Dinabandhu Mitra

Dinabandhu Mitra, also known as Denobhandhoo Mithra, (10 April 1829 – 1 November 1873) was a Bengali-language writer and dramatist. He is notable for his play Nil Darpan (1860).

Early life

Dinabandhu Mitra was born at Chowberia village in Gopalnagar P.S., North 24 Parganas and was the son of Kalachand Mitra. His given name was Gandharva Narayan, but he changed it to Dinabandhu Mitra. His education started at a village pathshala. His father arranged a job for him on a zamindar's estate in 1840. But the small boy fled to Kolkata, where he started working in the house of his uncle, Nilmani Mitra. Around 1846, he was admitted to the free school run by James Long. Dinabandhu was a bright student and won a number of scholarships. In 1850, he enrolled in Hindu College and was awarded scholarships for academic excellence. However, he did not appear in his last examination, and, instead, started working as a postmaster in Patna in 1855. He served in various posts in the Postal Department in Krishnanagar, Nadia, Dhaka and Orissa. In 1870, he was made supernumerary postmaster in Serampore. In 1872, he joined the Indian Railways as an inspector.

Literary career

Mitra started writing literary pieces while still at college. His poetic style was inspired by poet Ishwar Chandra Gupta. His poems were able to attract the attention of intellectuals at Kolkata, but his favourite genre was the drama. His work in the postal department had taken him to various parts of the country giving him opportunities to study human life closely and thereby adding to his ability to unfold the drama of life with a degree of realism unknown at that time. Among his books of poems are Suradhuni Kavya (first part appeared in 1871, second part appeared in 1876) and Dvadash Kavita (1872). His plays include Nil Darpan (1860), Nabin Tapasvini (1863), Biye Pagla Budo (1866), Sadhabar Ekadashi (1866), Lilavati (1867), Jamai Barik (1873) and Kamale Kamini (1873). He also wrote a novel titled Poda Mahehshvar. Another one of his noted contributions was Jamalaye Jibanta Manush (An Alive Man in the Abode of Yama), the basic storyline will later be adopted into film in the same name starring Bhanu Bandopadhyay and Basabi Nandi.