Mallika Sengupta (Bengali: মল্লিকা সেনগুপ্ত; 1960–2011) was a Bengali poet, feminist, and reader of Sociology from Kolkata, known for her "unapologetically political poetry".[2]
Mallika Sengupta was the head of the Department of Sociology in Maharani Kasiswari College, an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of Calcutta in Kolkata.[3] She was much better known for her literary activity. The author of more than 20 books including 14 volumes of poetry and two novels, she was widely translated and was a frequent invitee at international literary festivals.
For twelve years in the 90s she was the poetry editor of Sananda, the largest circulated Bengali fortnightly (edited by Aparna Sen). Along with her husband, the noted poet Subodh Sarkar, she was the founder-editor of Bhashanagar, a culture magazine in Bengali.
English translations of her work have appeared in various Indian and American anthologies. In addition to teaching, editing and writing, she was actively involved with the cause of gender justice and other social issues.
A victim of breast cancer, she was under treatment since October 2005 and died on 28 May 2011.
Activism and literary themes
Sengupta was also active in a number of protest and gender activism groups. Her fiery, combative tone is noticeable in many poems, e.g. "While teaching my son history":
Man alone was both God and Goddess
Man was both father and mother
Both tune and flute
Both penis and vagina
As we have learnt from history.
– from Mallika Sengupta, Kathamanabi, Bhashanagar, kolkata, 2005, (tr. poet)
often dealing with women's marginalised role in history:
Particularly evocative is her feminist rendition of the legend of Khana, a medieval female poet whose tongue was allegedly cut off by her jealous husband:
Junior Fellowship for Literature from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India (1997–99)
Sukanto Puroskar from the Govt. of West Bengal (1998)
Bangla Academy award from the Govt. of West Bengal (2004)
Has been invited to poetry readings, conferences and seminars in Sweden (1987), Australia (1994), USA (2002 & 2006), Czech Republic (2009) and Bangladesh (1998 & 2002) as part of Indian writer's delegation.
Works
Poetry
Challish Chander Ayu, Virus publication, 1983
Ami Sindhur Meye, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1988
Haghare O Debdasi, Prativas publication, Kolkata, 1991
The unsevered tongue: modern poetry by Bengali women, tr. amitabha mukerjee. Nandimukh samsad, kolkata, 2005. (4 poems with translations, excerpts)
January 12, 2023
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A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view Please discuss further on the talk page May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mallika Sengupta Bengali মল ল ক স নগ প ত 1960 2011 was a Bengali poet feminist and reader of Sociology from Kolkata known for her unapologetically political poetry 2 Mallika SenguptaBorn 1960 03 27 27 March 1960Krishnanagar Nadia IndiaDied28 May 2011 2011 05 28 aged 51 1 Kolkata IndiaNationalityIndianKnown forPoetSpouseSubodh Sarkar Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Activism and literary themes 2 Awards and honours 3 Works 3 1 Poetry 3 2 Poetry in English translation 3 3 Novels 3 4 Books on sociology of gender 3 5 Translation 3 6 Bengali poetry anthology 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditMallika Sengupta was the head of the Department of Sociology in Maharani Kasiswari College an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of Calcutta in Kolkata 3 She was much better known for her literary activity The author of more than 20 books including 14 volumes of poetry and two novels she was widely translated and was a frequent invitee at international literary festivals For twelve years in the 90s she was the poetry editor of Sananda the largest circulated Bengali fortnightly edited by Aparna Sen Along with her husband the noted poet Subodh Sarkar she was the founder editor of Bhashanagar a culture magazine in Bengali English translations of her work have appeared in various Indian and American anthologies In addition to teaching editing