Name Khagendranath Mitra Role Writer | Died 1978 | |
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Occupation Bengali writer for children & preteens | ||
Khagendranath Mitra (Bengali: খগেন্দ্রনাথ মিত্র) (1896–1978) was a writer for children of Bengal. Even today his writings continue to be popular among children and preteens.
Contents
Early life
Mitra was born in Kolkata. His father was a Mukhtar of Tagore family estate in Shilaidaha, Bangladesh. In school life at Kushtia District he became attracted with revolutionary politics and attached with Bagha Jatin. Mitra also joined in Non-cooperation movement in his youth and became imprisoned before the independence.
Overview
He was the first Indian children's writer whose books were translated into foreign languages. The Russian translation of Bhombol Sardar was of immense popularity. Bhombol Sardar was one of the Rapid Text in Russian junior classes.
Mitra, besides writing more than 100 books, was an editor as well. Kishor [কিশোর] (The Preteens), the first child periodical in Asia was the brain child of his, though it was not published for a year. Notun Manush [নতুন মানুষ] (New Man), Chhotoder Mohol [ছোটদের মহল] (The Gallery for Children), Banshory [বাঁশরী] (The Flute), Sonar Kathi [সোনার কাঠি] (The Golden Stick), Shishusathi [শিশুসাথী] (The Children's Friend; Annual) were among the periodicals he edited.
Stories
Novels
Adaptation
Bhombol Sardar was turned into a verbal drama conducted by Akashbani, the governmental radio network in India. It was also adapted to a Bengali movie.
Awards
Khagendranath Mitra received many awards such as Bhubaneshwasi Padak (Medel) and Mouchak Sahitya Purashkar from University of Calcutta for his works. He also awarded Girish Silver Medel. In 1975 his name was nominated for National award in literature but since the authority showed dishoner to the child literutre, he refused to receive it.