Subimal Misra (20 June 1943 – 8 February 2023) was an Indian

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

novelist, short story writer, and essayist. He was known as a maverick and audacious experimentalist in contemporary

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 ...

. Many contemporary avant-garde writers have been influenced by Misra's experimental writing style. Misra is recognized having been a stalwart of the little magazine movement in West Bengal and championed its cause throughout his life. Subimal Misra started his literary career at the end of 1967. From the start of his career, he wrote only for Bengali little magazines; he never contributed anything to any commercial magazines. His starkly political writings offer strong critiques of what he described as the complacent and decadent bourgeoisie. Heavily influenced by

Jean-Luc Godard Jean-Luc Godard ( , ; ; 3 December 193013 September 2022) was a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic. He rose to prominence as a pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, alongside such filmmakers as Fran� ...

, Subimal Misra uses various

cinematic techniques This article contains a list of cinematic techniques that are divided into categories and briefly described. Basic definitions of terms ;180-degree rule :A continuity editorial technique in which sequential shots of two or more actors within ...

, like

montage Montage may refer to: Arts and entertainment Filmmaking and films * Montage (filmmaking), a technique in film editing * ''Montage'' (2013 film), a South Korean film Music * Montage (music), or sound collage * ''Montage'' (Block B EP), 2017 ...

jump-cut A jump cut is a cut in film editing in which a single continuous sequential shot of a subject is broken into two parts, with a piece of footage being removed in order to render the effect of jumping forward in time. Camera positions of the subjec ...

etc., in his literary works. It is said that once he wrote to Godard, expressing his deep love for his works, along with a few samples of his writings, and Godard replied, mentioning him as 'Godard of literature'. Misra lived in Shampa Mirza Nagar,

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

. He was suffering from serious heart disease and could not write due to ill health. Misra died on 8 February 2023, at the age of 79.

Works

To date, Misra has published over 20 volumes of stories, novels, novellas, non-fictions and plays. Most of these volumes are conceptualized, designed, printed and published by the author himself.

Fictions

Misra's early works, published in various little magazines, instantly attracted the attention of readers and critics alike due to their sheer experimental forms and controversial subjects. One of his early short stories "''Haaraan Maajhi-r Bidhabaa Bou-er Maraa baa Sonaa-r Gandhimurti''" (The Corpse of Haaraan Maajhi's Widow or the Golden Statue of Gandhi), met with huge critical applause in its first appearance. After the publication of this story,

Kamal Kumar Majumdar Kamal Kumar Majumdar ( bn, কমলকুমার মজুমদার) (17 November 1914 – 9 February 1979) was a major fiction-writer of the Bengali language. The novel ''Antarjali Jatra'' is considered his most notable work. Early life M ...

and

Amiya Bhushan Majumdar Amiya Bhushan Majumdar (Bengali: অমিয় ভূষণ মজুমদার) (22 March 1918 – 8 July 2001) was an Indian novelist, short-story writer, essayist and playwright. In a writing career spanning over four decades, Majumdar ...

, two stalwarts of alternative

, congratulated and encouraged him to continue writing. After that, he took writing as a serious vocation. During this time, he wrote some of his most acclaimed stories—"''Baganer Ghoraanim-er Gaachh-e Dekhonchacha Thaakten''" (Uncle Seer Used to Live on the Ghoraanim Tree in the Grove), "''Ut''" (The Camel), "''Chhuri''" (The Dagger), "''Porijaatok''" (Descendant of an Angel) and "''Nuye-Guye Dui Bhai''" (Nuye and Guye are Two Brothers). His later short stories include-- "''Nangaa Haar Jege Uthchhe''" (Naked Bones are Waking Up), "''Calcutta Dateline''", "''Satitwa Ki Raakhbo Aparna?''" (Aparna, Should I Keep My Virginity?), "''Nikat Probishto Samporkeo Dharankshamotaa''" (The Ability to Hold the Closely Penetrated One), "''Mati Nore''" (The Earth Trembles) and many more. Most of these stories are included in the collection "''36 Bachhor-er Rograrogri''" (Haggles of the Past 36 Years) Subimal Misra used the words "''anti-novel''" and "''anti-story''" to differentiate his works from the traditional narrative fictions. His first anti-novel "''Aasole Eti Ramayan Chamar-er Golpo Hoye Uthte Paarto''" (It could have been Ramayan Chamar's Story), published in 1984, though centred on and around a fictitious character called Ramayan Chamar, is actually the story of creating a story, a

metafiction Metafiction is a form of fiction which emphasises its own narrative structure in a way that continually reminds the audience that they are reading or viewing a fictional work. Metafiction is self-conscious about language, literary form, and story ...

