119th birthday of Jibanananda Das’ today
Today is the 119th birthday of legendary poet, writer, novelist and essayist Jibanananda Das.
During his lifetime, only seven volumes of his poems were published. After his death, it was discovered that apart from poems, Das wrote several novels and a large number of short stories.
Jibanananda Das was born in 1899 in a Vaidya-Brahmin family in the small district town of Barisal.
The poet is considered one of the precursors who introduced modernist poetry to Bangla literature, during the period when it was influenced by Rabindranath Tagore’s romantic poetry.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, Jibanananda emerged as the most popular poet of modern Bengali literature.
His notable poetic works are Jhora Palok, Dhushor Pandulipi, Bonolota Sen, Mohaprithibi, Shaat-ti Tarar Timir, Shrestho Kobita and Ruposhi Bangla.
Das died on October 22, 1954, eight days after he was hit by a tramcar. The witnesses said that though the tramcar whistled, he did not stop and got struck. Some believe the accident as an attempt at suicide.
