Telling stories while bedtime is the most precious moment for a child. Some favorite stories like tunatuni, panta buri, or kujo buri are the ones that are a must for every kid’s dreamy night. No matter how repeated the stories are. They feel as new as they have heard. But have you ever wondered who is the genius behind all these evergreen dream stories? He is none other than the hero of the kids Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury.
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury is widely known as Upendrakishore Ray. He has earned immense fame through several of his unforgettable storybooks ever written in Bengal. Even after 150 years, his indelible creations placed a solid foundation over children’s literature in Bangla. Besides, he also played a crucial role as a painter, technologist, violin player, and entrepreneur. Even after decades, his rule over every child’s heart is beyond imagination. So, without any delay, let’s learn the real story of the hero of every child.
Early Life & Background
Upendrakhishore Ray Chowdhury was born on 12 May 1863. His birthplace was in Moushua, Mymensingh district of Bengal (now Kishoreganj District in Bangladesh). He was born to Kalinath Ray, a well-known scholar in Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit language. Because of his avid knowledge of multi-language and Anglo-Indian legal systems, he was considered a tremendous expert in interpreting old land deeds written in the Persian language. He used to help the landowners get the best deal for introducing the new British legal system in India. Soon, Kalinath became so affluent that he even was able to afford two elephants. Ray’s brother Saradaranjan Ray was known as one of the pioneers of Indian Cricket. For his contribution to Indian Cricket, he was titled the W.G. Grace of India.
Even though Ray’s family was settled in Kishoreganj. But actually, they migrated. On the authority of the history of the Ray family, Shri Ramsundar Deo, one of their ancestors, was a native of Chakdah village in Nadia district (now West Bengal, India). In search of a better living, he migrated to Sherpur in East Bengal. By luck, he got the opportunity to enter the Zamindar house of Sherpur and met Raja Gunichandra, the Zamindar of Jashodal. Opportunely, the king was greatly impressed by Ramsunder’s good-looking appearance and sharp intellect. He decided to take Ramsunder with him to his estate. After some days, the king made him his son-in-law and gifted him a few of his properties in Jashodal, Kishoreganj. Since then, Ramsunder settled in Kishoreganj, and soon all of his descendants migrated to Masua in the Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj for a decent living.
At the age of five, Ray was adopted by the head of a reputed Zamindar family, Harikishore in Mymensingh. During his birth, Ray was born as Kamadaneanjan to his real father Kalinath Ray. After his adoption, Ray’s foster father, Harikishore renamed his son Upendrakishore. Later he gave him the honorable title Ray Chowdhury as his surname.
In 1880, Ray finished his Entrance examination from Mymensingh Zilla School. Later he studied at Presidency College and then took admission to the University of Calcutta. In 1884, he finished his graduation from the Calcutta Metropolitan Institution (now known as Vidyasagar College). From a very early age, Upendra was keenly devoted to painting. He even took to drawing during school. In 1883, he came into the limelight for his beautiful literary work published in a magazine named “Sakha”.
Contributions
Author
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was widely known for his outstanding contribution to fancy stories. Kujo Burir Golpo, Norohori Dash, Tuntuni r Rajar Kotha, Tuntuni O Biraler Kotha, Bagh Mama r Shiyal Vagne, Gupi Gyne Bagha Byne, Tuntuni r Napiter Kotha and the list goes on. The stories impacted the children’s hearts so hard that even after decades, kids are crazy to listen again and again. In 1920, one of his books “Tuntunir Boi” was insanely famous among kids during his time.
Even after having such fame, Upendra didn’t just hold himself to fancy stories. He even wrote religious books as well. After the death of his foster father, he became deeply devoted to religion. In 1883, he embraced the liberal religious movement of Brahmo Samaj. To attach his generation spiritually to religion, he wrote his first-ever book “Cheleder Ramayana”. After receiving much acceptance, he continued his writing with “Mahabharata For Young Readers”.