and writing she was actively involved with the cause of gender justice and other social issues A victim of breast cancer she was under treatment since October 2005 and died on 28 May 2011 Activism and literary themes Edit Sengupta was also active in a number of protest and gender activism groups Her fiery combative tone is noticeable in many poems e g While teaching my son history Man alone was both God and Goddess Man was both father and mother Both tune and flute Both penis and vagina As we have learnt from history from Mallika Sengupta Kathamanabi Bhashanagar kolkata 2005 tr poet often dealing with women s marginalised role in history after the battle said chenghis khan the greatest pleasure of life is in front of the vanquished enemy to sleep with his favourite wife Juddha Sheshe Nari from Mallika Sengupta Kathamanabi Bhashanagar kolkata 2005 tr amitabha mukerjee 4 Particularly evocative is her feminist rendition of the legend of Khana a medieval female poet whose tongue was allegedly cut off by her jealous husband In Bengal in the Middle Ages Lived a woman Khana I sing her life The first Bengali woman poet Her tongue they severed with a knife Her speechless voice Khanar Bachan Still resonates in the hills and skies Only the poet by the name of Khana Bleeding she dies Khana tr amitabha mukerjee 5 Awards and honours EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Junior Fellowship for Literature from the Dept of Culture Govt of India 1997 99 Sukanto Puroskar from the Govt of West Bengal 1998 Bangla Academy award from the Govt of West Bengal 2004 Has been invited to poetry readings conferences and seminars in Sweden 1987 Australia 1994 USA 2002 amp 2006 Czech Republic 2009 and Bangladesh 1998 amp 2002 as part of Indian writer s delegation Works EditPoetry Edit Challish Chander Ayu Virus publication 1983 Ami Sindhur Meye Prativas publication Kolkata 1988 Haghare O Debdasi Prativas publication Kolkata 1991 Ardhek Prithivi Ananda Publishers Kolkata 1993 ISBN 81 7215 247 7 Meyeder Aa Aaa Ka Kha Prativas publication Kolkata 1998 Kathamanabi Ananda Publishers Kolkata 1999 ISBN 81 7215 915 3 Deoyalir Rat Patralekha Kolkata 2001 Amra Lasya Amra Ladai Sristi Prakashani Kolkata 2001 Book Excerptise 2 translations Purushke Lekha Chithi Ananda Publishers Kolkata 2003 ISBN 81 7756 286 X Book Excerptise 1 poem online Chheleke History Parate Giye Ananda Publishers Kolkata 2005 Shrestha Kabita Kolkata Dey s Publication 2005 Aamake Sariye Dao Valobasa Ananda Publishers Kolkata 2006 ISBN 81 7756 573 7 Purusher Janyo Eksho Kabita Deep Prakashan Kolkata 2007 O Janemon Jibananada Banolata Sen Likhchhi Kolkata Ananda Pub 2008 Brishtimichhil Barudmichhil Kolkata Ananda Pub 2010Poetry in English translation Edit Carriers of Fire Bhashanagar Kolkata 2002 Kathamanabi her voice and Other Poems Bhashanagar kolkata 2005Novels Edit Seetayan Ananda Publishers Kolkata 1995 ISBN 81 7215 618 9 Sleelatahanir Pare Ananda Publishers Kolkata 1996 ISBN 81 7215 713 4 Kabir Bouthan Ananda Publishers Kolkata 2011 ISBN 978 81 7756 977 3Books on sociology of gender Edit Strilinga Nirmana Ananda Publishers Kolkata 1994 ISBN 81 7215 368 6 Purush Noi Purushtantra Vikash Grantha Bhavan Kolkata 2002 Bibahabichchhinnar Akhyan Banglar Samaj O Sahitye Kolkata Papyrus 2007Translation Edit Akaler Madhye Saras translation from Kedarnath Singh s Hindi poems Sahitya Akademi Kolkata 1998Bengali poetry anthology Edit Dui Banglar Meyeder Shreshtha kabita Upasana Kolkata 2003References Edit Noted Bengali poet Mallika Sengupta dead thehindu com 28 May 2011 Retrieved 23 March 2017 Archived copy Archived from the original on 21 March 2018 Retrieved 27 June 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link 1 dead link Chheleke history paRAte giye 5 translations unsevered tongue 2005External links EditMallika Sengupta and the Poetry of Feminist Conviction 4 bilingual poems The unsevered tongue modern poetry by Bengali women tr amitabha mukerjee Nandimukh samsad kolkata 2005 4 poems with translations excerpts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mallika Sengupta amp oldid 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