Bidhayak Bhattacharya
| Bidhayak Bhattacharya | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 7, 1907 Ziaganj, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India |
| Died | November 15, 1986 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names |
Yashodhar Misra Manas Das |
| Known for | Journalist, Playwright |
Bidhayak Bhattacharya (7 February 1907 – 15 November 1986) was an Indian playwright, litterateur and journalist.
Early life
He was born on 7 February 1907 at Ziaganj in Murshidabad, West Bengal. His birth name was Bagalaranjan, he was better known as 'Bidhayak', a name given him by Rabindranath Tagore. His pen-names were 'Yashodhar Misra' and 'Manas Das'. He passed the Entrance examination in 1928 from Edward Coronation High Institution (now Raja Vijoy Singh Vidyamandir) and served as a journalist at Amrita Bazar Patrika and Yugantar. Later he was editor of Rupayan, Mancharupa and Chhabiwala. He also taught at the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan.
Career
He wrote short stories, novels and plays, but he was more famous as a playwright, writing over 25 plays. His plays are mainly on social and domestic themes. Meghmukti was first staged in 1938 at rangmahal theatre in Calcutta and became popular. His other popular plays are Matir Ghar (1939), Bish Bachhar Age (1940), Rakter Dak (1941), Tumi O Ami (1941), Chirantani (1942), Rajpath (1949), Khabar Balchhi (1950), Ksudha (1956), Anthony Kaviyal, Nati Vinodini, Khelaghar, Tahar Namti Ranjana, Ujan Yatra, and Kanna Hasir Pala. He also dramatised several of sharat chandra chattopadhyay's novels, such as Baikunther Will (1944), Bipradas etc. Fateh Lohani based the motion picture Akash Ar Mati (1959) on one of his stories. Bidhayak Bhattacharya's novels include Chaka Ghurchhe, Brddha Bidhata, Ratri Yader Din.
Honors
He received many honours for his contributions to literature and journalism. They are
- Madhusanglapi from Bhatpara
- Sahitya Mahasnatak from Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan (1961)
- Sudhangshubala Puraskar from the University of calcutta (1967)
- Shatabarsiki Puraskar on the centenary of Bengali theatre