Bhabani Bhattacharya (10 Nov 1906 – 10 Oct
1988)
Bhabani Bhattacharya was born in Bhagalpur to Bengali
parents. He earned an English literature degree from Patna University in 1927.
In 1928, Bhattacharya moved to England to further his studies. His first plan
was to continue studying English literature at King's College in London.
After an unpleasant conflict with one of his teachers, he
chose to pursue a degree in history instead. While studying for his degree at
the University of London, Bhattacharya was taught by political philosopher and
novelist Harold Laski, who, like Tagore and Gandhi, had a long-lasting effect
on his work.
During his time in London, Bhattacharya became
involved with Marxist organisations and was an active member of the League
Against Imperialism. While in London, Bhattacharya wrote to several
publications and newspapers. He published in The Bookman, the Manchester
Guardian, and the Spectator, all of which were edited at the time by Francis
Yeats-Brown, author of the best-selling Lives of a Bengal Lancer and a personal
friend. Both he and Tagore persuaded Bhattacharya to write his stories in
English rather than Bengali.
Bhattacharya received widespread appreciation for his
translation of Tagore's The Golden Boat in 1930. He earned a history degree
from the University of London in 1931 before returning for his PhD in 1934.
From 1932 to 1933, he went significantly around Europe, visiting Berlin,
Budapest, Warsaw, Paris, and Vienna.
Bhattacharya returned to India in December 1934, settled in Calcutta. He married Salil Mukherji in 1935. He came to Washington in 1949 to work as the Indian Embassy's Press Attaché. So Many Hungers was originally published in 1947. Music for Mohini, one of his most celebrated works, was released in 1952, while Shadow from Ladakh got the Sahitya Akademi honour (India's top literary honour) in 1966.
His works have been translated into twenty-eight languages.
In 1969, he left India to become a visiting professor at the University of
Hawaii. In 1972, he moved permanently to the United States. He died after a
heart attack in 1988.
Important Literary Works :
So Many Hungers (1947)
Music for Mohini (1952)
He Who Rides a Tiger (1952)
A Goddess Named Gold (1960)
Shadow from Ladakh (1966)
A Dream in Hawaii (1978)
Bhabani Bhattacharya’s contribution to Indian Writing in English.
Bhabani Bhattacharya made important contributions to Indian Writing in English (IWE) with his thought-provoking works and advanced storytelling. His writings offer an distinct viewpoint on India's social, political, and cultural environment during the twentieth century. Bhattacharya's contributions to IWE are summarised below:
Bhattacharya's books showed the complexity of Indian culture, exploring problems like poverty, social injustice, and the influence of historical events on regular people. His representation of Indian culture provided richness and authenticity to the IWE canon.
Historical Framework Exploration: Bhattacharya's literature delves into India's historical background, notably during the battle for independence and following nation-building issues. His writings offered a sophisticated insight of the sociopolitical circumstances of the time.
Cultural Representation: Bhattacharya's paintings also helped to portray Indian culture and customs in the IWE setting. His storytelling frequently included aspects of Indian music, folklore, and rituals, which improved the representation of Indian cultural heritage.
Bhattacharya's literary legacy inspired following generations of Indian English writers, defining IWE's subject and narrative patterns. His works sparked a new generation of storytelling that reflected the diversity and changing character of Indian culture.
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