Leela majumdar biography of christopher

Leela majumdar biography of christopher cross Her career spanned more than seventy years. She joined the women's section of Asutosh College in Calcutta but again did not continue for long. She ranked second among all the girls in St. Her autobiographical sketch Pak Dandi provides an insight into her childhood days in Shillong and also her early years at Santiniketan and with All India Radio.

Leela Majumdar

Indian writer (–)

Leela Majumdar (26 February [1] – 5 April ) was an Indian Bengali-language writer.

Early life

Born to Surama Devi and Pramada Ranjan Ray (who was the younger brother of Upendra Kishor Ray Choudhuri), Leela spent her childhood days at Shillong, where she studied at the Loreto Convent.[2] Surama Devi had been adopted by Upendra Kishor Ray Choudhuri .

Lila's grandfather had left his younger two daughters in care of his friends after his wife died. The eldest daughter was sent to a boarding house.

Leela majumdar biography of christopher She also worked in Santiniketan for a year after being invited by Tagore. The inter-caste marriage had led to a struggle between her and her father. It is widely known that Leela's family made a significant contribution to children's literature in Bengali, as they were instrumental in laying the foundation for it. She joined Maharani Girls' School at Darjeeling as a teacher in

Her maternal grandfather was Ramkumar Bhattacharya, who later became a sannyasi and was christened Ramananda Bharati. He was the first among Indians to visit Kailash and Mansarovar and wrote a travelogue Himaranya. In , her father was transferred to Calcutta, and she joined St. John's Diocesan School from where she completed her matriculation examination.[1] She ranked second among the girls in the matriculation examinations in She stood first in English (literature) both in her honours (graduation) and Master of Arts examination at the University of Calcutta.

The family she belonged to made a notable contribution towards children's literature.[2][3]Sunil Gangopadhyay says that while the Tagore family enthused everybody with drama, songs and literature for adults, the Ray Chaudhuri family took charge of laying the foundations of children's literature in Bengali.[4]

Formative years

She joined Maharani Girls' School at Darjeeling as a teacher in [2] On an invitation from Rabindranath Tagore she went and joined the school at Santiniketan, but she stayed only for about one year.

She joined the women's section of Asutosh College in Calcutta but again did not continue for long. Thereafter, she spent most of her time as a writer. After two decades as a writer, she joined All India Radio as a producer and worked for about seven-eight years.[3]

Her first story, Lakhi Chele, was published in Sandesh in It was also illustrated by her.[2] The children's magazine in Bengali was founded by her uncle, Upendra Kishore Ray Chaudhuri in and was later edited by her cousin Sukumar Ray for some time after the death of Upendra Kishore in [5] Together with her nephew Satyajit Ray and her cousin Nalini Das, she edited and wrote for Sandesh throughout her active writing life.[6] Until she played an active role in the publication of the magazine.[7]

Creative efforts

An incomplete bibliography lists books including a collection of short stories, five books under joint authorship, 9 translated books and 19 edited books.[1]

Her first published book was Boddi Nather Bari () but her second compilation Din Dupere () brought her considerable fame from the s, her incomparable children's classics followed.

Although humor was her forte, she also wrote detective stories, ghost stories and fantasies.[1]

Her autobiographical sketch Pak Dandi provides an insight into her childhood days in Shillong and also her early years at Santiniketan and with All India Radio.[2]

Apart from her glittering array of children's literature, she wrote a cookbook, novels for adults (Sreemoti, Cheena Lathan), and a biography of Rabindranath Tagore.

She lectured on Abanindranath Tagore and translated his writings on art into English.

Leela majumdar biography of christopher columbus She later joined the school at Santiniketan on an invitation from Rabindranath Tagore but left after about a year. She also worked in AIR for 8 years as a producer. She stitched literature with the art of cooking, and revealed secrets, questioned stereotypes and beliefs, and brought out the beauty of community life along the way. Boddi Nather Bari was the first book published by her, soon following with Din Dupure.

She translated Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea into Bengali.[6]

Satyajit Ray had thought of filming Padi Pishir Bormi Baksha.[4]Arundhati Devi made it into a film in Chhaya Devi played the role of the young hero, Khoka's famed aunt Padipishi.[8]

For a special Mahila Mahal (women's section) series of All-India Radio, dealing with the "natural and ordinary problems" in the everyday life of a girl growing up in a typical, middle-class, Bengali family, she created Manimala, the story of a "very ordinary girl" whose grandmother starts writing to her from when she turns 12, continuing into her marriage and motherhood.[9]

Family

In she married Dr.