. This novel, set against the tumultuous political scenario of West Bengal in the 70's, strongly attacks the aimlessness of today's political thoughts and their bigotry. Mishra wrote two other "Anti-Novels" in this period-- "''Rang Jakhon Satarkikaron-er Chihno''" (When Colour is the Symbol of Danger), published in 1984 and "''Kantha Palak Ora-- Sabkichhui''" (The Featherd Neck—Everything), published in 1990. These two, along with "''Ramayan Chamar''" constitute a trilogy which explores the inevitable decadence of urban middle-class. His later anti-novels are more cryptic and chaotic in nature. These works include-- "''Satya Utpaadito Hay''" (Truth Gets Manufactured), "''One Pice Father Mother''" (A Penny is my Father and Mother), and "''Chete-Chushe-Chibiye-Giley''" (Lick-Suck-Munch-Gulp). Mishra published two books in their manuscript form, reproduced by photocopying -- "Harmormori" (Clatter of Bones) and "Pnod-er Gu Tin Jaygaa-y Laage" (Shitty Bum Touches in Three Places). These two books employ extensive graphical and visual elements in their structures. Language and image are inextricably intermingled here to produce an archetypal and tortuous view of our existence. Mishra also wrote a play-- "''Vito Pnatha-r Istoo''" (Stew of Brother Billy Goat).

Non-fictions

Though it is often difficult to demarcate between fiction and non-fiction in Subimal Misra's works, he has published two complete volumes of non-fictions in which he has elaborated on his ideology and stance as a writer. One of these two volumes, "''Sun and Murderer''", is a collage of his own essays, letters, medical reports and entries from his journal as well as other people's comments on his writings, criticisms and book-reviews. The other collection is titled as "''Subimal-er Biruddhe Subimal''" (Subimal Against Subimal) which highlights not only his commitment as an

anti-establishment An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958, by the British magazine ''New Statesman'' ...

writer, but also the contradiction inherent in it. In Bengali literature the writers who are considered to be of the same anti-establishment school are the Hungryalists such as

Basudeb Dasgupta Basudeb Dasgupta (31 December 1938 – 31 August 2005) is an Indian novelist and short-story writer associated with the Hungry generation movement in Bengali literature. He is considered one of the most significant avant-garde and controvers ...

, Subhas Ghosh,

Malay Roy Choudhury Malay Roy Choudhury (born 29 October 1939) is an Indian Bengali poet, playwright, short story writer, essayist and novelist who founded the Hungryalist movement in the 1960s. Early life and education Malay Roy Choudhury was born in Patna, ...

, and Arunesh Ghosh.In fact, the Hungryalists were the first post-colonial generation to vent their anti-establishment voice of libertad in pre-planned narratives. Though Subimal Misra was never a part of the Hungryalist Movement, there are some common elements (like, anti-establishment and anti-narrative stance) of Hungryalism visible in his works as well.

Themes, styles, techniques and influence

Themes

Misra's works are essentially anti-establishment and blasphemous in nature. He questions and thereby disturbs our complacence as readers. According to him, his works remain incomplete without the active participation of his readers. Starting from the titles of his books, he tries to destroy all the traditional and preconceived notions about art and literature. To disavow the concept of establishment and consumerism in art, he himself publishes and distributes his own books. Along with politics, Sex is an important and recurring subject in Misra's works. Throughout his writings, he tries to reveal the matriarchal past of human society by deconstructing the chauvinistic elements, various forms of sexual dominance and discriminations. Sex, according to him, is a weapon in this consumerist society, at once repressed and liberated. He uses the form of pornography, stressing the subversive aspects of it, to explore the socio-political forces behind the concepts of sex and sexuality in modern society.

Styles

His more recent works are entirely devoid of any narrative. They are, cumulatively, a vast and ingenious collage of newspaper clippings, essays, and excerpts from his journal and letters. Beyond this apparently chaotic form, there lies a deeper representation of the decadence of human civilisation. According to Subimal Misra, this form is essentially important in today's world because of its inherent ‘plurality’.Postmodern Bangla Short Stories: the arrival of the departure (Part III)
/ref> It opens up a discursive field within the readers’ minds—at once contradictory and concurrent. "''One Pice Father Mother''" (A Penny is my Father and Mother), and "''Chete-Chushe-Chibiye-Giley''" (Lick-Suck-Munch-Gulp) are good examples of his extremely anti-narrative stance.

