Mallika Sengupta
Encyclopedia
Mallika Sengupta is a Bengali
poet, feminist, and reader of Sociology
from Kolkata
, known for her "unapologetically political poetry".
in Kolkata, Sengupta is much better known for her literary activity. The author of more than 20 books including 14 volumes of poetry and two novels, she has been widely translated and is a frequent invitee at international literary festivals.
For twelve years in the 90s she was the poetry editor of Sananda
, the largest circulated Bengali fortnightly (edited by Aparna Sen
). Along with her husband, the noted poet Subodh Sarkar
, she is the founder-editor of Bhashanagar, a culture magazine in Bengali.
English translations of her work have appeared in various Indian and American anthologies. In addition to teaching, editing and writing, she has been actively involved with the cause of gender justice and other social issues.
A breast cancer survivor, she was under treatment since Oct. 2005. and passed away on 28th may, 2011 leaving her partner and college-age son behind.
Her fiery, combative tone, can be seen in many poems, e.g. "While teaching my son history":
often dealing with women's marginalized role in history:
Particularly evocative is her feminist rendition of the legend of khanA
, a
medieval female poet whose tongue was allegedly cut off by her jealous
husband:
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
poet, feminist, and reader of Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
from Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, known for her "unapologetically political poetry".
Biography
She was the Head of the Department of Sociology in Maharani Kasiswari College, an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of CalcuttaUniversity of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
in Kolkata, Sengupta is much better known for her literary activity. The author of more than 20 books including 14 volumes of poetry and two novels, she has been widely translated and is a frequent invitee at international literary festivals.
For twelve years in the 90s she was the poetry editor of Sananda
Sananda
Sananda is a Bengali magazine published by Ananda Publishers from Kolkata, India. The magazine is a women's magazine. The periodocal is usually published on 15th and 30th of every month....
, the largest circulated Bengali fortnightly (edited by Aparna Sen
Aparna Sen
Aparna Sen is a critically acclaimed Bengali Indian filmmaker, script writer, and actress. She is the winner of three National Film Awards and eight international film festival awards.-Biography:...
). Along with her husband, the noted poet Subodh Sarkar
Subodh Sarkar
Subodh Sarkar, a major Bengali poet, writer and editor, and a Reader in English literature at City College, Kolkata, was born in 1958 at Krishnanagar...
, she is the founder-editor of Bhashanagar, a culture magazine in Bengali.
English translations of her work have appeared in various Indian and American anthologies. In addition to teaching, editing and writing, she has been actively involved with the cause of gender justice and other social issues.
A breast cancer survivor, she was under treatment since Oct. 2005. and passed away on 28th may, 2011 leaving her partner and college-age son behind.
Activism and Literary Themes
Sengupta is also active in a number of protest and gender activism groups.Her fiery, combative tone, can be seen in many poems, e.g. "While teaching my son history":
- Man alone was both God and Goddess
- Man was both father and mother
- Both tune and flute
- Both penis and vagina
- As we have learnt from history.
- - from Mallika Sengupta, Kathamanabi, Bhashanagar, kolkata, 2005, (tr. poet)
often dealing with women's marginalized role in history:
- after the battle said chenghis khan
- the greatest pleasure of life,
- is in front of the vanquished enemy
- to sleep with his favourite wife.
- - JuddhasheShe nArI - from Mallika Sengupta, Kathamanabi, Bhashanagar, kolkata, 2005, (tr. amitabha mukerjee)
Particularly evocative is her feminist rendition of the legend of khanA
Khana
Khana was an Indian poetess and legendary astrologist, who composed in medieval Bengali between the ninth and 12th centuries AD...
, a
medieval female poet whose tongue was allegedly cut off by her jealous
husband:
- In Bengal in the Middle ages
- Lived a woman Khanaa, I sing her life
- The first Bengali woman poet
- Her tongue they severed with a knife
- Her speechless voice, "Khanaar Bachan"
- Still resonates in the hills and skies
- Only the poet by the name of Khanaa
- Bleeding she dies.
- - khanA, tr. amitabha mukerjee
Awards and honours
- Junior Fellowship for Literature from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India (1997–99)
- Sukanto Puroskar from the Govt. of W.B.(1998)
- Bangla Academy award from the Govt. of W.B.(2004)
- Has been invited to poetry readings, conferences and seminars in Sweden (1987), Australia (1994), USA (2002 & 2006), Czech Republic (2009) and Bangladesh (1998 & 2002) as part of Indian writer’s delegation.
Poetry
- Challish Chander Ayu, Virus publication, 1983
- Ami Sindhur Meye, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1988
- Haghare O Debdasi, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1991
- Ardhek Prithivi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1993, ISBN 81-7215-247-7
- Meyeder Aa Aaa Ka Kha, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1998
- Kathamanabi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1999, ISBN 81-7215-915-3
- Deoyalir Rat, Patralekha, Kolkata, 2001
- Amra Lasya Amra Ladai, Sristi Prakashani, Kolkata, 2001 Book Excerptise (2 translations)
- Purushke Lekha Chithi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2003, ISBN 81-7756-286-X Book Excerptise (1 poem online)
- Chheleke History Parate Giye, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2005
- Shrestha Kabita, Kolkata, Dey’s Publication, 2005
- Aamake Sariye Dao Valobasa, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2006, ISBN 81-7756-573-7
- Purusher Janyo Eksho Kabita, Deep Prakashan, Kolkata, 2007
- O Janemon Jibananada, Banolata Sen Likhchhi, Kolkata, Ananda Pub. 2008
- Brishtimichhil Barudmichhil, Kolkata, Ananda Pub. 2010
Poetry in English translation
- Carriers Of Fire, Bhashanagar, Kolkata, 2002
- Kathamanabi,her voice and Other Poems, Bhashanagar, kolkata, 2005
Novels
- Seetayan, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1995 ,ISBN 81-7215-618-9
- Sleelatahanir Pare, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1996, ISBN 81-7215-713-4
Books on Sociology of gender
- Strilinga Nirmana, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1994, ISBN 81-7215-368-6
- Purush Noi Purushtantra, Vikash Grantha Bhavan, Kolkata, 2002
- Bibahabichchhinnar Akhyan, Banglar Samaj O Sahitye, Kolkata, Papyrus, 2007
Translation
- Akaler Madhye Saras, translation from Kedarnath Singh’s Hindi poems, Sahitya Akademi, Kolkata, 1998
External links
- http://www.india.poetryinternational.org/cwolk/view/24331 Mallika Sengupta and the Poetry of Feminist Conviction. (4 bilingual poems)
- the unsevered tongue: modern poetry by bengali women, tr. amitabha mukerjee. Nandimukh samsad, kolkata, 2005. (4 poems with translations, excerpts)
- http://www.indiatogether.org/women/writing/mallika.htm
- http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit02052001/women&society.asp
- http://www.netguruindia.com/bookreview/bangla/sitayan.html
- http://www.pashchimi.org/events/2006/poetry.asp
- http://www.parabaas.com/bookstore/title.html
- http://www.name.umdl.umich.edu/act2080.0030.001.34
- http://www.nabc2006.org/events/events2.htm - 51k
- http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/17/stories/2004111700800300.htm