Sarath Chandra Chattopadhyay, or simply Sarat Chandra, was the most prominent and popular Bengali novelist of the twentieth century. He was born on September 15, 1876, in Devanandapur, a small village in Bengal and dedicated his life to writing living literary works. His novels and short stories will be of interest to all generations.
Early Life and Education
Sarat Chandra was born into a large Bengali family; his father, Motilal Chattopadhyay, was an indolent and dreamer. There were a lot of children in the family, so they could not be full. Financial problems constantly pursued his family, he lost his mother very early, and several years passed, his father remarried. The first wife’s husband left him enough supplies, not to worry about work, so he sat down in the same place and dreamed. His father’s indolence and inconsistency led Sratha Chandra to become a self-taught person.
Sarat Chandra’s formal education was limited to several schools, in which he also never stayed for a long time, loathing formal education and indifferent to everything that school gave. His father’s property was not large, so the young family lacked school materials. Although there was no money, there was always enough books. The family always loved literature. The writer lost his mother very early, so he had a troubled fate; he retold his books to his father, and his stepmother did not perceive what was happening. In the future, the writer’s progeny will show the complex relationship between a dying stepmother and three children from the first marriage.
Literary Career
Sarat Chandra’s literary life spanned more than three decades, during which he left behind a substantial legacy of work. His stories and novels mostly narrated the lives of common people, especially women, focusing on concepts such as love, poverty, social justice, the destiny of mankind, and the human struggle.
His writing style was straightforward yet sensitive to human feelings . His famous works were Devdas, Parineeta, Charitraheen, Pather Dabi, Srikanta, and Shesh Prashna . Many of his novels were subsequently made into movies, plays, and web series, and he became a prominent part of the Indian film and stage industry.
Social and Political Views
Sarat Chandra was a student of not only literature and culture but also society and politics. He was heavily influenced by the social and political movements of the era, such as India’s freedom struggle and the country’s reform movements. His works were a picture of the lives of oppressed and downtrodden folks, especially women, farmers, and the lower castes. While he was never a blatant agitator or dissident, his literature made him a significant target for attacks. However, the writer believed in the power of literature to trigger change and awaken a suppressed society. His novels remain a statement of the social and political conditions of his age.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s life was a mix of distress and difficulties. He was struck by personal tragedies and misfortunes throughout his life, had to deal with the passing away of numerous close relatives, and suffered serious financial difficulties . These episodes prepared him to write about people’s lives, and his writing displays the same passion as the sea.
Throughout his life, despite being a popular and successful writer, Sarat Chandra was a modest man and continued to lead a simple existence. He always resisted the enticement of material pleasures and lived until the end justified by his ideas and beliefs.
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay passed away on January 16, 1938, at the age of sixty-one, but he left a considerable number of works, and for readers, his books are still as relevant and exciting as they were in the early twentieth century.
Today, Sarat Chandra still enjoys unmatched popularity and respect as one of the country’s most important writers. His work continues to influence and inspire not only Indian authors but many people worldwide.