Use of visual elements in writing

Apart from

collage Collage (, from the french: coller, "to glue" or "to stick together";) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. ...

(or, ''

Montage Montage may refer to: Arts and entertainment Filmmaking and films * Montage (filmmaking), a technique in film editing * ''Montage'' (2013 film), a South Korean film Music * Montage (music), or sound collage * ''Montage'' (Block B EP), 2017 ...

'', borrowing the term from film) and cut-ups as writing techniques, Subimal Misra amply uses

calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

, innovative letterings and graphics in his writings. Such evocative usage of visuals is a means of provoking and stimulating the readers, and creating new meanings out of those mundane words. Often, in Misra's works, two or more paragraphs are merged, thereby creating two separate texts running parallel to and colliding with each other.

Influence

To some extent, Subimal Misra's works resemble those of

William S. Burroughs William Seward Burroughs II (; February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular cultur ...

. Like Burroughs, Misra also uses a technique similar to cut-up. At the same time, he acknowledges the influence of

James Joyce James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of ...

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology), a French playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and litera ...

Kathy Acker Kathy Acker (April 18, 1947 isputed– November 30, 1997) was an American experimental novelist, playwright, essayist, and postmodernist writer, known for her idiosyncratic and transgressive writing that dealt with themes such as childhood trau ...

Samuel Beckett Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish novelist, dramatist, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. His literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal and tragicomic expe ...

and even,

Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and ...

on his works. He is also influenced by various filmmakers and their works, most notably,

Andrei Tarkovsky Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky ( rus, Андрей Арсеньевич Тарковский, p=ɐnˈdrʲej ɐrˈsʲenʲjɪvʲɪtɕ tɐrˈkofskʲɪj; 4 April 1932 – 29 December 1986) was a Russian filmmaker. Widely considered one of the greates ...

Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians, and directors to be one of the greatest and m ...

and

Ritwik Ghatak Ritwik Kumar Ghatak (; 4 November 19256 February 1976) was a noted Indian film director, screenwriter, and playwright. Along with prominent contemporary Bengali filmmakers Satyajit Ray, Tapan Sinha and Mrinal Sen, his cinema is primarily remembe ...

Selected bibliography

* ''Haaraan Maajhi'r Bidhabaa Bou-er Maraa baa Sonaa'r Gandhimurti'' (The Corpse of Haaraan Maajhi's Widow or the Golden Statue of Gandhi : An Anthology of Short Stories), 1971 * ''Nangaa Haar jege Uthchhe'' (Naked Bones are Waking Up), 1974 * ''Aasole Eti Ramayan Chamar-er Golpo Hoye Uthte Paarto'' (It could have been Ramayan Chamar's Story), 1982 * ''Rang Jakhan Satarkikaran-er Chihno'' (When Colour is the Symbol of Danger), 1984 * ''Shreshtha Golpo'' (Selected Stories), 1989 * ''Kantha Palak Ora—Sabkichhui'' (The Feathered Neck—Everything), 1990 * ''Ei Amader Siki-Lebu Ningraani'' (This is How We Rinse a Quarter of a Lemon), 1990 * ''Sun and Murderer'', 1996 * ''Subimal-er Biruddhe Subimal'' (Subimal Against Subimal), * ''Anti-Golpo Sangraha'' (Collected Anti-Stories), 1998 * ''Anti-Uponyas Sangraha'' (Collected Anti-Novels), 1999 * ''One Pice Father Mother'' (A Penny is My Father and Mother), 2000 * ''Tamaak-er Bazaar Bonaam Euclid-er Chatushparsha'' (The Tobacco Market Vs. Euclid's Surroundings), 2002 * ''Chete-Chushe-Chibiye-Giley'' (Lick-Suck-Munch-Gulp), 2003 * ''36 Bachhor-er Rograrogri'' (Haggles of the Past 36 Years), 2004 * ''Kika Cut-Out'', 2006 * ''Pnod-er Gu Tin Jaygaa-y Laage'' (Shitty Bum Touches in Three Places), 2006–2007 *Misra, S. (2012). The Golden Gandhi Statue from America. India: HarperCollins Publishers India.