Article by: ATM Tahsin – Astute Horse
Jibanananda Das is one of the most popular poets in Bengali Literature. Jibanananda Das was born on February 17, 1899 in Barishal and spent most of his life as an English literature teacher in BM College.
He is popularly known as “Rupashi Banglar Kabi” or poet of beautiful Bengal. He was born to a Vaidya-Brahmo family who had ancestral roots in Bikrampur region of Dhaka district in Bangladesh. Jibanananda Das studied literature at Presidency College, Calcutta in India and graduated in 1919. In 1921 he completed his MA degree in English from Calcutta University. After the partition of India he settled in Calcutta.
Some of Jibanananda Das’ most famous works include Ruposhi Bangla, Banalata Sen, Shreshtha Kavita, and Mahaprithibi. He also won many renowned awards like the Rabindra-Memorial Award in 1953 and the Sahitya Academy Award in 1955.
This poet of beautiful Bengal is engraved in the hearts and minds of all Bengali from across the globe. His verses are still roaming in the winds of today’s modern Barishal. Jibanananda Das in his young life was in love with Shovona, the daughter of his uncle Atulchandra Das. He could not marry her because marriage between cousins was not acceptable in society during that time. He later married Labanyaprabha Das.
Jibanananda Das was hit by a tram near Calcutta’s Deshapriya Park and died on 22nd October 1954 in Shambhunath Pundit Hospital in the West Bengal state of India.
Jibanananda Das is considered as one of the greatest poet of modern Bengali Literature. To commemorate this great poet and in tribute to his contribution to Bengali literature Hotel Grand Park, Barishal has his poems on its doors. The hotel also has named its lounge in honour of the poet. If you come to Barishal, you should definitely stay in Hotel Grand Park, Barishal – a modern luxury hotel. We can arrange for you to visit the birth place of Jibanananda Das and his house which is very close to the hotel itself.
For more details contact the hotel at +880 177 773 5176
