Today commemorates the 70th anniversary of the passing of Jibanananda Das, a celebrated Bengali poet. Renowned as the "Ruposhi Banglar Kobi" (Poet of Beautiful Bengal), he was born on February 17, 1899, in Barishal.
Jibanananda Das is widely revered as the purest poet of melancholic nature of Bengal and the most remarkable poet of post-Tagorian Bengali literature who tried to shake off Rabindranath Tagore’s poetic influence and also considered by many as the most-read poet after Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Jibanananda Das started his journey as a poet at an early age while he was a student. Many of his poems inspired an uprising sentiment towards Bengali nationhood, especially after his departure and during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Famously known for his poetic creation “Banalata Sen”, his other collections of poems include “Jhara Palak”, “Dhusar Pandulipi”, “Mahaprithibi”, “Satti Tarar Timir”, “Ruposhi Bangla”, “Bela Obela Kalbela” and others.
Jibanananda also wrote a collection of essays, 21 novels and 108 short stories.
Although the poet did not receive much popularity in his lifetime, his unique talent was realised after his death, with the discovery of many of his manuscripts. His completed works have been published in 12 volumes as “Jibanananda Samagra” from Kolkata, India.
Jibanananda Das died in a road accident in Kolkata on 22 October 1954 at the age of 55.
Bd-pratidin English/Afia