Satyabati (character)
Encyclopedia
Satyabati or, Satyaboti (Bengali: সত্যবতী) is a fictional character from Byomkesh, a series of Bengali detective stories created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay
. Satyabati stays in their Harrison Road residence with her husband Byomkesh Bakshi
, son Khoka, Byomkesh's long-time friend Ajit Bandyopadhyay
and servant Putiram. Satyabati is first introduced in Arthamanartham, the fifth story in the series. Satyabati is one of the most interesting characters in the series who makes brief but meaningful appearances in most stories. In Chitrachor , she is present throughout the story when Byomkesh is travelling to recuperate from his illness.
For mythological character Satyavati
, refer here.
We get to see the affectionate wife in Satyabati who admonishes Byomkesh for ignoring his health, in Chitrachor for example, and bans his smoking in the same story. The nuances of married life come alive in Sharadindu's writing as Byomkesh and Satyabati quarrel at times, only to reconcile later. They fight over a lot of things, but there is a lot of love and respect between them. Often Byomkesh has to think of ways how to break the ice. In one story, he is seen buying an essence to please Satyabati.
Satyabati leads the simple life of a middle-class Bengali wife and mother. She is no ordinary woman but is very intelligent, one who always gets involved in heady conversations with Byomkesh and Ajit. When they dispute over the question of superiority of male or female, Ajit takes Byomkesh's side though admittedly for the losing cause mostly. Satyabati finds a partner in Ajit in their mutual frustration at Byomkesh's tendency of not speaking easily and withholding information until the criminal is caught for which she calls Byomkesh a tortoise
.
Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay
Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay was a well known literary figure of Bengal. He was also actively involved with Bengali cinema as well as Bollywood. His most famous creation is the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi.He wrote different forms of prose: novels, short stories, plays and screenplays...
. Satyabati stays in their Harrison Road residence with her husband Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi is a fictional detective in Bengali literature created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. He is one of the most successful detective characters in Bengali Literature. Also, Bandyopadhyay once said that these stories can be thought as and read as social novels only...
, son Khoka, Byomkesh's long-time friend Ajit Bandyopadhyay
Ajit Bandyopadhyay
Ajit Bandyopadhyay, also known as Ajit Banerjee or simply Ajit, is a longtime friend, associate, and narrator of Byomkesh Bakshi in the Bengali detective fiction written by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. His characterization is a substantial throwback to Dr...
and servant Putiram. Satyabati is first introduced in Arthamanartham, the fifth story in the series. Satyabati is one of the most interesting characters in the series who makes brief but meaningful appearances in most stories. In Chitrachor , she is present throughout the story when Byomkesh is travelling to recuperate from his illness.
For mythological character Satyavati
Satyavati
Satyavati was the queen of the Kuru king Shantanu of Hastinapur and the great-grandmother of the Pandava and Kaurava princes . She is also the mother of the seer Vyasa, author of the epic...
, refer here.
Early life
Satyabati was 17–18 years of age in her first appearance (Arthamanartham) and staying at the residence of Karali Charan Basu, her maternal aunt's husband, along with her elder brother Sukumar. She was attending college then. Karali Charan, widowed and without children, was especially fond of Satyabati and her brother as they were the only ones who cared for the old soul.Marriage with Byomkesh
Byomkesh and Ajit first meet Satyabati in Arthamanartham while investigating the murder of Karali Charan Basu. Eventually Satyabati seeks Byomkesh's help to protect her brother Sukumar, one of the prime suspects. After solving the case, Byomkesh starts courting Satyabati and later they get married.Character Development
In Arthamanartham she is portrayed as a strong willed female character who lies in order to protect someone she loves dearly. She shows great determination and courage and comes to meet Byomkesh in person to seek his help when her brother faces arrest.We get to see the affectionate wife in Satyabati who admonishes Byomkesh for ignoring his health, in Chitrachor for example, and bans his smoking in the same story. The nuances of married life come alive in Sharadindu's writing as Byomkesh and Satyabati quarrel at times, only to reconcile later. They fight over a lot of things, but there is a lot of love and respect between them. Often Byomkesh has to think of ways how to break the ice. In one story, he is seen buying an essence to please Satyabati.
Satyabati leads the simple life of a middle-class Bengali wife and mother. She is no ordinary woman but is very intelligent, one who always gets involved in heady conversations with Byomkesh and Ajit. When they dispute over the question of superiority of male or female, Ajit takes Byomkesh's side though admittedly for the losing cause mostly. Satyabati finds a partner in Ajit in their mutual frustration at Byomkesh's tendency of not speaking easily and withholding information until the criminal is caught for which she calls Byomkesh a tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
.
Film & TV adaptations
- In Byomkesh Bakshi (2010) directed by Anjan Dutt, based on Aadim Ripu, Satyabati was played by Ushasie Chakraborty
- In the shelved Byomkesh project of Rituparno GhoshRituparno GhoshRituparno Ghosh is a Bengali film director. He has won 8 National Film Awards in India and several awards at international film festivals abroad.- Early life and background :...
, Paoli DamPaoli DamPaoli Dam is an Indian Bengali actress. She is from Golf Road, Kolkata and came into prominence with her 2009 Bengali film - Kaalbela, directed by notable Director Gautam Ghose.-Education:...
was supposed to play Satyabati. - Sukanya Kulkarni played the role of Satyabati in the popular TV series Byomkesh Bakshi (1993) directed by Basu ChatterjeeBasu ChatterjeeBasu Chatterjee is an Indian film director. His films are very similar to those of Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Like Mukherjee, he built his plots on middle-class lives.He was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India....
aired on DoordarshanDoorDarshanDoordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
. - Satyabati was played by Maitreyi Mitra in Byomkesh Bakshi (2004), the second television adaptation of the series aired on Doordarshan directed by Swapan Ghoshal.