Jibanananda Das Biography • Bengali poet, novelist & writer

Jibanananda Das was a Bengali poet, novelist and writer. Though he did not achieve much popularity in his lifetime, but nowadays critics consider him as the greatest poet of a post-Tagore era. He is very famous amongst the Bengali poetry-lovers for his uncommon resemblance and poetic introvert nature.

Das born in 1899 in Barisal. His father Satyananda Das was a school teacher and one of founding members of Barisal Brahma Samaj. His mother, Kusumkumari Das was also a poet famous for her poem Adorsho Chele (The Ideal Boy). Jibanananda had two siblings, brother Ashokananda and sister Shuchorita. He started school in 1908. After that, in 1915 he completed his matriculation from Brajamohan college. After passing the intermediate examination, he went to Calcutta.

Das completed his BA (honors) in English in 1919 from presidency college. His first poem ‘Borsho Abahon’ (Arrival of the New Year) published in this year. Then he passed his MA in 1921 from Calcutta University and started his teaching career in City college from the next year.

Jibanananda’s first poem published in Bangabani magazine. His first collection of poetry ‘Jhara Palok’ came out in 1927. Unfortunately, he lost his job and faced a huge unjust literary criticism in this year. Then he left Calcutta and went to Bagerhat, joined Bagerhat P C college but soon left it. After that, in 1929 he went to Calcutta to join Ramjas college. But due to his wedding in Barisal, he failed to go to Delhi and lost the job. In 1930 he married Labanya. He had two children- daughter Manjushri and son Samarananda. Though he settled as a lecturer at the English department in Calcutta University, at last, he suffered from unemployment and frustration in a large portion of his life.

Jibanananda’s complete poetry published in 8 books- ‘Jhara Palak’, ‘Dhushar Panulipi’, ‘Rupasi Bangla’, ‘Banalata Sen’, ‘Mahaprithibi’, ‘Satti Tarar Timir’, ‘Bela Obela Kalbela’ and ‘Shreshtha Kobita’. Many of his novels and poems published after his death.

Jibananda died on 22 October 1954 by a tramcar accident. Overall, he is considered one of the greatest Bengali poet of the modern period.