Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay – The Deft Storyteller
On his birth anniversary, we share the life and literary legacy of Bengali novelist Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay. Delve into his impactful storytelling, rooted in the rural landscapes of Bengal, and discover how his works, celebrated for their deep humanity and social commentary, have left an indelible mark on Indian literature.
In the world of literature, the difference between global recognition and relative obscurity can often hinge on the quality of translation. This is poignantly illustrated by the case of Bengali novelist Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971, the same year Pablo Neruda won. This information emerged when the Nobel Committee released the list of all 137 nominations from 1971, after a 50-year embargo. According to the Nobel Prize’s official website, Neruda was awarded the prize “for a poetry that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent’s destiny and dreams.” However, it’s possible that Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay may have lost out due to difficulties in translating his works effectively. Today, as we celebrate Tarashankar’s birth anniversary, it is fitting to delve into his life and literary contributions.
Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay (1898–1971) is celebrated as a master storyteller who depicted human life with unflinching honesty and wielded an exceptional command of Bengali prose. He often chose unsung, hardworking men and women as his subjects, offering readers an expansive and profound exploration of human emotions. In his stories, the ordinary becomes extraordinary through his deft storytelling.
Bandyopadhyay was born in Labhpur, a village in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, approximately 25 kilometers from Santiniketan. This region, with its grand, centuries-old houses adorned with intricate terracotta patterns, forms the backdrop of much of his work. A humble, sprawling mud house with a tin roof, known as the kachharibari (office building), stands as a testament to his legacy. This 200-year-old structure, less ostentatious than the grand houses around it, was the office of Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay.
Throughout his life, Bandyopadhyay remained deeply connected to Labhpur. His fiction, which often questioned social norms and was deeply humane, drew robustly from the rural life he observed around him. He depicted the conflict between the feudal system and the rising tide of democracy, a theme central to his novel “Ganadebata,” which earned him the Jnanpith Award. Labhpur and its surrounding areas form the world of Tarashankar’s fiction, sometimes fictionalized or mythologized, but always recognizable.
In 1932, Tarashankar met Rabindranath Tagore, India’s first Nobel laureate, in Santiniketan. This meeting preceded a prolific period during which he wrote 65 novels. Alongside Manik Bandopadhyay and Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, Tarashankar completes the famous triad of the “Banerjees” of Bengali literature. Born into a zamindar family on July 23, 1898, in Labhpur, Tarashankar moved to Calcutta for higher studies after finishing high school in his village. However, his involvement with freedom fighters led to his internment by the British authorities on two occasions. These experiences, combined with his work as a social worker during epidemics, allowed him to closely observe the people of his locality, many of whom belonged to marginalized communities.
Tarashankar’s love for Birbhum shone through his writings even after he settled in Kolkata. He successfully introduced regional dialects into his work, providing a rich, authentic voice to his characters. In addition to his numerous novels and short stories. Many of his novels were adapted into films, including “Abhijan” and “Jalsaghar” (The Music Room), both directed by Satyajit Ray.
The field of literature is filled with stories that echo the sentiments of their origin. “Chhati Phataar Maath” — the field of the bursting chest — is a name that resonates with the vibrant history of its land. Similarly, Tarashankar’s works echo the rich cultural and social fabric of rural Bengal. He penned 65 novels, 53 books of stories, 12 plays, 4 essay collections, 4 autobiographies, 2 travelogues, and composed several songs. His contributions to literature were recognized with numerous awards, including the Rabindra Puraskar (1955), the Sahitya Akademi Award (1956), the Padma Shri (1962), the Jnanpith Award (1966), and the Padma Bhushan (1969).
In celebrating Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay’s birth anniversary, we honor a literary giant whose works continue to resonate with readers. Had better translation tools been available during his time, his profound storytelling might have garnered the global recognition it truly deserved.
Featured Image Sources : Anandabazar Patrika
Picture credit : Parimal Guswami