Sandesh (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Sandesh is a Bengali
children's magazine. The periodical was first published by Upendrakishore Ray
chowdhury in 1913 through his publishing company, M/s U. Ray and Sons
. After the death of Upendrakishore Roychowdhury in 1915, his eldest son Sukumar Ray
succeeded as the editor of the magazine in 1915. The Sukumar Ray
years established "Sandesh" as a unique magazine that combined literary values with humour and fun and a lot of information from different parts of the world.
In 1923, Sukumar's younger brother Subinoy took the charge after the death of Sukumar Ray. However the publication of the magazine was stopped in 1925. In 1929 it was revived by the new owners of the firm U. Ray and Sons
. Subinay Ray remained one of the editors in this period too. In 1934 it again ceased publication.
In 1961, the magazine was revived under the editorialship of Satyajit Ray
and Subhas Mukhopadhyay
. Many of Satyajit Ray's writings were first published in this magazine. One of his most famous stories for the magazine was Bankubabur Bandhu
(Banku Babu's Friend or Mr. Banku's Friend), a Bangla science fiction
story he had written in 1962 and which gained popularity among Bengalis
in the early 1960s. Ray also introduced his famous characters Feluda
and Professor Shonku in short stories he wrote for Sandesh.
From 1963, Satyajit's aunt, the writer Leela Majumdar
became the honorary joint editor of the magazine in place of Sri Mukhopadhyay. From 1963 Satyajit Ray formed a non-profit literary co-operative, "Sukumar Sahitya Samavaya Samity Ltd.", and since then this Co-operative has been running the magazine.
From 1974, Satyajit's cousin Ms Nalini Das became honorary joint editor of the magazine, and she was in effect the Executive Editor of the magazine in this period, while her husband Asokananda Das was the honorary Publisher. In 1992-93, the magazine faced a crisis when Satyajit Ray
, Nalini Das and Asokananda Das all died within a period of 14 months. From 1994, Leela Majumdar
also became too ill to be able to continue as the Executive Editor.
From 1993-94, Sandip Ray
, son of Satyajit Ray
, became the Joint Editor of the magazine and Amitananda Das, son of Nalini Das became the Publisher. But the inexperienced team could not meet the challenge of the changing times -- due to the competition from comics, TV, cable TV, and books with coloured illustrations; the total circulation of children's magazines dropped steadily in this period. "Sandesh" remained a Black & White magazine, and it was a struggling one, incurring losses and skipping issues.
In 2003, The Ford Foundation gave a grant to "Sandesh" to make the magazine viable. Due to squabbles within the co-operative, though the magazine had many coloured pages and became much more attractive visually; it was not viable financially. Between July 2005 and April 2006, the magazine missed several issues, and since May 2006 it skipped four issues.
In August 2006, a new attempt was made to revive the magazine.
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
children's magazine. The periodical was first published by Upendrakishore Ray
Upendrakishore Ray
Upendrokishore Ray , also known as Upendrakishore Raychowdhury was a famous Bengali writer, painter, violin player and composer. He was born on 10 May 1863 in a little village called Moshua in Mymensingh District in Bengal, now in Bangladesh...
chowdhury in 1913 through his publishing company, M/s U. Ray and Sons
U. Ray and Sons
U. Ray and Sons was a privately held printing and publishing firm in Calcutta founded by Upendrakishore Ray in 1895. At its inception the firm was christened U. Ray after its owner. The epithet Sons was added in 1900 when his son Sukumar Ray joined the firm. The family ownership of the firm...
. After the death of Upendrakishore Roychowdhury in 1915, his eldest son Sukumar Ray
Sukumar Ray
Sukumar Ray , , was a Bengali humorous poet, story writer and playwright who mainly wrote for children. As perhaps the most famous Indian practitioner of literary nonsense, he is often compared to Lewis Carroll...
succeeded as the editor of the magazine in 1915. The Sukumar Ray
Sukumar Ray
Sukumar Ray , , was a Bengali humorous poet, story writer and playwright who mainly wrote for children. As perhaps the most famous Indian practitioner of literary nonsense, he is often compared to Lewis Carroll...
years established "Sandesh" as a unique magazine that combined literary values with humour and fun and a lot of information from different parts of the world.
