Dilip Guha, Sasraya News ★ New Delhi : The 125th birth anniversary of eminent litterateur Shri Pramatha Nath Bishi was celebrated on Sunday, 13 September 2026, at the capital’s Muktdhara Auditorium, Bengal Cultural Centre, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, New Delhi. Shri Pramatha Nath Bishi (11 June 1901 – 10 May 1985) was an eminent Indian author, educationist, and parliamentarian from West Bengal. Known as a prolific master of Bengali literature, his extensive contributions spanned diverse genres, including poetry, novels, short stories, plays, essays, and satire.
Pramatha Nath Bishi was not merely a professor or a literary figure; he was also a distinguished political personality and a profound thinker; hence, the primary objective of the Research Centre is to disseminate his ideas and intellectual legacy, collect information and materials related to Professor Bishi, and facilitate research into his life and literary works. At the same time, the Centre itself is undertaking research in this field and has initiated a new line of inquiry into Bishi’s life and literature from contemporary perspectives.
The programme commenced with floral tributes offered by Bengal Association President Dr Sajal Mitra, Vice President Tapan Mukherjee, former Member of Parliament and essayist Debaprasad Roy, and Professor Sudhanshu Shekhar Chakraborty, distinguished engineer-industrialist, son-in-law of Pramatha Nath Bishi and President of the Pramatha Nath Bishi Memorial Trust.
On behalf of the Pramatha Nath Bishi Trust, Dr Rita Banerjee, Betsaswini Chakraborty, and Manasi Dutta welcomed the guests. The welcome address was delivered by writer-journalist Samriddha Dutta, the first recipient of the Pramatha Nath Bishi Memorial Award. In place of keynote speaker Shamik Bhattacharya, who was unavoidably absent, an audio message was played. Bengal Association General Secretary Shri Sauranshu Sinha also addressed the gathering, followed by a lecture from Professor Arijit Kundu of Miranda House College, Delhi University.
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The Pramatha Nath Bishi Memorial Trust established the Pramatha Nath Bishi Research Centre on 15 June 2026 at Salt Lake, Kolkata (CB-146), coinciding with the commemoration of the 125th birth anniversary of Professor Pramatha Nath Bishi. The Centre was envisioned as a dedicated space for literary research, scholarship, and preservation of the author’s legacy, marking a significant milestone in honour of his timeless contributions to Bengali literature and culture.
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The Centre’s activities have commenced under the leadership of its Director, Professor Tathagata Ray. Professor Sudhangshu Shekhar Chakraborty, President of the Memorial Trust, and Professor Dr Chirashree Bishi Chakraborty, the daughter of Pramatha Nath Bishi, are serving as advisers to the initiative.
Pramatha Nath Bishi was not merely a professor or a literary figure; he was also a distinguished political personality and a profound thinker; hence, the primary objective of the Research Centre is to disseminate his ideas and intellectual legacy, collect information and materials related to Professor Bishi, and facilitate research into his life and literary works. At the same time, the Centre itself is undertaking research in this field and has initiated a new line of inquiry into Bishi’s life and literature from contemporary perspectives.
Within a short period of its establishment, the Research Centre has already recovered several unpublished manuscripts and poems and collected several rare letters. Efforts are also underway to preserve the writing desk, table, and chair used by Pramatha Nath Bishi, along with everyday personal belongings such as his suitcase, walking stick, and telephone. With the assistance of an experienced librarian and conservation expert, the Centre will also undertake the preservation of books from his personal library.
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The evening’s programme included a discussion on the book Utsher Anusandhane and the unveiling of the cover of the forthcoming volume MahuaMake, Baba, comprising unpublished letters of Shri Pramatha Nath Bishi. This was presented by his daughter, Professor Dr Chirashree Bishi Chakraborty, along with Abhishek Ghosh of Kothopokothon Productions.
On the occasion, a theatrical performance of Baghdatta, a play written by Pramatha Nath Bishi, under the dramatisation and direction of Nabanita Chatterjee, was staged by Nabanita Chatterjee and Seshadri Mitra.
Samriddha Dutta spoke about the Pramatha Nath Bishi Research Centre, highlighting the contributions of Director Professor Tathagata Ray, Deputy Director Professor Kuntal Mitra, Research Scholar Dr Arunima Biswas, and the Pronabi Scholarship instituted by Kothopokothon.
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He said the Research Centre has begun efforts to take the literary and intellectual legacy of Pramatha Nath Bishi to the younger generation. Poetry competitions based on his works have been organised for school and college students, along with essay competitions on his life and literary contributions. Discussion programmes on Bishi’s life and literature will also be organised in schools and colleges. Important chapters from his literary works are being selected and introduced to young readers in an effort to broaden awareness of his ideas and creative vision. It is hoped that this initiative will gradually expand in different directions.
At the same time, the Research Centre plans to undertake translation projects, with the assistance of experienced translators, to introduce Pramatha Nath Bishi’s works to non-Bengali readers. A few of his novels have already been translated, but a vast body of his work remains to be explored. Books will be selected for translation according to their literary and cultural significance.
Graphic novels have emerged as a popular form of contemporary literature. With the permission of the Memorial Trust, the Centre plans to explore this medium as a way of presenting Pramatha Nath Bishi’s life and works to a wider audience.
At present, work is also underway on a biography of Pramatha Nath Bishi, particularly in view of the limited availability of comprehensive biographical works on him. Efforts are being made to ensure that the biography is accessible and engaging for readers of different age groups. Interviews with people who had come into contact with Pramatha Nath Bishi are also being conducted and preserved as part of the Centre’s archival efforts.
“The Research Centre has been able to undertake only a small part of the vast body of work associated with Professor Pramatha Nath Bishi within this short period. We hope that the advice, support, and active participation of admirers and scholars of Pramatha Nath Bishi will enrich this major endeavour. We humbly invite everyone to become a part of this collective effort to preserve and carry forward his remarkable intellectual and literary legacy,” he informed.
Trust President Professor Sudhanshu Shekhar Chakraborty offered heartfelt reminiscences in memory of Pramatha Nath Bishi.
The evening concluded with musical performances by Samar Chakraborty, Dipanwita Raymunshi, Samannita, Dipanwita Sengupta, Kaberi Banerjee, and Runa Bhattacharya, marking a fitting tribute to the legacy of Pramatha Nath Bishi.
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