Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay

Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay is a Bengali novelist and short story writer. He is also a poet, physician, playwriter. Mr. Balai Chand's pen name is Banaphul; it is a Bengali terminology which means wildflower. He also received the Padma Bhushan for his work, and he also received a degree of Doctor of Literature.

He was born in the year 19 July 1899 in Manihari and died on 9 February 1979 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) situated in India. Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay was born in Manihari village located in Purnia district (now called Katihar District), in Bihar, India on 19th July 1899. He is the son of Satyacharan Mukhopadhyay who is a doctor and Mrinalini Devi. The primary reason of Mr. Balai Chand to get his pen name as Banaphul (wildflower) is that Mr. Balai Chand has an intention to hide his literary activities and work on them efficiently without any hindrances from his disapproving teacher.

He did his graduation from Hazaribag College and afterward went to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to obtain his medical degree and later work there as a doctor. After getting his degree, he practiced in Azimgaunge Hospital and also a worked as a pathologist at a district called Bhagalpur. Then in the year 1968, he moved to Salt Lake located in Calcutta . He passed away there on the date 9th February 1979. To honor Mr. Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay, the Government of India on his 100th anniversary issued a postage stamp which has a picture of Mr. Balai on it.

If we talk about his writing, Mr. Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay will receive appreciation for his worthy contribution in the world of literature. He is known for his short vignettes which are usually half page long. He contributed his work for sixty-five years which included five dramas, sixty novels, 586 short stories, thousands of poem, an autobiography named Paschatpat, many essays, and some one-act plays. Some of his novels are Trinokhondo, Bhuban Som, Boitorini Tire, Se O Ami, Sat Samudra Tero Nadi, etc. His contribution to the short stories is Banaphooler Chhoto Galpa Samagra—1 & 2, Fuldanir Ekti Ful, Bonofuler Sreshto Golpo, Bonofuler Aro Golpo, Anugamini and much more. Some of his work also turned into movies, and these were Agnishwar, Bhuvan Shome, Ekti Raat, Alor Pipasa, Paka Dekha, Bhuvan Shome, Tilottama, Hatey Bazarey, and Arjun Pandit (for which he received the Award for the Best Story for this film).

He is a renowned and respectable man and his contribution to the world of literature are highly commendable.