In 1923, Sukumar's younger brother Subinoy took the charge after the death of Sukumar Ray. However the publication of the magazine was stopped in 1925. In 1929 it was revived by the new owners of the firm U. Ray and Sons
U. Ray and Sons
U. Ray and Sons was a privately held printing and publishing firm in Calcutta founded by Upendrakishore Ray in 1895. At its inception the firm was christened U. Ray after its owner. The epithet Sons was added in 1900 when his son Sukumar Ray joined the firm. The family ownership of the firm...
. Subinay Ray remained one of the editors in this period too. In 1934 it again ceased publication.
In 1961, the magazine was revived under the editorialship of Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
and Subhas Mukhopadhyay
Subhas Mukhopadhyay (poet)
Subhash Mukhopadhyay Subhash Mukhopadhyay Subhash Mukhopadhyay (Bangla: সুভাষ মুখোপাধ্যায় (February 12, 1919 - July 8, 2003) was one of the foremost Bengali poets of the 20th century.-Early life:Mukhopadhyay was born in Krishnanagar, a town in Nadia district in the province of West Bengal...
. Many of Satyajit Ray's writings were first published in this magazine. One of his most famous stories for the magazine was Bankubabur Bandhu
The Alien
The Alien was an Indian-American science fiction film under production in the late 1960s which was eventually cancelled. It was being directed by the celebrated Indian director Satyajit Ray and co-produced by Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures. The script was written by Ray in 1967, loosely based...
(Banku Babu's Friend or Mr. Banku's Friend), a Bangla science fiction
Bangla Science Fiction
Bengali science fiction is a rich part of Bengali literature. Although it is not as established as other genres in the Bengali language, it is gaining popularity among Bengali readers, especially in Bangladesh.-Earliest writers:...
story he had written in 1962 and which gained popularity among Bengalis
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
in the early 1960s. Ray also introduced his famous characters Feluda
Feluda
Feluda, or Prodosh Chandra Mitra, who uses the anglicised name Pradosh C. Mitter, is a fictional private investigator starring in a series of Bengali novels and short stories written by the famous Indian Bengali film director and writer Satyajit Ray. The detective lives at Rajani Sen Road,...
and Professor Shonku in short stories he wrote for Sandesh.
From 1963, Satyajit's aunt, the writer Leela Majumdar
Leela Majumdar
Leela Majumdar , was a Bengali writer.-Early life:Born to Surama Devi and Pramada Ranjan Ray , Leela spent her childhood days at Shillong, where she studied at the Loreto Convent. Surama Devi had been adopted by Upendra Kishor Ray Choudhuri...
became the honorary joint editor of the magazine in place of Sri Mukhopadhyay. From 1963 Satyajit Ray formed a non-profit literary co-operative, "Sukumar Sahitya Samavaya Samity Ltd.", and since then this Co-operative has been running the magazine.
From 1974, Satyajit's cousin Ms Nalini Das became honorary joint editor of the magazine, and she was in effect the Executive Editor of the magazine in this period, while her husband Asokananda Das was the honorary Publisher. In 1992-93, the magazine faced a crisis when Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
, Nalini Das and Asokananda Das all died within a period of 14 months. From 1994, Leela Majumdar
Leela Majumdar
Leela Majumdar , was a Bengali writer.-Early life:Born to Surama Devi and Pramada Ranjan Ray , Leela spent her childhood days at Shillong, where she studied at the Loreto Convent. Surama Devi had been adopted by Upendra Kishor Ray Choudhuri...
also became too ill to be able to continue as the Executive Editor.
From 1993-94, Sandip Ray
Sandip Ray
Sandip Ray is a film director living in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is the only son of the noted Bengali director Satyajit Ray, and Bijoya Ray.-Career:...
, son of Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
, became the Joint Editor of the magazine and Amitananda Das, son of Nalini Das became the Publisher. But the inexperienced team could not meet the challenge of the changing times -- due to the competition from comics, TV, cable TV, and books with coloured illustrations; the total circulation of children's magazines dropped steadily in this period. "Sandesh" remained a Black & White magazine, and it was a struggling one, incurring losses and skipping issues.
In 2003, The Ford Foundation gave a grant to "Sandesh" to make the magazine viable. Due to squabbles within the co-operative, though the magazine had many coloured pages and became much more attractive visually; it was not viable financially. Between July 2005 and April 2006, the magazine missed several issues, and since May 2006 it skipped four issues.
In August 2006, a new attempt was made to revive the magazine.