঠ), 2013
30. Anek Diner Anek Katha (অনেক দিনের অনেক কথা), 2013
31. Abataler Rupabali Abataler Padabali (অবতলের রূপাবলি, অবতলের পদাবলি), 2013

## Awards

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* Ananda Purashkar in 2002 for his book Baul Fakir Katha
* Sahitya Akademi Award in 2004.[9]
* Eminent Teacher award from Calcutta University in 2006,[10]
* Narasimha Das award Medal from Delhi University
* Rabindratatvacharya award by the Tagore research Institute
* Dr. Sukumar Sen Gold Medal from the Asiatic Society.

## References

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1. ^ "কোথায় গেল সে সব আশ্চর্য পড়শিরা". anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 April 2018.
2. ^ হালদার, সুস্মিত. "রোজ পৌঁছতেন কাঠিবনে". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 March 2021.
3. ^ "Their music inspired Tagore, Bob Dylan: This book tells you all about Bauls of Bengal". Hindustan Times. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
4. ^ "Dr. Sudhir Chakraborty". nadia.gov.in. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
5. ^ MP, Team (16 December 2020). "Sahitya Akademi awardee Sudhir Chakraborty passes away". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
6. ^ "লোকসংস্কৃতি গবেষক সুধীর চক্রবর্তী প্রয়াত". anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
7. ^ "List of Publications" (PDF). Retrieved 13 June 2024.
8. ^ Bhaumik, Sudarshana (26 August 2022). The Changing World of Caste and Hierarchy in Bengal: Depiction from the Mangalkavyas c. 1700–1931. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-64143-1.
9. ^ "AKADEMI AWARDS (1955–2016)". sahitya-akademi.gov.in. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
10. ^ "Recipient of Eminent Teacher Awards". Retrieved 27 April 2018.

## External links

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* Media related to Sudhir Chakrabarty at Wikimedia Commons

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* IdRef