Sudhir Chakravarti (19 September 1934 – 15 December 2020) was a Bengali educationist and essayist. He made a vast contribution in Bengal's folk culture development and research. Chakravarti had completely changed the style of colonial prose with his new narrative style. He successfully had replaced the prevailing idea of essay-based writing being something of heavy scholarly matter with his graceful and humorous prose language.
Early life and career
Sudhir Chakravarti or Sudhir Prasad Chakravarti was born on 19 September 1934 at Shibpur. His father's name was Ramaprasad Chakravarti and his mother Beenapani Chakravarti. He was the youngest of the nine sons of Ramaprasad. Due to the fear of the Japanese bombardings in Kolkata, Chakravarti's father had shifted to Dignagar, Nadia, (where they had ancestral lands as Zamindars) from Shibpur, Howrah in his childhood. After that his family came to Krishnanagar, Nadia.[1][2] Chakravarti completed his studies in Calcutta University. Chakravarti is known for his research works on Folk religion, Lalan Fakir and Cultural Anthropology in Bengal. He spent 30 years researching the folk culture by traveling to different villages all over the West Bengal.[3] He was a professor of Bengali literature since 1958 to 1994, but even after retirement kept on teaching until 2011. Chakravarti worked in Krishnagar Government College, guest lecturer of Jadavpur University and was also associated with the Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata. He wrote and edited more than 85 books on various subjects like music, art, folk-religion, cultural anthropology. He was the editor of Bengali literary Magazine Dhrubapada.[4] He died on 15 December 2020 in Kolkata.[5][6]
Literary career
From Rabindranath to Lalan Fakir, from Baul culture to clay modellers, modelling and painters and painting of rural Bengal, everything had become the subject of his interest and research. Besides research and writing, he has also being a prolific editor, his 'Dhruvapada' journal, which had 12 issues had created a sensation in the Bengali literary society.
His contribution to the study of Bengali folk culture is immense. His pen had authored immense detailed work on the sub-religions and cult of Kartabhaja, Balahari, Sahebdhani, their belief community and their songs, which were never paid much attention to by the intellectuals. It is to be noted that after William Hunter and Akshoy Kumar Dutta in the 18th century, few have paid attention to work on these sects. His book 'Bratya Lokayat Lalon' is considered as a milestone in the practice of Lalan Fakir.
He had collected songs of different communities in remote villages of Bengal by rigorous fieldwork, which makes him different from other researchers . He has recorded his research experience in folklore in the book 'Gabhir Nirjan Pathe'(Along deep lonely alleys) '. He won the Ananda Award in 2002 for his book 'Baul Fakir Kotha', and received Sahitya Akademi Award for the same in 2004.
He has also written books on Rabindra Sangeet and Music of Modern Bengal like 'Nirjan Ekaker Gaan: Rabindra Sangeet', 'Rabikarrekha', 'Elem Natun Deshe', 'Ganer Leela Sei Kinare', Preme Prana Gane '.Chakravarti in his time had stood to be one of the leading figure in Tagore study and Bengali Music. He was among the first man to embrace Suman Chattopadhyay 's new genre of Bengali Music. He had academically brought this new genre to the Bengali readers, this gave birth to Suman Chattopadhyay's book 'Sumaner Gaan Sumaner Bhasha. His famous column in 'Aajkal' on Music has discussed a varied range of music from the music of Rabindranath, Atulprasad, Iqbal to Shreya Ghosal, A. R Rahaman, all has been captured Chakravarti's range of work.
Works
Sudhir Chakraborty
1. Sahebdhani Sampraday O tader gaan (সাহেবধনী সম্প্রদায় তাদের গান), 1985
2. Ganer Lilar Sei Kinare (গানের লীলার সেই কিনারে), 1985
3. Krishnagarer Mritshilpo o Mritshilpi Samaj (কৃষ্ণনগরের মৃৎশিল্প ও মৃৎশিল্পী সমাজ), 1985
4. Balahari Sampraday o Tader Gaan (বলাহাড়ি সম্প্রদায় আর তাদের গান), 1986
5. Gabhir Nirjan Pathe (গভীর নির্জন পথে),1989
6. Dwijendralal Smaran Bismaran (দ্বিজেন্দ্রলাল রায় স্মরণ বিস্মরণ), 1989
7. Bangla Ganer Sandhane (বাংলা গানের সন্ধানে), 1990
Chakravarti received the Ananda Purashkar in 2002 for his book Baul Fakir Katha and the Sahitya Akademi Award 2004.[7] He got the awards of Eminent Teacher from Calcutta University in 2006,[8] Narasimha Das award Medal from Delhi University and the Dr. Sukumar Sen Gold Medal from the Asiatic Society. He has also been awarded by the Tagore research Institute the title of Rabindratatvacharya.
