Writer of many parts |
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“Shudhu kobitaar janye aami amaratva taachchhilya karechhi (I have disregarded immortality for poetry alone)”
Writers who knew Sunil Gangopadhyay well tussled long and hard with this line of his from the the poem Kobitar Janye
at a memorial programme recently organised by the Sahitya Akademi. None
of the interpretations satisfied everyone, and as the forum dissolved
into personal reminiscences and tributes, it was clear that
Gangopadhyay’s death on October 23 had left a void that would be hard to
fill.
Leading lights
from Calcutta’s literary scene attended the event, divided into sessions
for poetry, fiction and children’s literature.
Nirendranath
Chakraborty, who inaugurated the session, recalled writing to
Gangopadhyay (then in his late-teens) to congratulate him for a poem he
had submitted to an anthology. The two grew close over the years and
used to meet every Saturday to watch films. They even travelled together
to various places at home and abroad.
Manabendra
Bandyopadhyay recalled adda sessions with Gangopadhyay in various cabins
and coffee houses. The late writer’s friends like Pranab Kumar
Mukhopadhyay recalled his years of struggle and stand for the
Hungryalists. Srijato spoke of Gangopadhyay’s search for poetry that
would express spontaneous and raw feelings.
Bani Basu
suggested that Gangopadhyay’s style may actually have been a consciously
honed “styleless” style. Debasish Bandyopadhyay, a former editor of Anandamela,
recalled that Gangopadhyay never saw the Kakababu stories as detective
fiction. They were to him adventures of a man who braves disability and
danger.
He did not like
murder, corruption and complex plots in children’s writings. Though no
one referred to it, one could not help remembering the beautifully
illustrated and edited magazines and books brought out by the Sishu
Kishore Akademi when Gangopadhyay was its president.
Another recent memorial programme for Gangopadhyay, hosted by Crossword on Elgin Road, borrowed the title of his book Eka Ebong Koekjon. The evening of poetry and prose was interspersed with soulful Rabindrasangeet by Sohini Mukhopadhyay.
Conducted and
conceived by Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee, the programme presented those who
are not familiar with Gangopadhyay’s writings an opportunity to
understand their power.
Bijoylakshmi Barman read out Jol Barchhe and actress Sreela Majumdar Jokhon Tumi Ashi. Pranati Tagore recalled how Gangopadhyay played Kabiraj Moshai in an audiobook of Moner Manush. She also read out Gaach tolai dariye and Ke Kake Taanchhe.
Dipanwita Chatterjee read out an English translation of Neera Tumi, Chaitali Dasgupta Je Jai Boluk, Chaiti Ghoshal Ekti Grammo Drisho and Uttoradhikar and Sutapa Bandyopadhyay the poignant Saptam Garver Kanya. Recalling Gangopadhyay’s praise “Dibbo korechho” (You did very well) for Muktodhara, filmstar Rituparna Sengupta read out Naach Khela.
Others who read
out Gangopadhyay’s works were Biplab Dasgupta, Suchita Raychaudhury,
Arindam Sil and Kanchan Moitra, who reminded the gathering of
Gangopadhyay’s lines that roughly meant those who leave, leave; only
those who stay behind know how, wiping away tears with the back of one’s
hands, one ushers in a smile — “Jara jay tara jay jara thake tara janey, haater ulto pithey kanna muchhe kikorey hashi aante hoy”.
(Contributed by Sebanti Sarkar)
Sunil Gangopadhya was heckled and abused by Mamata Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress as the esteemed writer refused to toe the line of fascist political leader Mamata Banerjee like other 'artists' e.g Suvaprassana, Arpita Ghosh, Bratya Basu, Nachiketa - who lend their support for personal gain like land,Govt.Posts and monetary allowances at public expense.
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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunil Gangopadhya the writer who never compromised with fascists
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