Mukhopadhyay, Thakurdas

Mukhopadhyay, Thakurdas (1851-1903) editor and litterateur, was born in 1851 at Sarsa village lying on the bank of Kapotaksa river in Satkhira subdivision of Khulna district. His father's name was Nabakumar Mukhopadhyay.

Thakurdas started his formal education at a mature age of almost fourteen years. He studied at the Gobradanga English medium school of 24-Pargana district. He enjoyed good reputation as an outstanding student. But when his father died during his Entrance Examination, he could not finish the examination and his institutional education thus came to an end. But his craving for knowledge remained alive throughout his life. In his own 'while I am indebted to Mukundaram, Michael, Hemchandra, Deenbandhu, Keshab, Bankim, Kaliprasanna and Aksheychandra from among the locals'.

His career as a teacher started in 1873, probably as the headmaster of a minor school of his own village. He was employed under the court of ward of the Maharaja of Dwarbhanga from 1876 to 1891. Later, he served with distinction as the assistant editor of Babgabashi. He worked for some time at the estate of dwarakanath thakur on the premises of Jorasanko Thakurbari during 1898. Besides, he also worked as the editor of weekly Banganibasi for a short period. His last job was as manager of the dwelling-home owned by Ghosh Babu at Chaugachha of Jessore.

It can be said about his literary talent that on the one hand he was a critic and essayist, and on the other, he was an expert in writing humorous pieces, satires and in the language of belles-lettres. His language style was very original; like 'Alali' and 'Sagara' languages, his language was called 'Thakurdasi'. He was adept in scholarly satires and humour-mongering. Over seventy of his literary pieces were published in periodicals like Prachar, Nabajiban, Probaha, Paksik Sumalochak, Malavcha, Nabya-Bharat, Sahitya, Janmabhumi, Anusandhan, Bharati, Pradip, etc. Besides, he published two periodicals titled Paksik Sumalochak and Malancha. His notable literary publications were: Durgotsab (1883), Sahitya-Mabgal (1888), Satnari (1888), Sahar-Chitra (1901), Sohag-Chitra (1901). He died in Kolkata on 28 October 1903. [Shamima Akhter]