Besides being such a spiritual personality, Ray was also quite eager in science. He was closely connected to his two closest friends Acharya Orafulla Chandra Ray and Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose. Both of them were notable scientists of the then period. From them, Ray inhaled all his required scientific knowledge. Soon, he decided to describe all the great mysteries of the world to his little fans. As a consequence, he wrote a lot of scientific articles for children in his lifetime. Two of his popular science books were considered classics in the Bengali language. To introduce the geological mystery of Earth and the ancient giant animals like the dinosaur, he wrote “Sekaler Katha”. “Akasher Katha” was another of his magnificent creations based on astronomy. He also penned the whole collection of the book “Chotoder Shera Biggan Rochona ”.
Upendrakishore is also the owner of some notable essays like Daasotto Pratha and Sandow. Both of these were based on some crucial aspects of the then society. For example, the base concept of Daasotto Pratha was slavery in the United States. His writing Sandow was based on Eugen Sandow, a famous German bodybuilder and showman from Prussia. He also penned some popular travelogs such as Megher Muluk, Darjeeling Bhraman, and Puri Abar Purite (based on Puri Odisha). Ray was also a man of great music lover. He wrote two books about music titled “Sohaj Behala Shikkha” and “Shikkha Batorike Harmonium”. Sohaj Behala Shikkha was all about how to learn to play violin and Sikhak Batorike Harmonium was based on the learning methods of playing harmonium. Both of these books were published by the famous music firm ‘Dwarkin & Son’. During that time ‘Dwarkin & Son’ was one of the most eminent music firms in India. In 1875, Dwarkanath Ghose established the foundation inventing the first-ever hand-harmonium and Ray coined the name of the firm.
Publisher, blockmaker, and printer
After writing the everlasting stories now is the time to publish. So, Upendrakishore illustrated his first book “Cheleder Ramayana” through conventional woodcut line blocks. But there he faced tremendous disappointment as the reproduction of it was very poor. Like other authors, he just didn’t just keep himself behind the old methods. Rather he thought something much further that was beyond anyone’s imagination.
Ray decided to import the chemicals, books, and other essential equipment from Britain. First, he devotedly learned all the methods of block-making technology. Soon, he mastered the tech and awestruck everyone by setting up his own business of making blocks named “U. Ray and Sons” in 1895. There, he also experimented with several processes of advanced block-making. Several technical articles based on his experiences were published in the Penrose Annual Volumes from Britain. Because of his everlasting impact on block-making tech, he gained immense appreciation throughout the world. A famous printing expert from abroad appreciated Upendrakishore’s contribution, which was far more original than his counterparts in America and Europe. He also noted, “which is all the more surprising when we consider how far he is from hub centers of process work”.
Even though Ray went on publishing books, yet in the early stage he had them printed in various printing presses. His actual residence and business were located at 22, Sukeas Street (presently the premises have been renamed 30B, Mahendra Srimay Street) from 1901 to 1914. In 1913 (Baishakh Bengali year 1320) his magazine titled “Sandesh” was first published there. In 1914, his printing press “U. Ray and Sons” was considered one of the finest printing presses in South Asia. He also designed the building plans located at 100 Garpar Road.
In such a short duration, Upendrakishore earned huge fame both inside and outside of India for revealing the new methods in the printing arena of white, black, and color photographs with great detailed accuracy. As Ray named his business “U. Ray and Sons”, it was with the intention that one of his sons Sukumar Ray eagerly learned the tech at the University of Manchester’s printing technology department.
Innovations in Technology
In his prominent lifetime, Upendrakishore invented several techniques through his experiments. Among them, the remarkable one was halftone block making. The tech had the ability to the screen-adjusting machine for the self-activating focussing process cameras. That was also widely assembled following his design in England. In fact, the British handbook of printing technology, the Penrose Annual Volume XI of 1905–06 published his papers about his newly invented technique of 60-degree screens in halftone block making. The institute also mentioned his notable inventions in an editorial. They noted that “Mr. Ray is evidently possessed of a mathematical quality of mind and he has reasoned out for himself the problem of half-tone work in a remarkably successful manner (His printing developments) enable the operator to do uniform work with the fullest graduation and detail in it and with the minimum amount of manipulative skill in the negative-making and etching”.
