Wordsmiths @ Katha

They are the masters of the written word. Every emotion in the spectrum of the human heart; every bhaasha and dialect in the country; every experience strong, light, subtle, sublime - they capture it intact, perfection limning every stroke, and deliver it to you. They come from every region of India - from the unexplored Northeast to the fiery deserts of the West. From snowy Northern peaks, to the rolling plains of the Deccan, the tapering lands of the South. They are the wordsmiths of Katha.

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Bimal Kar

Born in Taki, North 24-Parganas, on 19 September 1921, Bimal Kar spent his early youth in Asansol and parts of Bihar. He was involved in myriad professions that later helped him write on varied subjects. His writings reflect a modern mind and have inspired many young writers whom he also supported at the start of their literary careers.

For children, Kar created the retired magician Kinkar Kishore Ray, alias Kikira who solved mysteries with his two assistants. Kar also has to his credit several novels that were successfully adapted for the screen. These include the classic comedy, Basanta-Bilap, the evergreen Balika Bodhu, Jadubangsha and Chhuti (based on his novel, Khar-Kuto). From 1954 to 1982, he was associated with Desh where his novel Grahan was published in 1964. Asamay, also published in Desh, won him the Sahitya Akademi award in 1975. Kar won the Ananda Puraskar in 1967 and the Saratchandra Award from Calcutta University in 1981, among other honours.

Bimal Kar's latest work with Katha "Satyadas" has been illustrated by Neeti Gangopadhya.

Labels: Bengali Fiction, Bimal Kar, Neeti Gangopadhya