Khagendranath Mitra

Khagendranath Mitra (Bengali: খগেন্দ্রনাথ মিত্র) (1896–1978) was a writer for children of Bengal. Even today his writings continue to be popular among children and preteens.

Early life

Mitra was born in Kolkata. He hailed from the Mitra family of Nilmani Mitra Street , Kolkata (West Bengal, India). His father Shailendranath Mitra was a ''Mukhtar'' of Tagore family estate in Shilaidaha, Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh). In school life at Kushtia District he became attracted with revolutionary politics and attached with Bagha Jatin. Mitra also joined in Non-cooperation movement in his youth and became imprisoned before the independence.

Overview

He was the first Indian children's writer whose books were translated into foreign languages. The Russian translation of '' Bhombol Sardar'' was of immense popularity. '' Bhombol Sardar'' was one of the Rapid Text in Russian junior classes.

Mitra, besides writing more than 100 books, was an editor as well. ''Kishor'' ��িশোর(The Preteens), the first child periodical in Asia was the brain child of his, though it was not published for a year. ''Notun Manush'' ��তুন মানুষ(New Man), ''Chhotoder Mohol'' ��োটদের মহল(The Gallery for Children), ''Banshory'' ��াঁশরী(The Flute), ''Sonar Kathi'' ��োনার কাঠি(The Golden Stick), ''Shishusathi'' ��িশুসাথী(The Children's Friend; Annual) were among the periodicals he edited.

List of works

Stories

*''Moutuski'' ��ৌটুসকি*''Sei Chhokrata'' ��েই ছোকরাটা(That Lad)
*''Kopaler Lekha'' ��পালের লেখা(The Fate)
*''Swapne Paoya Golpo'' ��্বপ্নে পাওয়া গল্প(The Story Obtained in a Dream)
*''Kortababur Petni Dekha'' ��র্তাবাবুর পেত্নী দেখা(The Female-Ghost Kortababu Saw)
*''Mintur Chhobi'' ��িন্টুর ছবি(Mintu's Picture)
*''GoneshChandrer Ashubho Jatra'' ��ণেশচন্দ্রের অশুভ যাত্রা(The Unholy Journey of GaneshChandra)
*''Parghater Alapeer Pallay'' ��ারঘাটের আলাপীর পাল্লায়(The Gossiping Man of Parghat)
*''Chorer-o Adhom'' ��োরেরও অধম(Even Inferior Than a Thief)
*''Badanpur Bungalowr Sei Rat'' ��দনপুর বাংলোর সেই রাত(That Night At Badanpur Bungalow)

Novels

*''Bagdi Dakat'' ��াগদী ডাকাত(The Bagdi Bandits)
*''Africar Jongole'' ��ফ্রিকার জঙ্গলে(In the Forests of Africa. Inspired by R.M Ballantyne's novel The Gorilla Hunters)
*''Sundarbaner Pothe'' ��ুন্দরবনের পথে(On the Way to Sundarban)
*''Black Arrow'' ��্ল্যাক অ্যারো*'' Bhombol Sardar'' ��োম্বোল সর্দার(Bhombol the Leader),in 4 volumes- This is a fascinating account of life of a preteen village boy, Bhombol. Perhaps, this is a nostalgic memory of his own childhood.
*''Pujoneeyo Dosyu'' ��ূজনীয় দস্যু(Adorable Dacoit)- ''Prohelika Series'' ��্রহেলিকা সিরিজof Deb Sahitya Kutir
*''Dakait Omnibus'' - Stories of Bishe Dakait ( Biswanath Sardar) and other decoits of rural Bengal

Adaptation

''Bhombol Sardar'' was turned into a verbal drama conducted by Akashbani, the governmental radio network in India. It was also adapted to a Bengali movie.

Awards

Khagendranath Mitra received many awards such as ''Bhubaneshwasi Padak'' (Medal) and ''Mouchak Sahitya Purashkar'' from University of Calcutta for his works. He also awarded Girish Silver Medal. In 1975 his name was nominated for National award in literature but since the authority showed dishoner to the child literutre, he refused to receive it.

See also

* Sukumar Ray
* Ashapoorna Devi
*Premendra Mitra
*Leela Majumdar
*Satyajit Ray
* Narayan Gangopadhyay
*Shibram Chakraborty
* Narayan Sanyal
*Dhirendralal Dhar
*Dinesh Chandra Chattopadhyay

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitra, Khagendranath
Bengali writers
Indian children's writers
Writers from Kolkata
1896 births
1978 deaths
Place of death missing
20th-century Indian novelists
Novelists from West Bengal