Mukhopadhyay, Probhat Kumar

Mukhopadhyay, Probhat Kumar (1873-1932) fiction writer, was born on 3 February 1873 at Dhatri Gram in Burdwan district at his maternal uncle's residence. Probhat Kumar passed the Entrance from Jamalpur High School in 1888, FA from Patna College in 1891 and BA in 1895. In 1901 he went to London to study law. He returned home as a barrister in 1903. From 1903 to 1916 he practised law in Darjeeling, Rangpur and Gaya. He then joined the Law College under the university of calcutta as a professor and continued to work there till his death.

Probhat Kumar's poems were published in the bharati while he was still a student. Subsequently, he began to write prose. He used to write under the pseudonyms 'Sri Janoarchandra Sharma' and 'Srimati Radhamoni'. He co-edited Manasi and Marmvani with Jagadindra Nath Roy. Probhat Kumar earned considerable fame as a short story writer. His stories analyse life in a simple and light manner. He wrote more than one hundred stories. Among his principal collections are Nabakatha (1899), Sodashi (1906), Galpavjali (1913), Galpabithi (1916), Patrapuspa (1917), and Nutan Bau (1929).

He wrote fourteen novels, of which Ratnadip (1915) is considered to be his masterpiece. This novel was dramatised as well as made into a film. His other novels are Ramasundari (1908), Nabin Sannyasi (1912), Jibaner Mulya (1917), Sindur Kauta (1919), Maner Manus (1922), Arati (1927), Pratima (1928) and Garib Svami (1930). He wrote a satire titled Abhishap (1900). The play, Suksmalom Parinay, was published in Marmavani under the pseudonym of Sri Janoyarchandra Sharma. In recognition of his literary contributions, he was awarded the Kuntalin Prize. He died on 5 April 1932 in Kolkata. [Sushanta Sarker]