Sudhindranath Dutta
Encyclopedia
Sudhindranath Dutta (1901–1960) was a Bengal
i Indian post-modern poet, essayist, journalist and critic. Sudhindranath is one of the most notable poets after the Tagore
-era in Bangla literature.
in Kolkata
. Later he graduated in English from the Scottish Church College. He later studied law at the Law College (1922–1924), while also simultaneously preparing for his finals for an MA in English literature from the University of Calcutta
. However, he never completed a degree (MA or a law degree) in either subject.
He started publishing Parichay, a literary magazine which heralded his philosophy, in 1931 and carried on with the job till 1943, when he left following ideological battle with his associates, but supplied funds nevertheless. He was also associated with Sabuj Patra, another noted literary magazine of the era, which was edited by eminent story-writer of the era, Pramatha Chaudhury. He also worked as a journalist for The Statesman
from 1945-1949. He was also associated with the daily The Forward
, then edited by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as the organ of All India Forward Bloc
.
He had also worked for several companies such as Light of Asia Insurance Company from 1930–1933, ARP from 1942–1945, DVC from 1949–1954, and Institute of Public Opinion from 1954-1956.
He worked as a part-time lecturer of Comparative Literature
in Jadavpur University
from 1956-1957. In 1957, he left for his final foreign trip and toured Japan and Europe before moving to United States of America to join University of Chicago
to write his autobiography in English. However he left the lucrative job midway and returned home to rejoin Jadavpur University
to resume his classes of Comparative Literature, which he continued till his death.
of Jibanananda Das
. When Jibanananda Das's poetry notebooks were printed, Dutt commented after seeing the great number of corrections and deletions in the notebooks "Oh, then the natural poets are also unnatural poets, like me!"
Perhaps his most famous line is the widely quoted one from his poem Utpakhi (The ostrich):
অন্ধ হলে কি প্রলয় বন্ধ থাকে? (Ondho hole ki proloy bondho thake?)
Translation: Does hell fail to let loose because you're blind?
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i Indian post-modern poet, essayist, journalist and critic. Sudhindranath is one of the most notable poets after the Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
-era in Bangla literature.
Education
Sudhindranath Dutt went to the Theosophical High School in Varanasi between 1914 and 1917, and later attended the Oriental SeminaryOriental Seminary
The Oriental Seminary started in 1829 by the educator Gour Mohan Addy, was the earliest privately run, first-rate school for Hindu children only in Kolkata . It was open to Hindu boys only. It was possibly India’s first fully private school, as even Hindu School, then known as Hindu College, had to...
in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Later he graduated in English from the Scottish Church College. He later studied law at the Law College (1922–1924), while also simultaneously preparing for his finals for an MA in English literature from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. However, he never completed a degree (MA or a law degree) in either subject.
Career
Born to renowned lawyer Hirendranath Dutta & Indumati Vasu Mallik (sister of Raja Subodh Chandra Vasu Mallik), he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But however he failed to complete his degrees, and decided to prepare for attorneyship under his father. He completed that neither. He married Chhabi Basu in 1924.He started publishing Parichay, a literary magazine which heralded his philosophy, in 1931 and carried on with the job till 1943, when he left following ideological battle with his associates, but supplied funds nevertheless. He was also associated with Sabuj Patra, another noted literary magazine of the era, which was edited by eminent story-writer of the era, Pramatha Chaudhury. He also worked as a journalist for The Statesman
The Statesman
The Statesman is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper founded in 1875 and published simultaneously in Kolkata, New Delhi, Siliguri and Bhubaneswar. The Statesman is owned by The Statesman Ltd., its headquarters at Statesman House, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta and its national...
from 1945-1949. He was also associated with the daily The Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
, then edited by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as the organ of All India Forward Bloc
All India Forward Bloc
The All India Forward Bloc is a leftwing nationalist political party in India. It emerged as a faction within the Indian National Congress in 1939, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The party re-established as an independent political party after the independence of India...
.
He had also worked for several companies such as Light of Asia Insurance Company from 1930–1933, ARP from 1942–1945, DVC from 1949–1954, and Institute of Public Opinion from 1954-1956.
He worked as a part-time lecturer of Comparative Literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
in Jadavpur University
Jadavpur University
Jadavpur University , is a premier educational and research institution in India.It is located in Kolkata, West Bengal and comprises two campuses - the main campus at Jadavpur and the new campus at Salt Lake...
from 1956-1957. In 1957, he left for his final foreign trip and toured Japan and Europe before moving to United States of America to join University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
to write his autobiography in English. However he left the lucrative job midway and returned home to rejoin Jadavpur University
Jadavpur University
Jadavpur University , is a premier educational and research institution in India.It is located in Kolkata, West Bengal and comprises two campuses - the main campus at Jadavpur and the new campus at Salt Lake...
to resume his classes of Comparative Literature, which he continued till his death.
Trivia
Sudhindranath Dutta believed that hard work is what is needed for creating art, and the embattled nature of his poetry contrasted with that of the romantic poetryRomantic poetry
Romanticism, a philosophical, literary, artistic and cultural era which began in the mid/late-1700s as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day , also influenced poetry...
of Jibanananda Das
Jibanananda Das
Jibanananda Das was a noted Bengali poet. He is considered one of the precursors who introduced modernist poetry to Bengali Literature, at a period when it was influenced by Rabindranath Tagore's Romantic poetry....
. When Jibanananda Das's poetry notebooks were printed, Dutt commented after seeing the great number of corrections and deletions in the notebooks "Oh, then the natural poets are also unnatural poets, like me!"
Perhaps his most famous line is the widely quoted one from his poem Utpakhi (The ostrich):
অন্ধ হলে কি প্রলয় বন্ধ থাকে? (Ondho hole ki proloy bondho thake?)
Translation: Does hell fail to let loose because you're blind?
Collected Poetry
- Tanvi(1930), M.C.Sarkar &Sons
- Orchestra(1935), Bharati Bhavan
- Krandashee(1937), Bharati Bhavan
- Uttar Falgunee (1940), Parichay Press
- Sangbarto (1953) Signet Press
- Pratiddhani (1954) Signet Press
- Dashamee (1956) Signet Press.
Collected Essays
- Svagato (1938), Bharati Bhavan
- Svagato (1957) New changed version from Signet Press
- Kuaye O Kaalpurush, (1957), Signet Press.