Premendra Mitra

Premendra Mitra (4 September 1904 – 3 May 1988)[1][2][3] was an Indian poet, writer and film director in the Bengali language. He was also a practitioner of Bengali science fiction. His critique of humanity led him to believe that for it to survive, human beings had to "forget their differences and be united".[4]

Premendra Mitra
Born(1904-09-04)September 4, 1904
Varanasi, United Provinces, British India
Died2 May 1988(1988-05-02) (aged 83)
Kolkata, India
OccupationPoet, writer, director
Notable awardsRabindra Puraskar
Padma Shri
SpouseBeena Mitra

Life

Premendra Mitra was born in Varanasi, India where his father Gyanendranath Mitra was an employee of the Indian Railways and because of that he had the opportunity to travel to many places in India. Having lost his mother, who died during his childhood, he was brought up by his grandparents in Uttar Pradesh and spent his later life in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Dhaka. He was a student of South Suburban School (Main) and enrolled for a BA at the Scottish Church College[5] in Calcutta which he left prematurely to study agriculture in Santiniketan with a friend of Rabindranath Tagore, Leonard Elmhirst. Because it did not hold his interest, he returned to education first on an undergraduate course in Dhaka and in 1925 at Asutosh College in Calcutta where he assisted the research of Dinesh Chandra Sen.[6] In particular, his creation of the character of Ghanada [ঘনাদা] (meaning: 'Elder brother Ghana' in Bengali) won him public recognition.[7]

Bibliography

Poems
  • Prothoma (First Lady)
  • Somrat (The Emperor)
  • Feraari Fouj (The Lost Army) Poetries:Phyan [ফ্যান]
  • Sagor Theke Fera (Returning From The Sea)
  • Horin Cheeta Chil (Deer, Cheetah, Kite) Poetries: Khunt [খুঁত] (Wrong)
  • Kokhono Megh (An Occasional Cloud)
  • Ananya (One-of-a-kind, Unique)
  • Khuda wahid (Allah)

Short story collections
Bengali
  • PonchoShor [পঞ্চশর] (The Five Arrows)
  • Benami Bandar [বেনামি বন্দর] (Unknown Harbour)
  • Putul O Protima [পুতুল ও প্রতিমা] (Doll And Clay Image of Goddess)
  • Mrittika [মৃত্তিকা] (Earthen image)
  • Ofuronto [অফুরন্ত] (Endless)
  • Dhuli Dhusor [ধূলি ধূসর] (Fade As Dust)
  • Mohanagar [মহানগর] (The Great City)
  • Jol Payra (Water Pigeon)
  • Sreshto Golpo [শ্রেষ্ঠ গল্প] (Best Stories)
  • Nana Ronge Bona [নানা রঙে বোনা] (Knit with Different Colours)
  • Nirbachita [নির্বাচিত] (Selected)
English

(Not actually written by him, later translated)

  • Snake And Other Stories
  • Mosquito and Other Stories
  • Adventures of Ghanada
For children
  • MayurPankhi [ময়ূরপঙ্খী]
  • SagorDanri [সাগরদাঁড়ি]
  • MakorMukhi [মকরমুখী]

Rhymes
  • Hariye [হারিয়ে]
  • Borong [বরং]
  • Misti Megh [মিষ্টি মেঘ] (A Sweet Cloud)
  • Onko [অঙ্ক] (Mathematics)
  • Misti [মিষ্টি] (Sweet)
  • Duti Banshi [দুটি বাঁশি] (The Two Flutes)
  • Megher Ghurhi [মেঘের ঘুড়ি] (The Kite of Cloud)

Fairy tales, ghost stories and teenager stories
  • Chorui Pakhira Kothay Jay [চড়ুই পাখিরা কোথায় যায়]
  • Lighthouse-e [লাইটহাউসে] (At the Lighthouse)
  • Satyabadi Suku [সত্যবাদী সুকু] (Suku the Truth Speaker)
  • Hatir Danter Kaj [হাতির দাঁতের কাজ] (Work Done By the Tooth of an Elephant)
  • Golper Swarge [গল্পের স্বর্গে] (At the Paradise of Stories)
  • Putuler Lorai [পুতুলের লড়াই] (The Fight of the Dolls)
  • Ramrajye Bidroha [রামরাজ্যে বিদ্রোহ]
  • Kurukshetre Bhaja Orfe Brihaddhaja [কুরুক্ষেত্রে ভজা ওরফে বৄহদ্ধজ] (Bhaja Alias Brihaddhaja at the Kurukshetra)
  • Ratan Panjali [রতন পাঞ্জালী]
  • Ko-Aai [কো-আই]
  • Porira Keno Ase Na [পরিরা কেন আসে না] (Why the Fairies Don't Come)
  • KalRakkhos Kothay Thake? [কালরাক্ষস কোথায় থাকে?] (Where does KalRakkhos Live?)
  • Sanu O DudhRajkumar [সানু ও দুধরাজকুমার] (Sanu And DudhRajkumar)
  • KaluSardar (Kalu the Leader)
  • Gopon Bahini [গোপন বাহিনী] (The Secret Force)
  • Mahuri Kuthite Ek Rat [মাহুরি কুঠিতে এক রাত] (One Night Stand at Mahuri Kuthi)
  • Nishutipur [নিশুতিপুর]
  • Vuturhe Jahaj [ভূতুড়ে জাহাজ] (The Ghost Ship)

