Literary

The Bengal and Zubaan celebrate life of Nabaneeta Dev Sen, launch her book Chandrabati's Ramayan

by Souvik Ghosh/IBNS | @twfindia 20 Jan 2020, 08:12 am

Kolkata: Launching her book Chandrabati's Ramayan in presence of eminent artists, The Bengal and Zubaan celebrated the life of writer and academician late Nabaneet Dev Sen at the ICCR Kolkata on Thursday.

Chandrabati’s Ramayan was translated by Dev Sen and published by Zubaan.

The book was launched by The Bengal president and painter Jogen Choudhuri, Dev Sen's daughters Antara and Nandana.

“It makes me very emotion to think of our poet, writer, teacher and friend Late Nabaneeta Dev Sen. We would hold this programme once in every three years in Kolkata and invite the poets and litterateurs from across the country to celebrate Nabaneeta di’s works,” said Choudhuri.

He added, "Though she is not present anymore among us, we will remember her always. She will be remembered by the whole country. Whoever will study literature will never forget her."

Chandrabati’s Ramayana – composed originally in Bengali - is a narrative about a woman, narrated by woman, meant for women audience and the English version of the book has been translated by a woman. 

Before reading out extracts from Chandrabati's Ramayan, Antara, a journalist by profession, said, "Mother did her research in Balmiki Ramayana and Chandrabati’s Ramayana had a deep and lasting impact on her work and life.”

Chandrabati is widely considered to be one of the first women poets of Bengal who is best known for her women-centric composition interpreting of Ramayana from Sita’s point of view which challenges the dominant ideology of patriarchy of the time.

Nandana, who is an actress, at the event said, "Chandrabati’s poetry had a lasting impact on her mind and works. Like so many other women, Chandrabati’s Ramayana had also immensely influenced my mother’s grandmother."

"I am really thrilled that all (poets and writers) are present here to celebrate Ma's (mother's) profound love of poetry..." she said.

Late Nabaneeta Dev Sen was an active member of The Bengal for years and had initiated many events and activities pertaining to women empowerment and spreading awareness of gender equality. 

A reading session was held in which excerpts were read out by eminent litterateurs Vasanth Kannabiran, Sanjukta Bandopadhyay, Anjum Katyal, Nirupama Dutt, Raka Dasgupta, Sebanti Ghosh, Mehul Devkala, Samragnee Bandopadhyay and Srijato. 

Dev Sen, who was the first wife of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, had studied English and Comparative Literature in Presidency College, Jadavpur University and Harvard University and was known for her erudition and writings that included poems, satires, novels, travelogues and even fables.