From the mid-19th century to the first half of the 20th century, Bengali literature and culture experienced unprecedented growth. The era of Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali literature lasted until the fourth decade of the 20th century. Poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote Gitanjali and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Many powerful poets and writers of this era emerged, including the unbeatable poets Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Dwijendra Lal Roy, rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Kamini Roy, Jibanananda Das. During this time, newspapers played an important role in the nationalist movement and social change. A renaissance was created in the arts of drama, music, dance, painting and architecture.
1901-47 AD: During this time, Barisal made a special contribution to the field of Bengali literature and culture. Below is a brief description of the literary works of the famous poets and writers of Barisal.
Poet Kamini Roy is the best lyricist among women. His poems were published in 1889, Nirmalya in 1891, Pauraniki in 1887, Dharmaputra in 1907, Ashok Smriti in 1913, Mallya and Nirmalya in 1913, Ashok Sangeet in 1914, Usha in 1914, Deep and Dhoop in 1929. He wrote poems such as Notun Akanksha, Ashar Pothe, Nirobhe, Yauban Tapasya, Ekalavya, Gunjan, Janaika Janani etc. He wrote plays such as Amba (1915) and Sitika (1916). His works Tagore Mayer Chithi in 1924, Jiban Pothe in 1930, and Balika Shikshan Adarsh were published in 1918. His unpublished works include Navaya Bharat, Prabhati, Bichitra, Bangalakshmi etc. In 1929, Calcutta University awarded him the Jagat Tarini Gold Medal. In 1930, the Barisal Sahitya Parishad felicitated him. Kamini Roy passed away on 27 September 1933.
Munshi Muhammad Riaz Uddin (1862-1934) was born in Kaunia, Barisal and spent his childhood in Khulna district. He wrote books like Toh-Fetul, Muslim, Greek, Turkey, War, Biography of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH), Bilati Musalman, Krishak-Bandhu (Poem), Amar Sansar Jibon, Zolekha, Pusad, Ratnavali, History of Muslim Literature, Islam Tattva etc. He edited the magazines Sudhakar, Musalman, Naba Sudhakar, Islam Pracharak, Sultan and Naba Yug.
Deb Kumar Roy Chowdhury (1884-1929) was born in the village of Lakhutia. His father was Rakhal Roy Chowdhury. He was the founding editor of the Barisal Sahitya Parishad. He was a poet and essayist. Arun, Madhuri, Devdoot, Dhara, Prabhati are his poetry books. He gained fame by writing the biography of Dwijendra Lal Roy. Satish Chandra Mukhopadhyay (Swami Pragyanananda Saraswati, 1885-1921) wrote books on Vedanta philosophy, politics, simplicity, weakness, king-subject and karmattav etc.
Charan poet Mukunda Das (1887-1934) is one of the best Charan poets of modern Bengali literature. Society, village, service, Brahmacharini and workplace are his responsive journey plays. His music book is Sadhan Sangeet.
Hemchandra Mukhopadhyay Kaviratna lives in Rangashri, Bakerganj. Hemchandra Mukhopadhyay (1888-1929) is another Charan poet. He used to write journeys for Mukunda Das and travel himself. He was a troublemaker in his early life. His life changed when he came in contact with Ashwini Kumar Dutta. His famous poems are 'Katakatha' and 'Kana'.
Jitendra Kushari was a singer and revolutionary. He wrote in search of the path and in memory of Gandhiji. He went to India in 1950 and left his body on 24 February 1956.
Nishikant was born in 1988 in Manpasha village of Nalchiti police station. He wrote books like American Independence, Liberation of the Subjugated, On the Way, Swami Pragyanananda, Saraswati, Ashirir Jiban etc.
Suresh Chandra Chakraborty was born in 1901 in Kajlakathi village. He wrote books like Rahman Khan, Durga Utsav, Manasi, Madhav etc.
Yogesh Chandra Baral was born in 1903 in Coralia village. He wrote books such as India, the last victory journey to freedom, 19th century Bengal, Debendranath Tagore, etc.
Shantisudha Ghosh was a professor at Brajmohan College. Her book is the biography of women and Satindranath Sen. Kartik Chandra Dasgupta, a resident of Gaila, wrote books such as Savitri, Nishikant, etc. Ananda Charan Sen of this village wrote Grihini Patti and Chandranath Das wrote several picture books. Books such as Jagran, Diksha, Daivabani, etc. written by Ramchandra Dasgupta of Mahilara inspired the Swadeshi movement.
Sarat Kumar Roy Chowdhury wrote books such as Buddha India, Buddha's Life, Hemanta Kumar, Hemanta Chandra and Shastiranjan. Pratap Chandra of Kashipur wrote Kashipur Nibasir Sanghar, Kashipur Kusum. Vrindavan Puttunda wrote the history of Chandradwip in 1320. Revolutionary Manoranjan Gupta wrote Rabindra Chitrakala, Jaa Pari Gel, Samabaya Darshan, Biplobi Swapna etc. and edited Barisal in the struggle for independence. Arun Guha wrote books like Desh Paarito, Khilafat Paskha, New Asia, Chandra 35 Jibon Basant, Sristi O Sabyata etc.
Naresh Chandra wrote books like Tipu Niskriti, Baijayanti etc. in 1904. Amarendra Ghosh was born in Suktagarh in 1907. He wrote books like Bedeni of Padmadighi, Beel of the South, Birth story of a song, Lawless Janata, Poet of Kanakpur etc. Mihir Sen wrote books like Aesop's Fables, Bhai Bhai, Sera Galpo, Sabhar Supe etc. in 1920. Tarekeshwar was born in Bhola in 1911. He is known for writing poems like "Karal Roti" and "Ami". Ananta Bandhu Dutta wrote about banks in 1893.
Dr. Shashi Bhushan Dasgupta was born in Chandrahar village in 1911. He moved to Kolkata in 1935.
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