December 1, 2008

Bengali literature still has bright prospects -- Sunil Gangopadhyay


Eminent Indian poet and litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay said that Bengali literature still has bright prospects, as the readership in West Bengal and Bangladesh is sizeable and growing.He made the remark while talking to a BSS correspondent on the concluding day of the three-day 'Sunil Mela' that ended on November 23.Sunil literature Practice and Research Centre organised the 'mela ' (fair) marking the 75th birth anniversary of the poet at his ancestral home at Purba Maijpara village under Kalkini Upazila. Sunil was accompanied by his wife Swati Gangopadhyay, elder brother Anil Gangopadhyay and daughter Konika Gangopadhyay.A total of 20 stalls displaying books written by Sunil at the fair, turned into a festival with the presence of poets, litterateurs, artistes and bookworms, among others. Other attractions of the fair included live performances of 'jari' and 'shari' songs.
A library and a healthcare centre, named after him, are being set up at Sunil's ancestral home. Sunil Gangopadhyay was born on September 7, 1934 in Faridpur. He obtained his Master's degree in Bengali from the University of Calcutta in 1954.
He was associated with the Ananda Bazar group, a major newspaper-publishing house in Kolkata, for many years. He is now the president of Sahitya Academy after serving as its vice-president for five years.
An author of more than 200 books, Sunil is widely regarded as one of the most prolific writers having excelled in different genres, but he proudly declares that poetry is his "first love."
He was the founder-editor of "Krittibas," a poetry magazine that became a platform for the new generation of poets, experimenting with many new forms in poetic themes, rhythms, and words.

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