Biography
A BIOGRAPHY OF BIHARILAL CHAKRABORTY
Summary
‘The Morning Bird’ of Bengali literature Biharilal Chakrabarty was born at Jorashako, Kolkata on 21st May, 1835. He had profound knowledge of Bengali, English and Sanskrit language. He was the first person who introduced lyrical poetry to Bengali literature. Deenath Chakrabarty was his father and his mother when he was only a kid. Farashdanga was his ancestral house. His wife passed away a few days after they were married. He did not receive a formal education. But later he studied ‘Mugdhobodh’ from Sanskrit College. He started composing poetry from a very young age. He became acquainted with the English poetry of Shelly and Keats with help of one his friends. He was called Guru of Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath was influenced by Biharilal;s work from a very young age. Biharilal arranged marriage of his eldest son, Sharatchandra Chakeabarty with the eldest daughter of Rabindranath’s daughter Madhurilata. Kadambari Devi and Dwijendranath were fans of Biharilals writing. No one in Bengali literature composed Bengali poetry as beautifully as Biharilal. For 35 years he was committed to composing poetry. He was influenced by both Eastern and Western style. His first published lyrical poetry was “Bangasundari”. In the later days of his life he wrote two books, Sardamangal and Sadhar Asan. Two other works include Bandhu-Biyog and Prem-Prabahini. he wrote Swapnadarshan, Bangasundari, and Sangeet-Shatak. Sangeet-Shatak is a collection of 101 songs, while Swapnadarshan is structured in 18 verses. In Bangasundari, he talked about eight Bengali women who could take shapes and forms of ‘Kantamurti’ and ‘Jananimurti’. The poem also describes ten heavens, the first one’s called ‘Upahar’ (Gift), symbolizing the unfulfilled longing of a true poet’s heart—a concept similar to the ‘Romantic Agony’ described by French philosopher Kant. His deep affection for nature is evident in works like Samudra-Darshan, Navamandal, and Jhotika Sambhoge. Other notable writings – Mayadevi, Dhumketu, Debarani, and Baul Bingshati. He also worked as an editor for Purnima, Sahitya-Sanskriti, and Abodhabandhu magazines, where many of his works were published. His poems also found a place in publications like Bharati, Janmabhumi, Malanch, Bandhab, Samprakash, and Kalpana. Two of his personal letters were published in the second volume of Sahitya Sadhak Charitamala. Biharilal Chakraborty passed away on May 24, 1894, at the age of 60.
Introduction
Biharilal Chakraborty, a poet, music composer, one of the pioneers of Bengali lyrical poetry, was born on 21st May, 1895 at Jorabagan of Calcutta of British India. He had deep knowledge of Bengali, English and Sanskrit language. Rabindranath Tagore called him “Morning Bird”.
Life of "Biharilal Chakraborty" at a Glance
Personal Details
➢ Full Name: Biharilal Chakraborty (original surname: Chattopadhyay)
➢ Date of Birth: 21 May 1835
➢ Birth Place: Jorabagan, Calcutta, British India
➢ Died: 24 May 1894 (Aged 60)
➢ Religion: Hinduism
➢ Nationality: British Indian
➢ Family: Son of Deenath Chakraborty. Married Abhaya Devi (1854), who passed away shortly after. His son, Sharatchandra Chakraborty, married Madhurilata, the eldest daughter of Rabindranath Tagore.
Education
➢ Formal Education: Largely self-taught; did not receive a formal institutional education.
➢ Sanskrit Studies: Studied Mugdhabodh at Sanskrit College, Kolkata, for three years.
➢ Self-Study: Practiced and mastered Bengali, English, and Sanskrit literature through independent study at home.
Literary Career & Style
➢ Pioneering Role: Widely recognized as the first poet to introduce and perfect lyrical poetry in Bengali literature.
➢ Writing Style: His work is characterized by a sweet, melancholic, and deeply personal musicality. He focused on subjective emotion and romanticism, moving away from objective narrative.
➢ Influences: Deeply influenced by both Eastern (Sanskrit) and Western (English Romantic poets like Shelley and Keats) literary traditions.
➢ Career Span: Actively composed poetry for approximately 35 years.
Major Works & Publications
➢ First Major Success: Bangasundari (1870), his first successful lyrical poem.
➢ Notable Poetry Collections: Bandhu Biyog (1870), Prem-Prabahini (1870), Sangeet-Shatak (1862—a collection of 101 songs).
➢ Later Masterpieces: Sardamangal (1879) and Sadher Asan (1888-89), written towards the end of his life.
➢ Other Significant Works: Swapnadarshan (1858), Nisarga Sangeet (1881), Banga Darshan, Mayadevi.
Professional Roles
➢ Editor: Served as an editor for literary magazines like Purnima, Sahitya-Sanskriti, and Abodhabandhu.
➢ Publications: His poems were regularly published in leading periodicals of the time, including Bharati, Janmabhumi, and Somprakash.
Legacy & Recognition
➢ Influence on Tagore: Had a profound influence on a young Rabindranath Tagore, who revered him and called him the “Morning Bird” of Bengali poetry.
➢ Connection to Tagore Family: Shared a close, familial bond with the Tagore family of Jorasanko. His work was admired by Dwijendranath, Jyotirindranath, and Kadambari Devi.
➢ Literary Legacy: Celebrated as a foundational figure who transformed Bengali poetry by infusing it with personal emotion, lyrical beauty, and musicality.
Death
➢ Passed away on 24 May 1894 in Calcutta.
Early Life
His father was Deenath Chakrobarty. Mother died when he was only four years old. His father and grandfather’s home was in Farasdanga. His family’s original surname was Chattopadhyay. He got married when he was only 19. His wife, Abhaya Devi died after a few days they married.
