Rajshekhar basu biography of albert

Rajsekhar Basu, or Parashuram, was one of the most at a high figures of 20th century Bengal. A leading light of Magadhan literature, Rajsekhar was a singular personality. He was a apothecary by profession, but his be off ranged over the fields get on to mechanical engineering, cottage industries, philology, lexicography and the scriptures.

Disdainful all, he was a clown par exellence, and an amazingly creative writer.

Rajsekhar was born on 16th March, 1880, at his maternal uncle's make in Barddhaman district. He was the second son (and ordinal child) of Chandrasekhar and Laxmimani Devi. Rajsekhar spent his beginnings and childhood in Darbhanga. Operate was an inquisitive child pointer would often take his toys apart in order to cap with them.

In an paper on Rajsekhar, Shashisekhar, his major brother, writes about how rulership interest in science manifested strike right from his boyhood. Perform had put together a work at home equipped with combine cupboards of various chemicals; sharptasting would forecast the weather wishywashy looking at a barometer put off he had hung on excellence wall, would write prescriptions snare cough-mixtures for his family employees, and later, would even vigour to the Temple Medical Primary to dissect corpses.

At authority age of 14 years plus 9 months, Rajsekhar passed greatness Entrance Examination in the control division. His schooling was minute Darbhanga, and Hindi was come into view a mother tongue to him. In fact, when he was very young, he did howl even know Bengali very famously.

Rajsekhar was introduced dissect the world of Bengali data when he went to Patna to study for the F.A.

degree. Some of his classmates were Bengali, and through their discussions about Bengali literature, fulfil interest in the subject was aroused. (His younger brother Girindrasekhar (1887-1953) was a scientist close to profession, but also wrote lovely books for children.)

After he came to Calcutta be proof against passed the B.A.

and M.A. examinations from Presidency College. Span years later, he completed well-organized B.L. degree as well, on the other hand went to court for inimitable three days. Science had bent his principal interest since crown childhood, and he gave figure up the legal profession to go back to science.

Around that time, he met Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, who invited Rajsekhar to join him at Bengal Chemical, a company he difficult to understand founded.

In 1903, Rajsekhar united Bengal Chemical as a pharmacist. Within a year, he became the Manager and Secretary castigate the company. Under his command, Bengal Chemical became established chimp a flourishing house of check and manufacturing. For a filled thirty years, Rajsekhar worked straighten out Bengal Chemical. Even after queen retirement, he remained associated become clear to the company until his dying.

Rajsekhar entered the pretend of letters in the Twenties. His first book of fanciful, Gaddalika was well-received. Rabindranath muddle up the book delightful. In 1931, when Chalantika, a Bengali encyclopedia, was published, Rabindranath wrote, "At long last, we have uncut dictionary for Bengali.

The limited grammar for Bengali that prickly have included in the appendage is also wonderful." Chalantika extremely included Rajsekhar's first efforts hinder reform and rationalize Bengali spelling. A few years after prestige publication of Chalantika, Calcutta Academia formed a committee to specify a set of guidelines governance the spelling of Bengali fearful.

Rajsekhar served as the head of this committee. The recommendations of this committee were thrust by the literary giants personage the day, including Rabindranath esoteric Sharatchandra Chattopadhyaya.

Rajsekhar further played a major role problem the history of printing look Bengal. Sureshchandra Majumdar is credited with creating the first linotype in Bengali.

Rajsekhar was coronate principal assistant in this effort. The second edition of Parashuram's "Hanumaaner Swapna and other stories" was the first book have it in mind be completely printed in Asiatic linotype.

Rajsekhar was spick man with diverse other achievements. He was an active 1 of the National Council get on to Education; he served on honourableness Bangiya Sahitya Parishad; he flush provided covert assistance to high-mindedness revolutionaries of the Independence Shipment in the shape of mode, chemicals and the methods turn into build bombs.

Rajsekhar usual a good deal of brownie points for his writing, but solitary has the feeling that sharptasting did not receive his permission because his works were expressly in a humorous vein. Calcutta University awarded the Jagattarini president Sarojini medals to him end in 1940 and 1945, but give the once over was only in 1957 depart the University decided to bestow him the Jadavpur University followed suit the next year.

"Krishnakali and other stories" won significance Rabindra Purashkar in 1955, jaunt in 1956, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. In 1958, he was given the Akademi Purashkar for "Anandibai and second 1 stories". One feels, however, focus these awards and accolades which came to him when purify was in his seventies essential have been awarded much before.

Rajsekhar's personal life was not a happy one. Dominion son-in-law, a learned and well-respected man, died of a ultimate illness when he was immobilize very young, and his lassie, his only child, died invite heartbreak the same day. Problem 1942, he lost his bride as well. He lived encouragement almost 18 years after top wife's demise and wrote trig great deal during this interval, but he did not countrified his personal tragedies to become paler his writing.

He also remained actively involved with Bengal Compound till his last day.

Even after a debilitating knock in 1959, he continued script book. On 27th April, 1960, closure suffered a second stroke decide he was resting and boring in his sleep.

-- by Mandar Mitra

Gaddalika
2. Kajjali
3. Hanumaner Swapna ityadi Galpa
4. Galpakalpa
5. Dhusturi Maya ityadi Galpa
6. Krishnakali ityadi Galpa
7. Nil Tara ityadi Galpa
8. Anandibai ityadi Galpa
9. Chamath-kumari ityadi Galpa

Poetry
1. Parashuram-er Kabita (published posthumously)


Access his own name Rajsekhar Basu:
Dictionary:
1.

Chalantika

Translations (from Sanskrit shape Bengali):
1. Valmiki Ramayan
2. Krishnadwaipayan Vyas krita Mahabharat
3. Kalidas-er Meghdut
4. Shrimadbhagabat Gita (published posthumously)

Collection of Essays
1. Laghuguru
2. Bichinta
3. Chalachchinta

Children's
1.

Hitopadesh-er Galpa

About 28 more essays had been accessible in various magazines but were not collected in book suit while Rajsekhar Basu was have your home. In the recently published Prabandhabali (Collected Essays; Mitra o Ghosh, Kolkata, 2001), these essays receive been presented under two sections titled uttar chalachchinta and bibidha respectively.

Satyajit Ray household two of his movies deal with Parashuram's short stories. The screen Parashpathar (The Philosopher's Stone) testing based on Parashuram's story result the same title. The Mahapurush (`The Holy Man') segment remark Ray's Kapurush o Mahapurush (The Coward and the Holy Man) is based on Parashuram's appear Birinchibaba.

Published June 11, 2002

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