Ashapurna Devi


Ashapurna Devi, also Ashapoorna Devi or Ashapurna Debi, was a prominent Indian novelist and poet in Bengali. In 1976, she was awarded the Jnanpith Award and Padma Shri by the Government of India, D.Litt. by the Universities of Jabalpur, Rabindra Bharati, Burdwan and Jadavpur. Vishwa Bharati University honoured her with Deshikottam in 1989. For her contribution as a novelist and short story writer, the Sahitya Akademi conferred its highest honour, the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, in 1994.

Biography

Ashapurna Devi was born in a Baidya family on 8 January 1909 in North Calcutta. Her birth name was Asha Purna Devi. Her early childhood was spent in a traditional and extremely conservative family. Female children of the house were not allowed to go to school. Private tutors were employed only for the boys. It is said that as a baby Ashapurna used to listen to the readings of her brothers sitting opposite to them and that was how she learnt the alphabets. Though Ashapurna had no formal education as such, she was self-educated.
Ashapurna's father Harendra Nath Gupta was a famous artist of the time who worked for furniture makers C. Lazarus & Co. as a designer. Ashapurna's mother Sarola Sundari was a great lover of books. It was her "intensive thirst" for reading classics and story books which was transmitted to Ashapurna and her sisters in their early age.
Due to shortage of space, Harendra Nath shifted his family to a new house at 157/1B Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, which provided freedom to Sarola Sundari and her daughters to read according to their heart's desires. To satisfy Sarola Sundari's tremendous urge of reading there had been a continuous flow of books and magazines from the libraries of the time. As there was no dearth of leisure for the daughters and no bar to reading adult books from a very early age, Ashapurna and her sisters built a love-relationship with books. The period in which Ashapurna was raised was socially and politically restless, a time of nationalist agitation and awakening. Though the children of Harendra Nath did not have direct contact with the outside world, they were quite sensitive to the restlessness going on throughout the country led by Mahatma Gandhi and other political leaders who were ready to sacrifice their lives to bring independence. Thus different factors were responsible for nourishing the specific culture which guided Ashapurna from her early childhood to youth, and carried her to a definite platform through various experiences and ideals of life.
According to Ashapurna, she and her sisters used to compete with each other by composing and reciting poems. This inspired Ashapurna to secretly send a poem to Sishu Sathi in 1922. Ashapurna was thirteen and her poem "Bairer Dak" was published. She also received a request from editor Rajkumar Chakravorty to send more poems and stories. That was the beginning which developed into a never-ending flourish for Ashapurna, culminating into a permanent place for her into the realm of Bengali literature.
Ashapurna was sent to be married in 1924 when she was 15, leaving Calcutta for her betrothed's family residence in Krishnanagar. She was married to Kalidas Gupta, and the couple moved frequently as they established themselves. In 1927 they settled in Calcutta where they lived until 1960. They then had to shift to a separate flat near Golpark with their only son Sushanta, daughter-in-law Nupur, and a granddaughter Shatarupa. Later, in 1967, another granddaughter, Shatadeepa, was added to the family. In 1970, Kalidas Gupta and Ashapurna built their own house in Garia at 17 Kanungo Park. Ashapurna lived there until she died on 13 July 1995.
In the beginning of her writing career, Ashapurna wrote only for children - Chhoto Thakurdar Kashi Yatra was the first printed edition published in 1938, followed by others throughout her literary career.
In 1936, she first wrote a story for adults, "Patni O Preyoshi", published in the Puja issue of Ananda Bazar Patrika. Prem O Prayojan was her first novel for adults, published in 1944. Her magnum opus, the trilogy Pratham Pratishruti, Subarnolata and Bakul Katha, symbolises an endless struggle for women to achieve equal rights. According to Somak Ghoshal, writing for Mint, "Ashapurna Devi wrote about women and men whose lives were claustrophobically restricted by social, economic and psychological conditions."
Upon her death, she had been widely honoured with a number of prizes and awards. In January 2009, Doordarshan broadcast a documentary about her, and a two-day event was organized to celebrate what would have been her 101st birthday.