Biharilal did not have a formal education. He learned literature on his own. He began writing poems using Sanskrit language at a young age. Later he studied ‘Mugdhabodh’ at Sanskrit College. For three years he studied there. He practiced English and Bengali literature at home.
Beginning of his Writing Journey
Krishna Kamal Bhattacharya, one of his close friends, introduced poetry of Shelly and Keats to him. With the acquaintance of his friend, he got the essence and inner meaning of English literature.
Relationship with the Tagore Family
Biharilal Chakrobarty had a close relation with the Jorashako Tagore family. Later both of the family turned their bond into kinship. Dwijendranath Tagore was a fan of reading Biharilal’s poetry. Even Jyotindranath Tagore had a close friendship with Biharilal. Kadambari Devi admired Biharilal’s poetry. Teenager Rabindranath Tagore was influenced by Biharilal Chakrabarti. Rabindranath grew up hearing praises about Biharilal.
Biharilal was called ‘Guru’ of Rabindranath Tagore. Madhurilta, eldest daughter of Rabindranath Tagore was married to Saratchandra Chakrabarty, the eldest son of Biharilal Chakrabarty.
Writing Style
He was the first person who invented lyrical poetry in Bengali literature. He developed this genre in a very beautiful way. Conventional way of poetry could not represent the deepest feelings before. He transformed the common style into more emotional style. His works are influenced by both eastern and western styles. Biharilal Chakraborty had a career of 35 years. He composed many lyrical and allegorical poems in his career. He was the first person who was able to build the sweet and melancholic melody of a poet’s heart. In his writing he focused mostly on self development instead of objectivity. His first successful lyrical poem was ‘’Banga Sundari”. His poems are a reflection on natural beauty and romanticism. Presence of music is noticeable in his work in a simple language. He used TSAMA and TADBHAV in his writing. His poetry style is very different from others. Even the theme of his writing and the way of his poetic expression is very different from each work. In his poems, he expressed beauty in a delightful way.
Biharilal Chakraborty's Works
At the ending time of his life he wrote his main two writings. They are “Sardamangal” and “Sadher Asana”. His two poetry books are “Bandhu Biyog” and Prem-Pravahini. He wrote these books when he was very young. Before he wrote these two books he wrote, Swapnadarshan(1858), Sangeet Shatak(1862), Bangasundari(1870). He composed a prose Swapnadarshan which is divided into 18 verses. In the Banganari poem, he described eight Bengali women, who could take form of Kantamurti and Jananimurti. There is a mention of ten Sargas(heaven) in this poem. First Sarga “Upahar” is a true romantic poet’s unsatisfied feelings, which in English is called ‘Romantic Agony’. French philosopher Kant’s influence was found in this poem.
“Nisharga Sandarshan” resembles the fascination he has for nature. He has tremendous love for natural beauty which reflects on his other poems called ‘’Sea View”, “Navo mandal”, and “Jhatika Sambhog”. Description of a wonderful storm is seen on his poem ‘’Jhatika Sambhog”. On 1274, during Kartika month severe cyclones swept through the land of Bengal. Poetic description of this incident has been found on the last three verses of ‘’Jhatika Sambhog”.
Presence of musicality is very noticeable in his poetry. Biharilal Chakrabarty revealed his natural consciousness in the poem called “Sangeet Shatak”. This is a collection of 101 long songs.
Biharilal Chakrabarty’s three close friends Purnachandra, Kalias and Vijay and Marmasahachari’s name was described in the Poem “Bandhu Biyog” in 4 heavens. The death of his wife was also described in this poem. Depression, sadness and story of heartbreakings were described in “Prem Pravahini”. This poem was an adaptation of the poem “Frailty, thy name is woman” by Shakespeare.
The poem that made him famous was “Sardamangal”. He wrote this poem in the state of Trividha Birhe Umattavat. Trivida is the reflection of Goddess Sharada, Biharilal described Goddess Sharada as the source of all beauty. Sometimes he described Sharada as his lover, sometimes his mother or his daughter. The Sharada goddess is the root of all creation and destruction. In that poem he described his realization on the understanding of the triple image, on the night of Shukla Panchami in the month of Megha. He realized it while singing raga Bageshree. Because of Sharada, he is sad, even confused sometimes. Jyotindranath’s wife Kadambhari Devi was so impressed by hearing the recitation of this poem by Biharilal Chakrabarty himself that she gifted him a woven seat that had Saradamangal curved. Biharilal composed “Sadher Asan” after Kadambhari Devi died.
Professional Career
He worked as an editor in Purnima, Sahitya Shankranti, and Obodhbondhu literary magazines. His writings were published in these periodicals. His works have been published in magazines like Bharati, Janmobhoomi, Malanch, Bandhav, Somprakash, Kalpana etc. Two of his personal letters were published in the second Volume of “Sahitya Sadhak Charitmala”.
Death
He died at the age of 60 in 1894 on 24th May.
Publication
➢ Swapnadarshan (1858)
➢ Sharatkal (1892)
➢ Sardamangal (1879)
➢ Nisarga Sangeet (1881)
➢ Mayadevi (1882)
➢ Dhumketu (1899)
➢ Devarani (1882)
➢ Banga Sundari (1870)
➢ Baul Binshati (1887)
➢ Bandhu Biyog (1870)
➢ Sadher’s Seat (1888-89)
➢ Premabahini (1870)
➢ Sangeet Shatak (1862)
➢ Banga Darshan
➢ Nishargasandarshan
➢ Shadher Ahsan
➢ Sharadamangal Kabya
Reference
https://sobbanglay.com/literature/biharilal-chakraborty/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biharilal_Chakraborty
https://sobbanglay.com/literature/biharilal-chakraborty/
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