Ishwar Chandra Gupta

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Ishwar Chandra Gupta
Born	March 1812 village Kanchanpolli or Kanchrapara, Chabbis Pargana (currently in the state of West Bengal, India)
Died	January 23, 1859 Kolkata
Occupation	Poet, scholar and writer

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Ishwar Chandra Gupta (Bengali: ঈশ্বরচন্দ্র গুপ্ত, March 1812 - January 23, 1859) was a Bengali poet and writer. Gupta was born in the village Kanchanpolli or Kanchrapara Chabbis Pargana (currently in the state of West Bengal, India). ^[1]

1 Early life
2 Literary style
3 Political views
4 Important works
5 Sources
6 References

[edit] Early life

Ishwar Chandra Gupta was brought up in his uncle's house after the death of his mother. Gupta spent most of his childhood in Kolkata. At that time, poets were named Kobiwala and the kobiwalas were not so civilized in language. Sexual words and clashes were common. But Ishwar Chandra Gupta created a different style of poetry.

He started the newspaper Sambad Prabhakar with Jogendra Mohan Tagore on on January 28, 1831. ^[1] which finally became a daily on June 4, 1839. Many Bengali writers of the 19th century started their career with that magazine. His deep sense of pride in the success of the paper and its engagement with Bengali society was evident in the two-liner he wrote:

Ke bole Ishwar Gupta, byapta charachar,

Jaar prabhate prabha paye Prabhakar.

Who says Ishwar Gupta, he is omnipresent

Whose luminiscence makes the Prabhakar luminiscent.

[edit] Literary style

He brought modern era of poetry in Bangla. He did not describe the life of Gods and Goddesses, but the daily life of human beings. He also wrote biographies of many Bengali poets and musicians.

Ishwarchandra Gupta always satires the so called modern class who blindly followed the colonial British power.

His literary works were included in the curriculum of school level, secondary and higher secondary Bengali Literature in Bangladesh.

[edit] Political views

In the early days he was a conservative, opposing the Young Bengal movement as well as frowning on widow remarriage. His views on widow remarriage put him at odds with Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. He was one of the earliest advocates of a Hindu view of Indian society. Later in his life, his views began to change and he championed the cause for the remarriage of virgin widows and women's education. ^[1]

[edit] Important works

Life of Bharat Chandra Roy
Probodh Pravakara
Kobitabolir Saar Sangraha

[edit] Sources

Bangla Sahitya (Bengali Literature), the national text book of intermediate (college) level of Bangladesh published in 1996 by all educational boards.