Mitra, Harish Chandra

Mitra, Harish Chandra (1837-1872) playwright, poet, essayist, journalist. Born in Dhaka in a lower middle-class family. Harish Chandra Mitra';s father Abhay Charan Mitra was an inhabitant of Hawra, West Bengal. Harish Chandra Mitra was brought up in poverty. While a teenager he worked as a compositor at a press. His first poem was published in 1858 in the Sangb'a'd Prabh'a'kar. In his youth he was a teacher at a junior school in Dhaka.

In 1860, Harish Chandra published a monthly- Kavit'a' Kushum'a'bal'i, the first newspaper from Dhaka. In 1862, he edited another monthly Abakashranjika. In 1863, he published weekly Dhaka Durpu'n, the first weekly published from Dhaka. Among other newspapers he edited were K'a'bya Prok'a'sh (1864), Hindu Hitoish'i (1865), and Hindu Ra'v'jik'a (1868).

Harish Chandra Mitra published and edited monthly Mitra Prok'a'sh (1870), which is thought to be one of the best periodicals published from Dhaka in the 19th century.

Mitra';s first book was a play Shuvashya Sh'i'grang. Among his other plays are My'a'o Dharbe Ke (1862), Ghar Th'a'kte B'a'bui Bheje (1863), J'a'naki N'a'tak (1863), Joydhuth Badh B'r'itt'a'nta (1864). His three plays Prahl'a'd N'a'tak, Onu'da' Jubat'i and Hatabh'a'gya Shiksak were published in 1872.

Mitra';s poetical works include H'a'shyarash Tara'b'gi'ni (1862), Bidhob'a' Ba'b'galalon'a (1863), Beer B'a'ky'a'bal'i (1864), K'i'chak Badh K'a'bya (1866), Ba'b'gab'a'l'a (1868), R'a'm'a'yana (1869), Kavi Rahashya (1870), Kavi Kautuk (1870), Nirb'a'shit'a' S'i't'a (1871), Durbh'a'gin'i' Shy'a'm'a (1872), Kavit'a'bal'i (1872), and Ch'a'ru Kavit'a (3 vol, 1872).

His verse plays include A'gamon'i (1870), Natoon J'a'm'a'i, Hath'a't B'a'bu and S'a'l N'a'i Kukurer B'a'gh'a' N'a'm etc. A conservative Hindu, Harish Chandra opposed Brahmoism and obscenity in literature.

Among his works of essays are Kautuk Shatak (1863), K'i'rtib'a'sher Parichay (1870), and Kavikal'a'p (1866). Kavikalap is a collection of short life-sketches of ancient poets.

Besides, he wrote a number of school-text books including Saralp'a'th (1863), Kavita Kaumood'i (3 vol), Chh'a'tra Sakh'a, Kushumlat'a, and Chasit'a'bal'i'r Artha. [Syed Abul Maksud] [Maksud, Syed Abul Writer, researcher and journalist]