Sunil Gangopadhyay no more with us

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Sunil Gangopadhya (September 07, 1934 — October 23, 2012)

Maswood Alam Khan
One of the subcontinent's most eminent writers and a stalwart of Bengali literature Sunil Gangopadhyay died of a heart attack in the early hours of Tuesday at his residence in Kolkata. He was only 78. His departure is an irreparable loss - an absence that cannot be redeemed, a gap that cannot be filled.
Sunil Gangopadhyay once said: "Many poems and songs Rabindranath Tagore had composed are deeply committed to my memory and perhaps that is why whenever I hear a poem being recited in a rhyme and tone with a little deviation from its originalities my ears literally burn. My knowledge on rhyme has grown mostly on hearing."
You need a good ear to master literature. Yes, Sunil Gangopadhyay had a golden ear to hear the sublime music and the mystic divinity of Bengali literature. He was a master in describing in his poems the eternal theme of love displaying all the subtle nuances and shades of feelings a passionate lover experiences. His poems and novels have overwhelmed millions of Bengali readers for decades by the rounded and linguistic felicities very few Bengali litterateurs could put on show in their literary expressions.
Sunil Gangopadhyay is our pride. He was born in Faridpur on September 07, 1934. A prolific poet and an accomplished novelist Sunil was a rare connoisseur of Bengali literature. The short stories, novels, plays, critical commentaries, travelogues and children's literatures Sunil created had earned huge recognition among readers. But, Sunil always maintained that poetry was his first love. His Nikhilesh and Neera series of poems are hugely popular.
Look at how Sunil Gangopadhyay had looked at love in his poem: Ei Ektu Bhalobashar Kotha (Just a few words on love): "Nichok Amritey Shad Nei, Ektu Adhtu Nun Morich Mishiye Nitey Hoi, Bhalobashar Songey Jemon Doo Tin Rokomer Didha. (Mere ambrosia is bland and tasteless unless you mix with it little bits of chilly and salt - just like in love you have to mix some flavours of doubt).
He was the founder editor of Krittibas, a seminal poetry magazine that started publishing since 1953 and became a platform for a new generation of poets experimenting with many new forms in poetic themes, rhythms, and words. Krittibas is one of the leading magazines in Bengali today.
Later, Sunil started writing for various publications of the Ananda Bazar group, a major publishing house in Kolkata and continued it for many years. He became friends with the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg while the latter was travelling in India. Ginsberg mentioned Sunil most notably in his poem September on Jessore Road. Sunil in return mentioned Ginsberg in some of his prose works.
Sunil Gangopadhyay, who used the pen-names 'Nil Lohit', 'Sanatan Pathak', and 'Nil Upadhyay', won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985 for his extensively researched novel Sei Samay. His notable and best-selling works include Pratham Alo and Purbo-Pashchim. He was awarded the Ananda Puraskar twice - in 1972 and 1989. He was honoured as the 'National Poet' from Akashbani Kolkata. He was awarded Swarnakamal prize by the Government of India for his film-script Sodh. He was awarded Bankim Puroskar and Sahitya Academy Puroskar for the book Sei Samay. His story Neellohiter Golpa, which was published in Sharodia Bortoman, was given Annada-Snowcem Puroskar. He was awarded Annadashankar Puroskar. He was awarded Saraswati Samman for Prathom Alo. His novels Pratidwandi and Aranyer Din Raatri were adapted into feature films by legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. After serving five years as the Vice President, Sunil was elected the President of the Sahitya Akademi on February 20, 2008.
Bangladeshis and Bengalis and litterateurs around the world are shocked today at the sudden demise of a great writer. A poet who was giving a serene luminosity to the world of Bangla literature has suddenly stopped breathing. But his works would continue to inspire future litterateurs as long as people speaking in Bangla would last in this planet and as long as his original works as well as those of his works that have been translated in different languages would remain in the shelves of the libraries. The love poems, the novels, and a plethora of other literary compositions Sunil Gangopadhyay made over a creative life span of more than sixty years will charm millions of readers.
No sentiment ever experienced by a lover has been left out - no portrayal of moods has been overlooked by Sunil Gangopadhyay in his extraordinary creations for generations to savour.
maswood@hotmail.com