Stories/ Books
- Tuntunir Boi
- Buddhiman Chakor
- Narahari Dash
- Ukune Buri
- Panta Burir Kotha
- Dushtu Bagh
- Ramayana For Young Readers
- Mahabharata For Young Readers
- Essays on Half-Tone Photography
- White Mughals
- Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne
- Tales From Bengal
- Majantali & Co
- The Adventures of Goopy The Singer And Bagha The Drummer
- Darjeeling Bhraman
- Puraner Golpo
- Ramayan
- Chotoder Omnibas
- Tuntuni o Bagher Galpo
- Kujo Burir Galpo
- Tuntuni o Biraler Kotha
- Chorai ar Bagher Kotha
- Tuntuni ar Napiter Kotha
- Tuntuni ar Rajar Kotha
- Bagh Mama Siyal Bhagne
- Sekaler Katha
- Aakasher Katha
- Daasotto Pratha
- Sandow
- Puri Abar Purite
- Megher Muluk
- Chotoder Shera Biggan Rochona Shongkolon
- Shohaj Behala Shikkha
- Shikkha Batorike Harmonium
Stories and Poems Collections
- The Collected Stories of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
- A Collection of Twelve Short Stories by Upendrakishore Ray
- The Wonder Tales of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
- Abritir Shrasta Kabita Samagra
Magazine
Sandesh (1913)
Personal Life
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury tied the knot with a beautiful lady named Bidhumukhi Devi. She was the daughter of Dwarkanath Ganguly and stepdaughter of Kadambini Ganguly. In all his eminently successful career, his graceful wife played a crucial role. The couple were blessed with six talented children. They are Shukhalata Rao, Sukumar Ray, Punyalata Chakrabarty, Subinoy Ray, Shantilata Ray, and Subimol Ray. Among them, Ray’s eldest daughter Shukhalata Rao became a well-known social worker and children’s book author. She was also the editor of a newspaper titled “Alok”. Besides, she founded the Orissa Nari Seva Sangha and the Centre for the Welfare of Children and Mothers (Shishu-o-Matri Mangal Kendro). His eldest son “Sukumar Ray” also became one of the prominent Bengali writers and poets.
Unknown Facts
- Ray’s first literary work was published in 1883 in the magazine “Sakha”.
- His first book was “Cheleder Ramayana”.
- The popular film, “Gupi Gyne Bagha Byne” was adapted from Ray’s famous fantasy novel with the same title.
- Upendrakishore Ray coined the name of the popular music firm “Dwarkin & Son” in 1875.
- In April 1913, he published the first-ever children’s magazine titled “Sandesh”.
- He is the first one to introduce the half tone block-making idea in Bengal.
- Upendrakishore was the pioneer of the Bengali printing industry.
- He is the grandfather of the famous Indian director and filmmaker “Satyajit Ray”
Death
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury left the world on 20 December 1952 at the age of 52. He died in Calcutta, Bengal British India (presently West Bengal, India).
Conclusion
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, the hero of children, not just won the children’s hearts. Rather he won thousands of ones by being such a prominent author and tech innovator. He was the one who brought a remarkable change in the Bengali printing industry. Moreover, his incredible illustrating skills gave all his books living lives. He not only spread his fame limited to Bengal but also around the world. That’s the reason, no matter how developed the literary tech becomes, the country will always be indebted to this eminent persona.
Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upendrakishore_Ray_Chowdhuryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upendrakishore_Ray_Chowdhury
https://www.thedailystar.net/tags/upendrakishore-ray-chowdhury
https://eap.bl.uk/collection/EAP1104-7