Suchitra Bhattacharya- The Author I Like
Suchitra Bhattacharya- One of My Favorite Female Authors of All Times
India is the land of countless creative geniuses whose works have captured the hearts and imagination of people across the country. These artists, sculptors, painters, and authors play a critical role in shaping the perspectives of their audiences towards various issues. I believe writers have a significantly deeper and longer-lasting impact on society. I, for one, have been deeply inspired and influenced by the works of Suchitra Bhattacharya. I consider her one of the greatest female authors of modern times, whose contributions to Bengali and Indian literature are phenomenal. Her focus on highlighting contemporary social issues through her work remained unwavering throughout her career as a writer.
A Peek into The Early Life of Suchitra Bhattacharya
Suchitra Bhattacharya was born in the Bhaghalpur district of Bihar on 10th January 1950. She displayed an interest in writing when she was still a young girl. She completed her graduation from Jogamaya Devi College in Kolkatta and took up several odd jobs until she finally joined the public services. While she took up creative writing in the 1970s, it was only in the mid-1980s that she started writing novels. In 2004, Suchitra finally bid farewell to her career in public services to become a full-time writer. By this time, she had already established herself as an accomplished writer of the Bengali language. Her writings highlighted the various issues contemporary women of all age groups face, which endeared her to countless female readers, including me.
An Overview Of The Writing Career Of Suchitra
As a writer, Suchitra wrote 20 novels and numerous short stories. Her works represent the wide range of problems and struggles, joys and sorrows, and emotions and beliefs of contemporary middle-class women. She was one of the few writers who depicted the desires, expectations, actions, and reactions of women of diverse age groups quite realistically and satisfactorily. She was quite impressed by other female writers of her age, including Sangita Bandyopadhyay and Tilottama Majumdar. Suchitra was also deeply influenced by the works of other notable Bengali women writers like Ashapurna Debi and Mahasweta Debi.
Apart from Writing about women’s issues, Suchitra also tried her hand at crime fiction. She wrote a series of crime novels featuring the character of Mithin Masi, one of the few female detectives found in Bengali literature. She also wrote a series of Mithin Masi novels for adults. In addition, she also wrote several short stories and novels for children. Given the wide variety of her works, it would not be wrong to say that Suchitra Bhattacharya was truly an author of the masses. Many of her novels and short stories have been translated into various Indian languages. Also, around half of her novels have been made into films.
Her depiction of middle-class households and life patterns is quite vivid and intense along with her touching portrayal of human relationships. Her free-flowing and captivating writing style complements the details she offers about the typical Bengali lifestyle. Her flair for compelling storytelling makes the narrative feel real, natural, and interesting. Reading her works makes the readers aware of the vastness and severity of the issues addressed. Hence, it is not surprising that she stuck a chord with the masses in the urban and suburban settings.
Some Of My Favorite Works Of Suchitra Bhattacharya
Suchitra Bhattachrya’s understanding of Bengali society, especially the middle-class Bengali women, is quite amazing. Being a Bengali woman from a middle-class family, I found her works easily relatable. While I love every word of Suchitra, the following two are my favorite novels penned by the author.
Kacher Dewal: This is the first successful novel of Suchitra Bhattacharya and focuses on the struggles of two women from different generations. The novel focuses on the struggles of 18-year-old Brishti, the only daughter of her now-separated parents, Jaya and Subir. Brishti continues to seek the undivided love and attention of her parents but feels let down by her mother. While Subir dotes on her and often presents her with lavish gifts, he cannot spend much time with her. This is because Subir has remarried and now has a wife and a six-year-old son to look after. Although Jaya has not remarried, her busy schedule as a renowned painter also prevents her from spending much time with Brishti.
Meanwhile, Brishti never overcomes the psychological impact of her parents’ separation which leads her to become a drug addict. I loved the book because it addresses a burning issue prevalent in our society today. Broken marriages have become a common phenomenon, but people rarely discuss the toll it takes on the children involved in such relationships. The novel reflects the struggles of a young girl who is devastated by the separation of her parents and her inner friction and pain.
Dahan: Dahan is one of the several novels written by Suchitra Bhattacharya that has been made into a movie. It addresses the most heinous crime committed by men against women, namely raping them. Romita and Polash are a newlywed couple whose life turns upside down when they are openly attacked and Romita is raped. A school-teacher Jhunik is the only person to come to the help of the couple. However, this is only the beginning of the struggles for both Romita and Polash. Romita has to face the humility of being raped again, this time by her husband. Polash’s apathy and the pressure of her conservative in-laws force her into depression. Jhunik also starts feeling pressured to give up her fight for justice for Romita.