Ghost stories
  • Golper Sheshe (At the End of the Story)
  • Rajputanar Morute (At the Desert of the Rajputana)
  • Bromhadoityer Math (The Ground of Bromhadoityo (Ghost)

Fun stories
  • Clue [ক্লু] (The Clue)
  • Chor [চোর] (The Thief)
  • Bhupaler Kopal [ভূপালের কপাল] (The Fate of Bhupal)
  • BishwomvorBabur Bibortonbad [বিশ্বম্ভরবাবুর বিবর্তনবাদ] (The Thesis of Evolution by BishwomvorBabu)
  • Niruddesh [নিরুদ্দেশ] (Missing Person)

Science fictions

He was among the pioneers of Bengali science fiction. He started writing Science fictions to make children and preteens familiar with science.

  • Juddho Jakhan Thamlo [যুদ্ধ যখন থামল] (When the War Stopped)
  • Pinpre Puran [পিঁপড়ে পুরাণ] (The Story of the Ants)[8]
  • Prithivir Shatru [পৄথিবীর শত্রু] (The Enemies of the Earth)
  • Kalapanir Atole [কালাপানির অতলে]
  • Mangalbairi [মঙ্গলবৈরী] (The Martian Enemies)[8]
  • Koral Kit [করাল কীট] (Horrible Insect)
  • Akasher Atonko [আকাশের আতঙ্ক] (The Danger from the Sky)
  • Manusher Protidwondi [মানুষের প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী] (The Rival of the Man)
  • MoyDanober Dweep [ময়দানবের দ্বীপ] (The Island of MoyDanob)
  • Shomaoner Ron(g) Sada [শমনের রং সাদা] (The White Coloured Death)
  • Shukre Jara Giyechhilo [শুক্রে যারা গিয়েছিল] Those Who Went to Venus; previously named as Prithibee Chhariye [পৃথিবী ছাড়িয়ে] (Beyond the Earth)

Novels
  • Paank (The Mud)
  • Michhil (The Procession)
  • Uponayon (The Ceremony)
  • Protishod (The Revenge)
  • Kuasha (The Fog)
  • Protidhwoni Fere (Echo Returns)
  • Haat Baralei Bondhu
  • Ora Thake Odhare
  • Path Bhuley
  • Dabi

Characters

Ghanada (Brother Ghana)

Ghanada (Original name: Ghanashyam Das) is a middle-aged resident of a mess at 72, Banamali Naskar Lane in Kolkata, West Bengal with the four young members Shibu, Shishir, Gour and Sudhir (the narrator of the stories). He claims himself to be full of thrilling experience all over the globe (and, even in Mars!) to tackle conspiracies. Also, some of the stories are about Ganado (Original name: Ghonoram Das [ঘনরাম দাস]) in South America, and Bachanram Das [বচনরাম দাস] in Agra at Medieval India, his ancestors. First Ghanada story is Mawshaa [মশা] (The Mosquito) in 1945.[9]

Mamababu (Maternal Uncle)

Mamababu lived in Burma on account of his service. Original name of this middle-aged man is never stated. His expeditions are written in many novels and short-stories, such as:

  • Kuhoker Deshe (In the Land of Illusion)
  • Dryagoner Nishwas (The Breath of the Dragon)
  • Mamababur Protidan (The Refund of Mamababu)
  • Abar Sei Meyeti (That Girl Again)
  • Paharer Nam Korali (The Hill Named Korali)

This character inspired Sunil Gangopadhyay to write his famous Kakababu series.

Parashor Barma

Parashor Barma is a detective but he tries to be a poet.[10] First Parashor story is Goyenda Kobi Parashor [গোয়েন্দা কবি পরাশর] (Detective Poet Parashor) in 1932. Some other stories are:

  • Hippie Songe Parashor Barma [হিপি সঙ্গে পরাশর বর্মা] (Parashor Barma in Hippie Company)
  • Cluber naam kumati [ক্লাবের নাম কুমতি] (Club named Kumati)
  • Nilem daklo parashor Barma [নিলেম ডাকলো পরাশর বর্মা] (Parashor called an auction)
  • Premer Chokhe Parashor [প্রেমের চোখে পরাশর] (Parashor in the Eye of Love)
  • Parashor Barma O Bhanga Radio [পরাশর বর্মা ও ভাঙ্গা রেডিও] (Parashor Barma and the Broken Radio)[11]
  • Parashor Barma O Ashlil Boi [পরাশর বর্মা ও অশ্লীল বই] (Parashor Barma and the Book of Vulger)
  • Parashor Ebar Johuri [পরাশর এবার জহুরি]

