Sanjib Chattopadhyay


Sanjib Chattopadhyay is an Indian Bengali novelist and writer of short stories. His style is characterized by use of short satirical sentences mixed with very lively language.

Childhood and education

Sanjib Chattopadhyay spent his childhood in the hilly terrain of Chota Nagpur Plateau under the care of his father after his mother died when he was five. They relocated to Calcutta and he was admitted to Victoria Institution school which he joined at grade seven. He later graduated from the Scottish Church College where he studied chemistry.

Work

The subjects of his fiction are mostly families living in Calcutta city. Within the confines of these homes, he challenges the moral values of the fast-changing middle class of the city. Chattopadhyay frequently uses old men as his protagonists. These aged characters create the spiritual and philosophical edge found in his novels Lotakambal and Shakha Prasakha. Arguably the most famous of his creations is Lotakambal. His most famous novella Swet Patharer Table is an example of his characteristic style of story-telling which mixes tension, dilemma, curiosity, pity, humor, and satire. He has written fiction for children and continues to write for magazines and newspapers. Chattopdhyay's current writing is related to Ramkrishna Paramhansa Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. Some of his major works apart from the above-mentioned are:
  • Parampadokamale
  • Cancer
  • Duti Chair
  • Roshe Boshe
  • Rakish Maa Roshe Boshe
  • Besh Achhi Roshe Boshe
  • Tumi Aar Aami
  • Eke Eke
  • Kolkata Achhe Kolkatatei
  • Sheuli - A novel about a family consisting of grandfather, grandmother, father, mother and their son and daughter with many aspirations nestled inside satire.
  • Mapa Hashi Chapa Kanna
  • Halka Hashi Chokher Jol
  • Ujan Beye Jai
  • Mojar Foara
  • Bhagabaner Kaane Dilen Bhagabaner Naam by Dey's Publishing
  • Nirbane Anirban Buddha Bhagaban by Dey's Publishing
  • BHOR HOLO by Patra Bharati
  • Ka Tobo Kanta by Dey's Publishing
  • Porokiya by Patra Bharati
  • BRAMHADATYIR BACCHA by Patra Bharati
Apart from these, his notable juvenile literature includes the Ruku-Suku and Badomama-Mejomama series which are fun-filled and analyse various philosophical aspects of life through the eyes of children.

Awards