Biography of Sukumar Ray: A Wonderful Journey into Literary Genius

Sukumar Ray biography

Sukumar Ray was a Bengali humorist, poet, playwright, and filmmaker. He was born in Calcutta in 1887 and was the son of the famous Bengali poet and playwright, Upendrakishore Ray. Ray was known for his humorous poems and plays, which were characterized by their wit, satire, and absurdist humor. He was a pioneer of nonsense literature in Bengali and his works continue to be widely read and enjoyed even today.

Ray’s most famous works include “Abol Tabol,” a collection of nonsensical poems, and “HaJaBaRaLa,” a play that features absurd characters and situations. He died at the young age of 32 in 1923, but his legacy continues to live on through his works.

Sukumar ray childhood and education:-

Sukumar Ray was born on 30 August 1887 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. He was the youngest son of the noted Bengali writer and philosopher, Upendrakishore Ray. Ray received his early education at St. Xavier’s School in Calcutta, where he showed a talent for poetry and humor.

In 1906, he enrolled at Presidency College in Calcutta to study physics and chemistry. However, he did not complete his degree as he was more interested in writing and the arts. During his college years, Ray became involved in the Bengal Renaissance and was influenced by the works of Rabindranath Tagore and other contemporary writers.

After leaving college, Ray worked as a teacher for a brief period before becoming a writer. He wrote poetry, plays, songs, and stories, many of which were published in magazines and journals. He is best known for his nonsense poetry and plays, which are considered classics of Bengali literature. His works have been translated into several languages, including English, and continue to be widely read and performed today.

Family Life Of Sukumar Ray:

According to the history of the Roy family, one of their ancestors, Ramsundar Deo (Deva), was a resident of Chakdah village in Nadia district of West Bengal, present day India. He moved to Sherpur in East Bengal in search of fortune. There he met Raja Gunichandra, the zamindar of Jashodal, at the zamindar’s house in Sherpur.

King Gunichandra was immediately impressed by Ramasunder’s good looks and sharp intellect and took him to his zamindari estate. He made Ramsundar his son-in-law and gave some property to Jasodal. Since then Ramsundar started living in Jashodal. His descendants migrated from there and settled in Masua village of Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj district

Sukumar’s father Upendrakishore Roy was a famous Bengali writer, painter, violinist and composer, technologist, amateur astronomer and entrepreneur. Sukumar’s mother Vidhumukhi Devi was the daughter of Dwarkanath Ganguly. Born in what can be called the peak of Bengal’s renaissance, he grew up in an environment that nurtured his literary talent. His father was a writer of stories and popular science; painters and illustrators; composers and lyricists; A technician and amateur astronomer.

Upendrakishore was also a close friend of Rabindranath Tagore, who directly influenced Sukumar. Other family friends included Jagdish Chandra Bose, Prafulla Chandra Roy, Atul Prasad Sen and others. Upendrakishore studied block making technology, experimented and developed a block making business. Firm M/s U. Ray & Sons, which involved Sukumar and his younger brother Subinay. His sister Shuklata Rao became a social activist and author of children’s books. Like his father, Satyajit was also closely acquainted with Rabindranath Tagore.

Career of sukumar ray:

Sukumar Ray was a versatile writer and artist who made significant contributions to Bengali literature and culture. He began his career as a teacher after completing his studies at Presidency College in Calcutta, but soon turned to writing as a full-time career.

Ray’s writings are characterized by their humor, wit, and satire, and he is best known for his nonsense poetry and plays. His works include collections of poems such as “Abol Tabol” and “Ha Ja Ba Ra La,” as well as the play “Phanibhushan Bholna.” These works are considered classic examples of Bengali nonsense literature and have been widely read and performed in India and abroad.

Ray was a pioneer of children’s literature in Bengal and his works continue to be popular among children and adults alike. He wrote stories and songs for children, including “Padmapada’s Party,” “The Great Elephant Race,” and “The Strange Chemical Experiment.”

In addition to his literary pursuits, Ray was also interested in science, photography, and music. He wrote articles on science and technology and was a keen photographer, capturing the life and times of Calcutta in the early 20th century.

works of sukumar ray

Sukumar Ray was a prolific writer who produced a wide range of works in Bengali literature, including poetry, plays, songs, and stories. Some of his most famous works are:

1. Abol Tabol: This is a collection of nonsense poems that is considered one of the finest examples of Bengali nonsense literature.
2. Ha Ja Ba Ra La: This is another collection of nonsense poems that continues the humor and wit of Abol Tabol.
3. Phanibhushan Bholna: This is a nonsense play that is considered one of Ray’s most important works.
4. Padmapada’s Party: This is a children’s story that is noted for its humor and satire.
5. The Great Elephant Race: This is another popular children’s story that has been widely read and performed.
6. The Strange Chemical Experiment: This is a children’s song that is known for its humor and creativity.
7. Science Articles: Ray wrote articles on science and technology, and his writings reveal a deep interest in these subjects.

These works, along with many others, have earned Sukumar Ray a place of distinction in Bengali literature and continue to be widely read and appreciated today.

Death of sukumar ray:

Sukumar Ray died on 10 September 1923 at his Garpa residence in Calcutta  A severe infectious fever, leishmaniasis, for which there was no cure at the time. He is survived by his widow and their only child, Satyajit, who was only two years old at the time. Satyajit Ray would later shoot a documentary on Sukumar Ray in 1987, 5 years before his own death.