Two Ghanada tales also include Parashar Barma : Parasharey Ghanaday and Ghanada Phirlen.[12]

Publishers of Mitra's writings

Leela Majumdar translated several Ghanada tales in a volume called Adventures of Ghanada.[13] The latest English translation of his Ghanada stories (Mosquito and Other Stories) was published by Penguin Books India in 2004.[13]

Filmography

Direction
  • Samadhan [সমাধান] (The Solution) Bengali,1943
  • Bideshini [বিদেশিনী] (The Foreigner Lady) Bengali, 1944
  • Path Bendhe Dilo [পথ বেঁধে দিল] (The Way Is Closed) Bengali, 1945.
  • Rajlakshmi Hindi, 1945.
  • Notun Khobor [নতুন খবর] (New News) Bengali, 1947: Starred by Dhiraj Bhattacharya. Story, Screenplay by Mitra.
  • Kalo Chhaya [কালো ছায়া] (Black Shadow) Bengali, 1948: Starred by Dhiraj Bhattacharya.
  • Kuasha (1949) [কুয়াশা] (The Fog) Bengali, 1949: Based on his own novel, starring Nripati Chattopadhyay.
  • Kankantala Light Railway 1950
  • Setu 1951
  • Hanabari [হানাবাড়ি] (The Haunted House) Bengali, 1952: A Dhiraj Bhattacharya and Nabadwip Halder starred film, where the mystery of a terrible creature in a haunted building was solved by a detective in disguise of a beggar. This movie was also produced by Mitra.
  • Dui Biye [দুই বিয়ে়] (Two Marriages) Bengali, 1953: Nripati Chattopadhyay and Dhiraj Bhattyacharya acted.
  • Moyla Kagaj [ময়লা কাগজ] (The Dirty Paper) Bengali, 1954: Cast by Anil Chatterjee and Nripati Chattopadhyay.
  • Dakinir Char [ডাকিনীর চর] (The Island of Witch) Bengali, 1955
  • Chupi Chupi Aashey [চুপি চুপি আসে] (Silently He Comes) Bengali, 1960; an uncredited adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap'.

Story, screenplay, lyrics and dialogues
  • Bhabikaal [ভাবী কাল] (The Future) Bengali, 1945 – Story: Directed by Niren Lihiri.
  • Avijog [অভিযোগ] (The Complain) Bengali, 1947 – Story, Screenplay, Lyrics: Directed by Shushil Majumder.
  • Digvranto [দিগভ্রান্ত] (The Lost Destination) Bengali, 1950 – Story, Screenplay: Directed by Shushil Majumder.
  • Ora Thake Odhare [ওরা থাকে ওধারে] (They Live That Side) Bengali, 1954 – Story, Screenplay, Lyrics: This funny movie is based on contemporary Ghati [ঘটি] and Bangal [বাঙাল] disputes of fifties. Starred by Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, Tulsi Chakrabarti, Chhabi Biswas and Dhiraj Bhattacharya. Directed by Sukumar Dashgupta.

References
  1. Sibaji Bandyopadhyay. Sibaji Bandyopadhyay Reader. Worldview Publications. pp. 235–. ISBN 978-81-920651-8-2. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  2. Mohan Lal (1 January 2006). The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature Volume Five (Sasay To Zorgot). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 3889–. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. Samsad Bengali Charitabhidhan Vol.II edited Anjali Bose, Published by Sagitta Samsad, Kolkata, Edition January,2019,Page-240 ISBN 978-81-7955-292-6
  4. Bridges to Breakthroughs: Tracing the Genealogy of the Indian Science. Shradha Kabra, The Criterion, an International Journal in English, December 2012, Vol.III, Iss.IV, ISSN 0976-8165
  5. Some Alumni of Scottish Church College in 175th Year Commemoration Volume. Scottish Church College, April 2008, p. 590
  6. Premendra Mitra Mindscape (Bengali), Sahitya Akademi, 2000
  7. Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature, Sahitya Akademi, 1992
  8. Debjani Sengupta (2003). "Sadhanbabu's Friends: Science Fiction in Bengal from 1882–1961". Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2011., Sarai Reader: Shaping Technologies 3.
  9. from the 'Short stories from the 1940s ' page of the Ghanada Gallery website : http://ghanada.wix.com/ghanada-gallery#!short-stories-from-the-1940s/corn
  10. "Authors of Bengali mystery stories (গোয়েন্দা ও রহস্যকাহিনী লেখক)". Banglamystery.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  11. Premendra Mitra (1977). Adyopanta Parashar (Bengali). Kolkata: Sakkhorata Prakashan. p. 3.
  12. from the 'Short stories from the 1980s' page of the Ghanada Gallery website : http://ghanada.wix.com/ghanada-gallery#!short-stories-from-the-1980s/c1gv5
  13. from the 'Translations' page of the Ghanada Gallery website : http://ghanada.wix.com/ghanada-gallery#!translations/c14zm
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