Birthday Greetings to Celebrated Bengali Novelist Shankar

Warm birthday wishes to the legendary Bengali fiction writer Shankar, whose magical pen has captivated readers for decades. His real name is Manishankar Mukhopadhyay, but he is lovingly known to literature enthusiasts simply as “Shankar”.

It was the creative vision of Satyajit Ray that first brought wider attention to Shankar’s writings. Based on Shankar’s works “Seemabaddha” and “Jana Aranya”, Ray made two outstanding films, while the immortal novel “Chowringhee” came alive on screen through Uttam Kumar’s remarkable performance. At that time, literature and cinema seemed to be bound together by a unique and powerful bridge.

Shankar was born on 7 December 1933 in Banagram, Jessore, which is now part of the 24 Parganas of West Bengal. His father, Haripada Mukhopadhyay, was a lawyer, and due to work-related reasons, the family moved to Howrah before the Second World War. It was there that his childhood unfolded, his awakening took shape, and the first wings of his literary dreams spread.

The beginning of his life was marked by immense struggle. At different times, he worked as a hawker, a typewriter cleaner, a private tutor, a teacher, and even a junior clerk at a jute brokerage. While fighting to survive, he accumulated a wealth of life experiences, which eventually transformed into priceless literary creations. It was the encouragement of an Englishman that inspired him to take up the pen for the first time.

With the publication of his first novel “Bodhodoy”, he received remarkable recognition. The great writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay sent him a message describing his writing in three words:
“Bright, Bold, Beporoa.”
These words seemed to foretell the very identity of his future literary career.

Even as he stands on the threshold of ninety, he continues to write with undiminished vigour. In recent times, his deep focus has been on Swami Vivekananda. His writings on Swamiji’s life, philosophy, and unexplored aspects, particularly the book “Ami Vivekananda Bolchhi”, remain bestsellers even today. Through them, readers are able to rediscover an unfamiliar, unknown, and astonishing Vivekananda.

Among Shankar’s countless works, some of the most notable are: Kato Ajanare, Charan Chhuye Jai, Shri Shri Ramakrishna Rahasyamrita, Asha Akanksha, Tirandaj, Patabhumi, Kamona Bashona, Anek Dur, Seemanta Sangbad, Chowringhee, Ekdin Hothat, Jekhane Jemon, Banglar Meye, Ghorer Modhye Ghor, Manab Sagor Tire, Sonar Sangsar, Subarna Sujog, Seemabaddha, Sthaniya Sangbad, among many others.

On this special day, heartfelt greetings are extended to writer Shankar. May his good health, long life, and uninterrupted creative journey continue to be a source of joy for us all. May his radiant presence shine forever in the sky of Bengali literature.

Khaborwala/SS