Mallika Sengupta (; 1960–2011) was a

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

poet, feminist, and reader of Sociology from

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

, known for her "unapologetically political poetry".

Biography

Mallika Sengupta was the head of the Department of Sociology in Maharani Kasiswari College, an undergraduate college affiliated with the

University of Calcutta The University of Calcutta, informally known as Calcutta University (), is a Public university, public State university (India), state university located in Kolkata, Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal, India. It has 151 affiliated undergraduate c ...

in Kolkata. She was much better known for her literary activity. The author of more than 20 books including 14 volumes of poetry and two novels, she was widely translated and was 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 Aparna Sen (; ) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema. She has received several accolades as an actress and filmmaker, including nine National Film Awards, six Filmfare Awards East ...

). Along with her husband, the noted poet

Subodh Sarkar Subodh Sarkar (; born 1958 in Krishnanagar) is a Bengali poet, writer and editor, and a reader in English literature at City College, Kolkata. He is a recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award. Biography Subodh Sarkar, born in 195 ...

, she was 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 was actively involved with the cause of gender justice and other social issues. She had begun breast cancer treatment in 2005 and died on the 28th of May 2011.

Activism and literary themes

Sengupta was also active in a number of protest and gender activism groups. Her fiery, combative tone is noticeable 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 marginalised 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. : : – ''Juddha Sheshe Nari'' – from Mallika Sengupta, ''Kathamanabi'', Bhashanagar, kolkata, 2005, (tr. amitabha mukerjee) 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: : In Bengal in the Middle Ages : Lived a woman Khana, I sing her life : The first Bengali woman poet : Her tongue they severed with a knife : Her speechless voice, "Khanar Bachan" : Still resonates in the hills and skies : Only the poet by the name of Khana : Bleeding she dies. : : – ''Khana'', tr. amitabha mukerjee unsevered tongue
2005

Awards and honours

*Junior Fellowship for Literature from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India (1997–99) *Sukanto Puroskar from the Govt. of West Bengal (1998) *Bangla Academy award from the Govt. of West Bengal (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.

Works

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, * Meyeder Aa Aaa Ka Kha, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1998 * Kathamanabi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1999, * Deoyalir Rat, Patralekha, Kolkata, 2001 * Amra Lasya Amra Ladai, Sristi Prakashani, Kolkata, 200

(2 translations) * Purushke Lekha Chithi, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2003,

(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, * 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, * ''Sleelatahanir Pare'', Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1996, * ''Kabir Bouthan'', Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2011,

Books on sociology of gender

* Strilinga Nirmana, Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1994, * 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

Bengali poetry anthology

* Dui Banglar Meyeder Shreshtha kabita, Upasana, Kolkata, 2003

References

External links