Nalini Das ( 5 August 1916 – 26 March 1993) was a Bengali educationist, writer and editor. She was one of the editors of the Bengali children's magazine ''Sandesh''.

Early life

Nalini Das was born to Arunnath Chakraborty and Punyalata (Ray Chowdhury). Her father was a deputy magistrate posted in Bihar, and her mother was the daughter of Bengali writer, technologist and entrepreneur

Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury (12 May 1863 – 20 December 1915) was a Bengali writer and painter. One of his written book is ''Chotoder Shera Biggan Rochona Shongkolon''. He was the son-in-law of reformer Dwarkanath Ganguly. He was also an entre ...

. Bengali writer Sukumar Ray was her maternal uncle, and Oscar-winning filmmaker

Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (; 2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian director, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, essayist, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher, and music composer. One of the greatest auteurs of fil ...

her cousin. She completed her matriculation from the Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya and IA from St. John's Diocesan Girls' Higher Secondary School in Calcutta. She studied philosophy at Scottish Church College, Calcutta. She studied for the master's degree in philosophy at the

University of Calcutta The University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University; CU) is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate State university (India), state university in India, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Considered ...

. She was a brilliant scholar and came first class first in both B.A. and M.A. examinations. In B.A. she scored highest marks among arts examinees in all subjects.

Professional career

Das was a member of the faculty of the Department of Philosophy in the Victoria Institution immediately after her education. Later on she joined the Educational Service of the Bengal Government. In 1945, she was sent to England on a government scholarship for learning about school teachers' training. On return, she joined the newly established David Hare Training College. When a separate teachers' training college for women, the Institute of Education for Women, was set up, she became a senior member of its faculty. Later she became the principal of that Institute. Later she was the principal (1968–1974) of

Bethune College Bethune College is a women's college located on Bidhan Sarani in Kolkata, India, and affiliated to the University of Calcutta. It is the oldest women's college in India. It was established as a girls' school in 1849, and as a college in 1879. ...

. An award honouring her is given for best all-round performance in the college.

Writer and editor

Along with her elder sister, Kalyani Karlekar, in the 1930s and 1940s she edited a Bengali a women's magazine ''Meyeder Katha''. Das created the first schoolgirl female detectives of

Bengali literature Bengali literature ( bn, বাংলা সাহিত্য, Bangla Sahityô) denotes the body of writings in the Bengali language and which covers Old Bengali, Middle- Bengali and Modern Bengali with the changes through the passage of time ...

. The ''Goenda Gondalu'' (translated into English as the ''Lu Quartet'' by Swapna Dutta), are four young schoolgirls who solve mysteries. From 1964 till her death in 1993, she was one of the three editors of the Bengali children's magazine '' Sandesh'', which operated out of her home. She wrote a book about the childhood days of her cousin

, ''Shaat Rajar Dhon Ek Manik''. She edited children's books along with Lila Majumdar and Ray.

Personal life

Nalini Das married Ashokananda Das, brother of Bengali poet Jibanananda Das. Writer and publisher Amitananda Das is their son. Amitananda Das went on to marry Krishna Roy and they have a daughter.

Awards

Nalini Das was awarded the Vidyasagar Memorial Award in 1990 by West Bengal Govt.

Published works

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Das, Nalini 1916 births 1993 deaths Bengali writers Scottish Church College alumni University of Calcutta alumni Academic staff of the University of Calcutta Women writers from West Bengal