Sudhir Kumar Majumdar (), a renowned dentist who was a graduate of the Harvard Dental School. Their son Ranjan was a medical doctor and a dentist. Daughter Kamala was married to Monishi Chatterjee, an oil engineer and grandson of the first female painter of the Bengal school, Sunayani Devi. Apart from her children, she had, at the time of her death, two grandsons, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.[1]

Works

  1. Holde Pakhir Palok
  2. Tong Ling
  3. Naaku Gama
  4. Podi Pishir Bormi Baksho
  5. Boddi Nather Bori
  6. Din Dupure
  7. Chhotoder Srestho Galpo
  8. Monimala
  9. Bagher Chhokh
  10. Bok Dharmik
  11. Taka Gaachh
  12. Lal Neel Deslai
  13. Basher Phul
  14. Moyna
  15. Shalikh
  16. Bhuter Bari
  17. Aaguni Beguni
  18. Tipur Upor Tipuni
  19. Patka Chor
  20. Aashare Galpo
  21. Chiching Phank
  22. Je Jai Boluk
  23. Chhotoder Tal Betal
  24. Batash Bari
  25. Bagh Shikari Bamun
  26. Baghyar Galpo
  27. Shibur Diary
  28. Howrahr Dari
  29. Ferari
  30. Nepor Boi
  31. Aar Konokhane
  32. Kheror Khata
  33. Ei Je Dekha
  34. Pakdandi
  35. [2]Sreemoti
  36. Cheena Lanthan
  37. [6]Moni Manil
  38. Naatghar
  39. Batashbari
  40. Kaag Noi
  41. Shob Bhuture
  42. Bak Badh Pala
  43. [1] Megher Sari Dhorte Nari
  44. Pori didir Bor
  45. Pesha Bodol
  46. Batas Bari
  47. Monimala
  48. Elshe Ghai
  49. Pagla Pagolder golpo
  50. Kuri
  51. Chagla Pagla Leela Majumdar

Awards

Holde Pakhir Palok won the state award for children's literature, Bak Badh Pala won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the Government of India in , Aar Konokhane won Rabindra Puraskar from the Government of West Bengal in She had also won the Suresh Smriti Puraskar, Vidyasagar Puraskar, Bhubaneswari Medal for lifetime achievement,[1] and Ananda Puraskar.[6] She has been awarded the Deshikottama by Visva Bharati, and honorary by Burdwan, North Bengal and Calcutta Universities.[1]

Legacy

In , a documentary film has been made on Lila Majumdar entitled "Peristan - The World of Lila Majumdar ".[10]

References

  1. ^ abcdefghiRay, Prasadranjan, Remembering Lila Majumadar, Mejopishi, As I Saw Her, Times of Indian Kolkata edition, 8 April
  2. ^ abcdef The beyond beckons Lila Majumdar, The Statesman, 6 April
  3. ^ abShri Lila Majumdar (–) , Ananda Bazar Patrika(in Bengali), 6 April
  4. ^ abSunil Gangopadhyay, Riju, Sabalil Bhasa, Tate Agagora Snighdha Ras, Ananda Bazar Patrika(in Bengali), 6 April
  5. ^"Children's writer Leela Majumdar dies".

    Leela majumdar biography of christopher jackson In her autobiographical sketch, Pakdandi, Leela Majumdar provided insight into her childhood days in Shillong, , her experience working with All India Radio and her time spent at Santiniketan. Kunchan Nambiar Views: Baidyonath Bhattacharya. Supriya Mondal - Actress.

    Archived from the original on 13 May Retrieved 6 April

  6. ^ abcdChildren's tales never outgrown, The Telegraph, 6 April
  7. ^"Splendid centurion – Darling of the young and young at heart reaches age milestone".

    Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 26 February 26 February Archived from the original on 5 January Retrieved 6 April

  8. ^"Chhaya Devi (–)". Retrieved 6 April
  9. ^"Seize The Day, And Just Get on With Things". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 8 March 8 March Archived from the original on 4 February Retrieved 6 April
  10. ^"Peristan - the World of Lila Majumdar".