Buddhadeva Bose (also spelt as Buddhadeb Bosu) (Bengali: বুদ্ধদেব বসু ) (1908-1974) was a major Bengali writer of the twentieth century. Although frequently referred to as a poet, he was a versatile writer, and wrote novels, short stories, plays and essays in addition to poetry. He was an influential critic and editor of his time. He is recognized as one of the five poets who moved to introduce modernity into Bengali poetry.
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Life
Buddhadeb Bosu was born in Comilla, Bengal, now in Bangladesh. His ancestral home was in the village of Malkhanagar in the Vikrampur region (in Munshiganj District, Bangladesh). His father's name was Bhudeb Chandra Bose and mother's name was Benoy Kumari. His mother died just few hours after his birth and his father for a year became a bereaved wanderer. He remarried few years later and settled down. So, Buddhadeva was brought up and raised by his maternal grandparents Chintaharan Sinha and Swarnalata Sinha. Literally they remained his soul parents. He was schooled at the Dhaka Collegiate School in Dhaka, in addition to high schools in Comilla and Noakhali. After completing his MA in English from the University of Dhaka with distinciton marks that remains unsurpassed as yet (2007), he moved to Calcutta. While a student he became associated with the famous poetry magazine Kallol. The modernist literary movement of 1930s is often referred to as the Kallol era. He was also worked as an editor of the literary magazine Progoti (started 1926). He married Pratibha Basu ( 1914/1915 - October 4, 2006) (nee Shome) in 1934. They had three children, Meenakshi Dutta (b. 1936), Damayanti Basu Singh (b. 1940) and Suddhashil Bose (1945-1987). Pratibha Bosu was an accomplished singer in her teens but later concentrated on literature and became a distinguished writer in her own right. Buddhadeb Bosu taught at the Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and later worked as a journalist in the capacity of an editor for The Statesman. Subsequently, he set up the Department of Comparative literature in Jadavpur University, and was on its faculty for a number of years. He was also a visiting professor at many universities in the United States. One of his most important contributions to the Bengali literary scene was the establishment of Kobita - the flagship poetry magazine in Bengali, which he edited for 25 years.
Literary Life
His first book of poetry, namely, Domoyonti was published when he was only seventeen years old. Although he worked as a teacher at different colleges and universities, he devoted his whole life to literature. This is symbolized by the name of his residence in Calcutta which was Kabiota Bhavan (tr. House of Poetry).
Literary Style
Without undermining his genius, it can be said that Buddhadeb Bosu wrote essentially under the influence of Western literature. In his early works he showed clear and very competent influence of Rabindranath Tagore. But both in terms of theme and style, he reflected the influence of renowned Western poets of whom Baudelaire should be named foremost. He was also influenced by Ezra Pound, William Butler Yeats and T.S. Eliot. Allegedly he believed in ‘arts for arts sake’ and emphasized on technical perfection of his works. Although he mostly wrote in free verse, he command of rhyme and rhythm was unmistakable. His prose style was also established on a diction developed by himself. His novels remain modern even by standards of the twentieth first century. He established a style of appreciative literary criticism that remains unparalleled.
Accusation of obscenity
Raat bha're bR^ishhTi, 1967; M.C. Sarkar, Calcutta, 1st Ed. 1967; (7th Reprint 1990.) While the literary circle of Bengal did not hesitate to recognize him as a leading post-Tagore literary personality, Buddhadeb Bosu achieved mass popularity when his novel (Raat bha're bR^ishhTi) was banned by the government on charges of obscenity. It was short novel of triangular love in which the author explicitly allowed sex to play a critical role in human relationship. Eventually, the High Court relieved the novel of the charges of obscenity.
Translation of Baudelaire
Recognition
Apart from the formal recognition mentioned below, he remains the most important literary personality of the twentieth century, after Rabindranath Tagore. Buddhadeb Bosu received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967 for his verse play Tapaswi O Tarangini, received the Rabindra Puraskar in 1974 for Swagato Biday(poetry) and was honoured with a Padma Bhushan in 1970.
Works
Poetry
Mormorani [1924], Bondir Bondona [1930], Prithibir Pothe [1933], Konkaboti [1937], Notun Pata [1940], Domoyonti [1943], Droupodir Sari [1948], Sreshto Kobita [1953], Sheter Prarthona: Bosonter Uttor [1955], Je Adhar Alor Odhik [1958], Morche Pora Pereker Gan [1966], Bloomington, Indiana [?]
Novel
Shara [1930], Akormonnya [1931], Momo Deya Neya [1932], Jobonika Poton [1932], Rhododrendron Guchho [1932], Sanonda [1933], Amar Bondhu [1933], Jedin Futlo Komal [1933], He Bijoyi Bir [1933], Dhusor Godhuli [1933], Lalmegh [1934], Bashor Ghar [1935], Kalo Haoa [1942], Tithi Dore [1949], Nirjon Swakhor [1951], Moulinath [1952], Sonpangshu [1959], Shesh Pandulipi [1956] Ratvor Brishti [1960], Golap Keno Kalo [1967].
Short story collections
Ovinoy, Ovinoy Noy, Rekhachitro, Era Ar Ora, Abong Aro Oneke, Odrisho Satru, Misses Gupta, Premer Bichitra Goti, Ghorete Bhromro Elo, Notun Nesha, Feriwala O Onnano Golpo, Khatar Shhesh Pata, Ekti Sokal O Ekti Shyandhya, Golpo Songkolon, Shreshtho Golpo, Hridoyer Joyogan, Vashao Amar Vela.
Play
Mayamalancha, Taposhi O Torongini, Kalshanhya, Punormilon, Kolkatar Electra
Essay
Hothat Alor Jhalkani, Uttor Tirish, Kaler Putul, Sahityacharcha, Rabindranath: Kotha Sahitya, Sanga Nishangata Rabindranath, Prabandha Sonkolon, Mohavarater Kotha.
Works of translation
Kalidasa's Meghdut, Baudelaire: Tar Kobita.
References
- The Selected Poems of Buddhadeva Bose/Translated and Introduced by Ketaki Kushari Dyson. New Delhi, OUP, 2003