However, despite facing these challenges, Romita and Jhunik do not give up. Sadly, they lose the legal battle and the culprits get a clean chit. The novel depicts the humiliation, anger, and injustice that most women who have been raped are forced to go through. It focuses on the narrowness of society, which treats such women as culprits rather than victims. This thought-provoking novel is a must-read for every female to understand the pain of rape victims and their supporters.
Awards And Accolades Suchitra Received
Suchitra was deemed an excellent writer and a top contributor to Bengali literature. She was bestowed with several awards and accolades for her work. A list of the awards she received is given below.
1. She received the Nanjanagudu Thirumalamba National Award in 1996.
2. In 1997, she became the recipient of the Katha Award.
3. She received the Tarashankar Award in the year 2000.
4. She received the Dwijendralal Award in 2001 from Kalyani.
5. She was felicitated with the Sharat Puroshkar in 2002.
6. She also won the Bharat Nirman Award and the Sahitya Setu Award.
7. In 2004 she won the Shailajananda Smriti Puroshkar, while Calcutta University presented her with the Bhuban Mohini Medal in the same year.
8. She received the Mati Nandy Award in 2012.
9. She also won the Dinesh Chandra Smriti Puroskar in 2015.
End Of an Era
The sudden demise of Suchitra Bhattacharya on 12th May 2015, due to cardiac arrest, left her fans and well-wishers devastated. For me, she has been a literary beacon of women’s rights and their indefinite struggles. I perceive her untimely death as a great loss for Indian literature, especially in a niche focused on creating awareness about women’s issues and the various challenges they face.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘BookishCafeBloghop2024’ hosted by Samata Dey Bose and Rakhi Jayashankar
This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile
It was a pleasure knowing such an eminent personality. I have read a few translations of works by Tagore and Ghosh but I can’t read Bengali. I am well aware of the richness of literature in Bengal and why Kolkata is city of literature. The richness in Bengali literature is unmatchable. Maybe one day I will get to read some translated works by mam.
It’s so great that you’re able to read and cherish books in a regional language. Has any of her works been translated into English? Would love to try it out.
I haven’t heard of this author but her work sounds interesting. Have any of her stories been translated to Hindi or English? Would love to read them, if so.
Wasn’t aware of this writer. Natural since I have nothing to do with Bengali literature. Always glad to know someone new.
Today, my professor was giving a lecture based on art and literature. He mentioned how art is a liberal form, but when tampered with by external powers never remains the same. At the beginning of your post, I found the mention of artists, sculptors, painters, and authors who play a vital role in shaping the perspectives of their audiences towards various issues again reminded me of my professor who too talked about the experiences of audiences and whatnot. The author you call your favorite will be my next read for sure as I have yet not picked a single book by her. But, my father knows her very well and started to blabber an end number of pieces by her.
You are truly fortunate that you are able to explore regional literature and not limited to English reading. Thank you for sharing with us about such an amazing writer.
I should really thank you for writing this, amidst all the fanfare of world literature especially books in english we often forget our mother tongue and regional language authors. Believe me inspite of having these authors surround my reading habits in my early reading life, I did not think of writing about them. I love Suchitra Bhattacharya s works especially the female detective Mitin Masi!
It was wonderful to read your tribute to your favourite author. I wish there are some English translations of her work so that we can also be inspired by her words
Judging by your detailed coverage of the works of this famous author Suchitra Bhattacharya, I should pick up a work. Does she write in other languages too? If no , I hope there is a translation available somewhere.
Language barrier…I feel it so vividly now, as Bengali literature is so rich. I hope to look up her books and see if they have an English translation. I have heard of the movie Dahan, but didn’t know it was based on her book, or that it was even a book. That’s the good part of reading diverse blogs, you learn something new daily.
Your line, ‘Mithin Masi, one of the few female detectives found in Bengali literature’ has me curious about checking out her crime fiction. I’m a huge fan of crime/suspense thrillers based in Bengal or written by Bengalis (because, let’s admit it, Bengalis kind of got what it takes to write and create a good crime fiction/characters) Suchitra sounds like an author whose works I would enjoy. I’ll definitely be checking out and reading her works soon. Thanks for bringing this author to my notice.
I love how you provide a glimpse into Suchitra’s early life and her journey towards becoming a full-time writer. Her dedication to highlighting the struggles and joys of middle-class women is truly commendable, and it’s clear that her works have left a lasting impact on you.