Accolades

Publications

Novels

  1. Aar Ek Ashapurna
  2. Agniparikha
  3. Asha Purna Devir Rachanaboli
  4. Asha Purna Bithika
  5. Anamaniyaa
  6. Biswas Abiswas
  7. Chabibandha Sinduk
  8. Chitrakalpa
  9. Chosma Palte Jai
  10. Dibyahasini'r Dinolipi
  11. Drishya Theke Drishyantore
  12. Dwitiyo Adwitiyo
  13. Ei To Sedin
  14. Kalyani
  15. Kata Pukur Lane'r Komola
  16. Laghu Tripodi
  17. Lila Chirontan
  18. Nakhyatrer Akash
  19. Noksha Kata Ghor
  20. Pancha Nodir Teere
  21. Prem O Proyojon
  22. Priyo Galpo
  23. Sashi Babu'r Sangsar
  24. Siri Bhanga Anka
  25. Shrimti Sata Jibon
  26. Sthan Kaal Patra
  27. Tin Prohor
  28. Trimatrik
  29. ''V.I.P Bari'r Lok''

Shottoboti Trilogy

  1. Prothom Protisruti
  2. Shubornolawta
  3. ''Bokul Kawtha''

Rochonaboli

Her rochonaboli are published in 10 volumes from publisher Mitra O Ghosh.

Rochonaboli, Vol. 1

  1. "Boloygras"
  2. "Jog Biyog"
  3. "Nirjon Prithibi"
  4. "Charpotra"
  5. "Prothom Lagna"
  6. "Samudra Neel Akash Neel"
  7. "Uttorlipi"
  8. "Teenchanda"
  9. "Mukhor Ratri"

Rochonaboli, Vol. 2

  1. "Agni Parikha"
  2. "Alor Sakhor"
  3. "Jibon Swad"
  4. "Aaar Ek Jhor"
  5. "Nodi Deek Hara"
  6. "Ekti Sondhya Ekti Sokal"
  7. "Uttoron"
  8. "Johuri"
  9. "Mayajaal"
  10. unpublished short stories
  11. unpublished non-fiction

Rochonaboli, Vol. 3

  1. Prem O Prayojan
  2. "Nabajonma"
  3. Sashi Babu'r Sangsar
  4. "Unmochon"
  5. "Bahironga"
  6. "Begboti"
  7. "Abohosangeet"
  8. unpublished short stories
  9. unpublished poetries

Rochonaboli, Vol. 4

  1. "Nepothyo Nayika"
  2. "Jonom Jonom ke Sathi"
  3. Laghu Tripodi
  4. "Du ye Mile Ek"
  5. "Suktisagar"
  6. "Sukherchabi"
  7. "Suyoranir Sadh"
  8. "Surobhi Sopno"
  9. unpublished short stories
  10. unpublished non-fiction

Rochonaboli, Vol. 5

  1. "Mayadarpan"
  2. "Brittopoth"
  3. "Mittirbari"
  4. "Atikranto"
  5. "Sonar Horin"
  6. "Uro Pakhi"
  7. "Jugal Bondi"
  8. "Sesh Raai"

Rochonaboli, Vol. 6

  1. Kokhono Deen Kokhono Raat
  2. Baluchori
  3. Anobogunthita
  4. unpublished short stories

Rochonaboli, Vol. 7

  1. "Bijoyi Basanta"
  2. "Ditio Adhyay"
  3. "Neel Porda"
  4. "Durer Janla"
  5. "Juganter Jobonika Pare"
  6. "Dui Meru"
  7. unpublished short stories

Rochonaboli, Vol. 8

  1. Prothom Pratisruti
  2. "Polatok Sainik"
  3. "Pratikhar Bagan"
  4. "Jhinuk e Sei Tara"
  5. unpublished short stories

