Mallika Sengupta


Mallika Sengupta was a Bengali poet, feminist, and reader of Sociology from Kolkata, known for her "unapologetically political poetry".

Biography

Mallika Sengupta was the head of the Department of Sociology in Maharani Kasiswari College, an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of Calcutta in Kolkata. She was much better known for her literary activity. The author of more than 20 books including 14 volumes of poetry and two novels, she was widely translated and was a frequent invitee at international literary festivals.
For twelve years in the 90s she was the poetry editor of Sananda, the largest circulated Bengali fortnightly. Along with her husband, the noted poet Subodh Sarkar, she was the founder-editor of Bhashanagar, a culture magazine in Bengali.
English translations of her work have appeared in various Indian and American anthologies. In addition to teaching, editing and writing, she was actively involved with the cause of gender justice and other social issues.
She had begun breast cancer treatment in 2005 and died on the 28th of May 2011.

Activism and literary themes

Sengupta was also active in a number of protest and gender activism groups. Her fiery, combative tone is noticeable in many poems, e.g. "While teaching my son history":
often dealing with women's marginalised role in history:
Particularly evocative is her feminist rendition of the legend of Khana, a medieval female poet whose tongue was allegedly cut off by her jealous husband:

Awards and honours

  • Junior Fellowship for Literature from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India
  • Sukanto Puroskar from the Govt. of West Bengal
  • Bangla Academy award from the Govt. of West Bengal
  • Has been invited to poetry readings, conferences and seminars in Sweden, Australia, USA, Czech Republic and Bangladesh as part of Indian writer's delegation.

    Works

Poetry

  • Challish Chander Ayu, Virus publication, 1983
  • Ami Sindhur Meye, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1988
  • Haghare O Debdasi, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1991
  • Ardhek Prithivi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1993,
  • Meyeder Aa Aaa Ka Kha, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1998
  • Kathamanabi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1999,
  • Deoyalir Rat, Patralekha, Kolkata, 2001
  • Amra Lasya Amra Ladai, Sristi Prakashani, Kolkata, 2001
  • Purushke Lekha Chithi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2003,
  • Chheleke History Parate Giye, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2005
  • Shrestha Kabita, Kolkata, Dey's Publication, 2005
  • Aamake Sariye Dao Valobasa, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2006,
  • Purusher Janyo Eksho Kabita, Deep Prakashan, Kolkata, 2007
  • O Janemon Jibananada, Banolata Sen Likhchhi, Kolkata, Ananda Pub. 2008
  • Brishtimichhil Barudmichhil, Kolkata, Ananda Pub. 2010

    Poetry in English translation

  • Carriers of Fire, Bhashanagar, Kolkata, 2002
  • Kathamanabi, her voice and Other Poems, Bhashanagar, kolkata, 2005

    Novels

  • Seetayan, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1995,
  • Sleelatahanir Pare, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1996,
  • Kabir Bouthan, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2011,

    Books on sociology of gender

  • Strilinga Nirmana, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1994,
  • Purush Nay Purushtantra, Vikash Grantha Bhavan, Kolkata, 2002
  • Bibahabichchhinnar Akhyan, Banglar Samaj O Sahitye, Kolkata, Papyrus, 2007

    Translation

  • Akaler Madhye Saras, translation from Kedarnath Singh's Hindi poems, Sahitya Akademi, Kolkata, 1998

    Bengali poetry anthology

  • Dui Banglar Meyeder Shreshtha kabita, Upasana, Kolkata, 2003