Thank you for introducing me to a new Indian author whose line of work is so brilliant as per your review. I have heard a lot about ‘Dahan’ and your quick synopsis has surely intrigued me, will give it a read.
PS: Is Dahan based on a true story?
India has a vibrant literary tradition with many talented authors. In a world that is dominated by english we lose out on these literary gems and their works. I would like to read Dahan , maybe a translated version of this author. Kindly suggest some translated works of this author that I can explore.
This is really very informative. As I don’t know Bengali, I haven’t had the chance to read about such eminent authors. Would love to read her translated works one day.
– Niveditha Preeth
Thanks a lot for introducing such a versatile writer to me as a person interested in reading about such women writers. I am not a Bengali by birth, but being an Indian portrayal of such writer personalities gives me much pleasure to know about.
I love the graphic style! I think this is such a lovely way to both spread awareness about an author AND express your love for them.
I have been introduced to a new author with your blog. Female authors and female centric topics are what I love reading a lot and I will be doing my share of research on her work and try getting my hands on her books.
I haven’t heard of Suchitra before, though I have heard of Dahan. Your tribute has piqued my curiosity; I will be on the lookout for some of her work.
Thanks for sharing about this wonderful author. I love crime stories and I’m sureim gonna check some of her works. Also the two books which you’ve shared here have a wonderful plot will check
The article on Suchitra Bhattacharya effectively captures the essence of the author’s life, contributions, and impact on readers, especially focusing on her portrayal of contemporary social issues, particularly those faced by women. The narrative provides a well-rounded overview, from Suchitra’s early life and career to her notable works, themes, and her foray into crime fiction. The personal connection of the author to Suchitra’s works adds a genuine touch to the narrative, and the chosen favorite novels, “Kacher Dewal” and “Dahan,” are analyzed with depth, highlighting the societal issues they address.
Additionally, the inclusion of awards and accolades received by Suchitra showcases her recognition and contribution to Bengali literature. The article beautifully commemorates Suchitra Bhattacharya’s legacy and acknowledges the impact of her untimely death on literature.
Overall, the piece effectively combines biographical information, literary analysis, and personal reflections, making it a comprehensive and engaging tribute to Suchitra Bhattacharya.
I really love Suchitra’s work. Her stories resonate with authenticity and empathy, earning her a special place in my heart. Her contribution to Bengali literature is immeasurable.
This blogpost helped me to know about such an eminent personality of Bengali Literature. happy to read.
Thank you for writing about Suchitra Bhattacharya. It is new for me and I enjoyed reading about her inspiring journey.
Wow what a tribute! I have Dahan in my maternal home library. Kacher dewal looks very fascinating. Will try to read both of these positively. You have got me hooked!
Thank you for sharing about Suchitra Bhattacharya. I’ve heard her name before but didn’t quite know her work until now. This post has piqued my interest in learning more about her.
So glad you wrote this post…I didnt know about Suchitra Bhattacharya and her work before! Will definitely add these books to my TBR!
What a lovely tribute to her – your words and memories have cherished her life and writings – i feel that is a life well lived 🙂
Our country has gems indeed. She sounds like a lovely person as well as an insightful writer. It is lovely that you found books and writings that have deeply resonated with you.
How cool is it that she had a woman detective in her book! Also, how lucky that you can read and enjoy the regional language, for I have never come across Suchitra’s books in English anywhere. It could also be that I overlooked the name because it was not a familiar one. Thanks for bringing her to light for us.
It’s inspiring to see how she not only tackled women’s issues with sensitivity but also ventured into crime fiction, introducing readers to the compelling character of Mithin Masi. Suchitra’s impact on Bengali literature is undeniable, and her works continue to resonate with readers from all walks of life.
I don’t know Bengali so was unaware of such a literary author. I am keen to read any of her works if translated into English one day. I appreciate the efforts put in by you to accumulate such information about her.
I’m so glad I read this article because I didn’t know about Suchitra Bhattacharya. So good to know about her and her works. And Bhagalpur is my hometown too.
I’m very fond of Bengali literature. Wondering if there’s any Hindi or English translation of her works…
Very well written piece.
Your tribute to your favorite author is amazing. Literature works in regional languages in india are treasures to be preserved from generation to generation. Thank you for this informative article about the inspiring Bengali author.
There is such a great deal of regional literature that we barely know about or have access to. Suchitra Bhattacharya’s life journey is truly inspiring. I am sure her writing is equally brilliant. Thanks for introducing me to her. I have lost touch with the Bengali language although I did begin learning how to read it back in school. Will pick her translated books instead.