Jibanananda Das’s birth anniversary today

Friday marks the 124th birth anniversary of legendary Bengali poet Jibanananda Das, often considered the greatest poet of the post-Tagorian era for his contribution to Bengali literature.

Marking the day, different socio-cultural organizations are organizing commemorative cultural events and also virtual programmes.

Known as the ‘Ruposhi Banglar Kobi’ (Poet of the beautiful Bengal), Jibanananda Das was born on February 17, 1899 in Barishal.

Jibanananda Das is widely revered as the purest poet of melancholic nature of Bengal and the most remarkable poet of post-Tagorian Bengali literature who tried to shake off Rabindranath Tagore’s poetic influence and also considered by many as the most-read poet after Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam in Bangladesh and West Bengal.

As a poet, Jibanananda Das did not achieve much recognition and popularity during his lifetime, however, his poetic brilliance got the recognition after his untimely death with the discovery of many of his manuscripts.

Born in Barisal to a Vaidya-Brahmo family, Jibanananda Das studied English literature at Presidency College, Kolkata and earned his MA from then Calcutta University.

He started his journey as a poet at an early age while he was a student. Many of his poems inspired an uprising sentiment towards Bengali nationhood, especially after his departure and during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.

Famously known for his poetic creation Banalata Sen, his other collections of poems include Jhara Palak, Dhusar Pandulipi, Mahaprithibi, Satti Tarar Timir, Ruposhi Bangla, Bela Obela Kalbela and others.

Though principally being a poet, Jibanananda also wrote a collection of essays, 21 novels and 108 short stories. Many of his novels were published posthumously including Malyaban, Sutirtha and others. His completed works have been published in 12 volumes as Jibanananda Samagra from Kolkata, India.

Jibanananda Das passed away in a road accident in Kolkata on October 22, 1954 at the age of 55.