DEBKUMAR BOSE

POKHHIRAJ O URBOSHI

                                                                                             

DINOBONDHU MITRA

Dinabandhu Mitra:(1830–1873) the Bengali dramatist, was born in 1830 at village Chouberia in Gopalnagar P.S., (N) 24 Parganas and was the son of Kalachand Mitra. His given name was Gandharva Narayan, but he changed it to Dinabandhu Mitra.
Early life:
Dinabandhu Mitra's education started at a village pathshala. His father arranged a job for him on a zamindar's estate (1840). But the small boy fled to Kolkata, where he started working in the house of his uncle, Nilmani Mitra. Around 1846, he was admitted to the free school run by James Long. Dinabandhu was a bright student and won a number of scholarships. In 1850, he enrolled at Hindu College and was awarded scholarships for academic excellence. However, he did not appear in his last examination, and, instead, started working as a postmaster at Patna (1855). He served in various posts in the Postal Department in Nadia, Dhaka and Orissa. In 1870, he was made supernumerary post- master in Calcutta. In 1872, he joined the Indian Railway as an inspector.
Literary career:
Dinabandhu started writing literary pieces while still at college. His poetic style was inspired by the well known poet Ishwar Chandra Gupta. His poems were able to attract the attention of intellectuals at kolkata, but his favourite genre was the drama. His work in the postal department had taken him to various parts of the country giving him opportunities to study humanity closely and thereby adding to his ability to unfold the drama of life with a degree of realism unknown at that time. Among his books of poems are Suradhuni Kavya (first part appeared in 1871, second part appeared in 1876), Dvadash Kavita (1872). His plays include Nildarpan (1860), Nabin Tapasvini (1863), Biye Pagla Budo (1866), Sadhabar Ekadashi (1866), Lilavati (1867), Jamai Barik (1872)and Kamale Kamini (1873). He also wrote a novel titled Poda Mahehshvar. Another one of his noted contributions was the hilarious - "Jamalay-e Jiyonto Manush" (An Alive man in the abode of Yama), the basic story line will later be adopted into an iconic film starring Bhanu Bandopadhyay. It has to be noted that Mitra was also a pioneer in the sense that his plays focused on humans rather than gods & goddesses. Also in Jamalay-e he involves popular Hindu gods to generate humour, which would later be done by Rajshekhar Basu too.

Dinabandhu was awarded the title 'Rai Bahadur' by the British government for services rendered at the Battle of Lushai. He died on 1 November 1876.

DINOBANDHU ROCHONA

                                                                          

SADHANA MUKHOPADAHYA

MACH RANNA

                                                                

DEBOBROTO BISWAS

Biswas, Debabrata (1911-1980) noted singer and cultural activist. Born in Barisal and educated at Vidyasagar College, Calcutta, and Calcutta University, Debabrata Biswas, a lifelong bachelor, made music his passion and career. Beginning in 1938, he recorded many songs written by Rabindranath Tagore for His Master’s Voice. In 1939, after joining the Communist Party, he moved about the country singing patriotic songs to inspire the masses. During this period he was also connected with the people’s theater and played roles in Navanna, Chendatar, Raktakaravi. Though very popular as a singer, Biswas came under severe criticism from Tagore song specialists, particularly of the Visva-Bharati school, who believed that he had been deliberately trying to change the original musical score of Rabindranath Tagore.

 

BRATTO JONER RUDHHO SANGEET