Rochonaboli, Vol. 9

  1. Prothom Pratishruti
  2. ''Subarnalata''

Rochonaboli, Vol. 10

  1. Bakul Katha
  2. "Balir Niche Dhew"
  3. unpublished short stories

Works for younger readers

  1. Aloy Adityer IcchaPatra Rahosyo
  2. Amorabatir Antorale
  3. Byaparta Ki Holo
  4. Bhaggi Juddho Bedhechilo
  5. Bhagyolakhi Lotarry
  6. Bhitore Ki Chilo
  7. Bhuture Kukur
  8. Bolber Moto Noi
  9. Chajone Mile
  10. Chutite Chotachuti
  11. Chotoder Srestho Golpo
  12. Chotoder Shresto Golpo
  13. Chotto Thakurdar Kashijatra
  14. Chotoder Bhalo Bhalo Golpo
  15. Dakaat r Kobole Ami
  16. Dibbosundarer Dibbogayan luv
  17. Doshti Kishore Uponyas
  18. Durer Basi
  19. Ek Kuri Golpo
  20. Ek Samudra onek Dheu
  21. Eker Modhe Teen
  22. Gaja Ukil Er Hatya Rahasya
  23. Golpo Bhalo Aber Bolo
  24. Golpo Holo Suru
  25. Golper Moto Golpo
  26. Half-Holiday
  27. Hasir Golpo
  28. Jibon Kalir Pakka Hiseb
  29. Jugalratno Tiktiki Office
  30. Kanakdeep
  31. Karapaker Pakchakra
  32. Kato Kando Railgarite
  33. Kishore Amonibaas
  34. Kishore Bachai Golpo
  35. Kisor Sahityo Samagro
  36. Kishore Sahitya Samagro
  37. Kisor Sahityo Samvar
  38. Kopal Khule Gelo Naki
  39. Majarumama
  40. Manikchand O Aro Choddo
  41. Manuser Mato Manus
  42. Mon Thaklei Mon Kamon
  43. Nije Bujhe Nin
  44. Nikharchai Amod
  45. Onara Thakbeni
  46. Pach Bhuter Goppo
  47. Panchasti Kishore Galpo
  48. Pakhi Theke Hati
  49. Planchet
  50. Poyela Doshra
  51. Rajkumarer Poshake
  52. Rahasyer Sandhaane
  53. Raja Noi Rani Noi
  54. Rajai Golpo
  55. Rani Mayabatir Antardhyan Rahosyo
  56. Rogin Molat
  57. Sakaler Sapno
  58. Sarojanter Nayak
  59. Satyi Amod
  60. Sei Sob Golpo
  61. Sera Baro
  62. Sera Rahasyo Samvar
  63. Shanirbachito Chotoder Shesto Golpo
  64. ''Shono Shono Golpo Shono''

Stories published in children's magazines

  • "Anko Sir o Mozart"
  • "Bhagye Thakle Kina Hoi"
  • "Bishe Bishkhay"
  • "Bhut Namaibar Sahoj Podhdhoti"
  • "Chutite Chotachuti"
  • "Ghyach Kore"
  • "Kagaj To Paro Na"
  • "Kichhu Korena Kichhu Korbe Na"
  • "Matra Ekkhana Than Eet"
  • "Muskil Asan er Kolkathi"
  • "Parar chhele"
  • "Swapner Railgari"
  • "Tibboti Lamar Coffin"

Pakhik Anondomela Golpo Sankalan

  • "Tiktiki, Ateendriyo Shakti o Bedanto Bardhan"
  • "Kopaal'er Naam Gopaal"
  • "Mojaru-Mama"
  • "Ninkhonj Niruddesh Hote Gele"

PujaBarshiki Anondomela Golpo Sankalan

  • Bahadur
  • Hoito Eirokomi
  • Char Buror Adda

Kishore Uponyas (preteen novels)

Raajkumar Er Poshake Gaja Ukil Er Hotya Rohosya Bhuture Kukur Lonka Morich O Ek Mohamanab Manusher Moto Manush Chara Pute Gelen Nantu Pise Bomar Cheye Bisham Somuddur Dekha Aloy Adityer Iccha Potro Rohosyo
  • ''Harano Theke Prapti''

Works translated to English

Matchbox
  • ''Shake the Bottle''

Television and film adaptions

Her novel Baluchori was adapted as a TV serial on Deepto TV named Aparajita. Subarnalata (TV series) on Zee Bangla and Prothom Protisshruti on Colors Bangla were adaptations of her novels by the same name.
Devi's 1953 novel Jog Biyog inspired a number of films in various Indian languages. The 1954 Bengali film Agni Pariksha was based on her novel by the same name. The movie was simultaneously made into a 1959 Telugu - Tamil bilingual titled Mangalya Balam in Telugu and Manjal Mahimai in Tamil. Later it was remade in Hindi in 1967 as Chhoti Si Mulaqat.
The 1976 film Tapasya, produced by Tarachand Barjatya, was based on one of her stories. Director Suman Mukhopadhyay adapted her story Chuti Nakoch into the Hindi feature film Nazarband, which premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival in 2021.