Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra by Girindranath Sarkar PDF
Title: Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra (Sarat Chandra in Burma)
Author: Girindranath Sarkar
Genre: Biographical Book
Format: PDF, Size: 9 MB, Pages: 408
The Life Story of the Great Novelist Saratchandra’s Exile in Burma
Introduction
The personal lives of our country’s distinguished intellectuals are, in most cases, shrouded in mystery; consequently, the public’s curiosity regarding Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay remains insatiable. In his youth, oppressed by poverty and empty-handed, he was compelled to cross the seas and seek refuge in Burma.
How he lived his life there—and how he ultimately dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of literature—are subjects that continue to spark a thousand questions in the minds of people, both at home and abroad.
Most Unknown to Indian in Burma-life of Sarat Chandra
Despite the abundance of speculation and the myriad—often eccentric—notions surrounding his personal life, the true story of his exile in Burma remains almost entirely unknown to the general public. This book clearly reveals the deep friendship that existed between the author, Girindranath Sarkar, and Sarat Chandra during their time in Burma. There can be no doubt that Girindra Babu is uniquely qualified to chronicle the story of Saratchandra’s life in exile.
In this volume, ‘Sarat Chandra in Burma‘, several vignettes from the life of Bengali literature’s greatest novelist, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, have been vividly portrayed. For those who cherish Sarat Chandra, these sketches will prove to be a source of immense delight. Through these vignettes, His character emerges with remarkable clarity. Future biographers seeking to compose a comprehensive life history of Sarat Chandra will find this book to be a rich repository of invaluable material.
Journey to Rangoon and Professional Life
In 1903, at the age of just 27, Sarat Chandra left Bhagalpur and set sail for Rangoon. Upon his arrival, he initially worked as a clerk in a government office before eventually securing a permanent position in the Accounts Department of the ‘Burma Railways’. He spent approximately thirteen years in Rangoon. His life in exile in Burma was a period of obscurity—a life lived in virtual anonymity.
It was during this phase—navigating through numerous vicissitudes of fortune and a multitude of personal errors—that he honed his creative powers and gathered the raw materials that would later form the foundation of his literary works. This period of his life remains steeped in deep mystery.
Sarat Chandra Thirty Years in Burma
While the author of this volume has not explicitly attempted to unravel every facet of that mystery, he has nonetheless recounted many details regarding that life that will undoubtedly prove invaluable to future historians of Bengali Literature. Having resided in Burma for a long period of thirty years, the author had cultivated a deep bond of friendship with Sarat Chandra during his time there.
It was his esteemed friend, the poet Kabishekhar Kalidas Roy—having heard of this camaraderie directly from Sarat Chandra himself—who first requested the author to chronicle the story of his life in Burma. Sarat Chandra and the author were nearly contemporaries; the latter had no prior inkling that he would one day be called upon to write Sarat Chandra’s biography, nor—due to a lack of active literary practice—was he in any way prepared for such a task.
Biographical Work Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra
The author, Girindranath Sarkar, initially harbored no desire to write the biographical work “Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra” (Sarat Chandra in Burma), fearing that doing so might be perceived as an act of self-promotion.
However, Rai Bahadur Amarnath Chatterjee—a former Judge of the Patna High Court—having listened to the author recount the fascinating and multifaceted story of Sarat Chandra’s life, encouraged him to undertake the writing of his biography. Shortly after Sarat Chandra’s passing, the distinguished litterateur Narendra Dev visited the author’s residence and posed numerous inquiries regarding Sarat Chandra.
When the author, Girindranath Sarkar, was introduced to Sarat Chandra’s maternal uncle—and the editor of the journal ‘Prabaha’— Sri Surendranath Gangopadhyay at the offices of ‘Basumati Patrika‘, the latter remarked to him: “It is true that you possess the ‘essence’ [of the story], but you are merely beating around the bush in vain; I am the one who truly knows how to extract that essence.”
During a memorial service held for Sarat Chandra, the veteran litterateur associated with the monthly ‘Basumati’— Sri Sarojnath Ghosh— declared that Sarat Chandra’s biography would remain incomplete until the full account of his long sojourn in Burma was brought to light.
Personal Life—Various Observations
Inspired by these various observations, the author, Girindranath Sarkar, finally set about writing ‘Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra‘(Sarat Chandra in Burma). Given that he had been bound to Sarat Chandra by ties of deep friendship and affection for fourteen long years in a foreign land, the book incorporates a wealth of details—both major and minor—regarding Sarat Chandra’s personal life, as well as numerous other captivating anecdotes.
It is possible that the attitudes and ideals of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay as depicted in this volume may not always appear to align perfectly with those expressed in his literary works; this is because the events recounted herein pertain to his youth—a period dating back some twenty to twenty-five years prior.
Girindranath Sarkar with Kalidas Roy
Sarat Chandra’s life served as a veritable epicenter of extraordinary and wondrous occurrences; furthermore, owing to the author Girindranath Sarkar’s inseparable bond with him, the author has, at various junctures throughout the narrative, interwoven elements of his own personal experiences and recollections.
After the first part of this book was published in the ‘Chaitra’ issue of the monthly magazine ‘Basumati’ in the year 1344 (BS), it was subsequently released in book form in response to the immense public interest it garnered. Girindranath Sarkar’s highly esteemed friend—the poet Kabishekhar Kalidas Roy—and his revered friend and senior literary colleague from Basumati — Mr. Sarojnath Ghosh—both meticulously revised the entire manuscript from beginning to end.
Revolutionary Connections
During his stay in Burma, he came into close contact with revolutionaries involved in India’s independence movement, whom he secretly supported with financial aid and various other forms of assistance. The anti-British sentiment and tone of political rebellion that resonated through his famous novel, ‘Pather Dabi‘, drew their inspiration from these very experiences during his exile in Burma.
While residing in Rangoon, he continued to pursue his literary endeavors without interruption. There, he established a literary and theatrical group comprising fellow expatriates. The setting for the first volume of his renowned novel, ‘Srikanta‘, is primarily grounded in his experiences of expatriate life in Burma.
Ascetic Life and Diverse Experiences
Prior to his departure for Rangoon, he joined a band of wandering ascetics and spent nearly two and a half years roaming aimlessly across various regions of India and Burma. During this period, he lived a life akin to that of a Buddhist monk, gaining the opportunity to interact closely with the common people—an experience that would subsequently enrich his literary works.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it may be stated that this unique experience in Burma—characterized by an intimate observation of human joys and sorrows, as well as the solitude of life in exile—cultivated within Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay a profound sense of life and deep empathy, which ultimately lent a distinctive character to his literary style.
For readers, ‘Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra‘ (Sarat Chandra in Burma)—a biographical work rich in rare insights—will undoubtedly prove to be a cherished and valuable resource. Therefore, the PDF link for this biographical volume has been provided below on this webpage for the benefit of readers.
Download PDF: A Rare Life Story of Unique Experiences
Bramhadeshe Sarat Chandra (Sarat Chandra in Burma) Biographical Volume PDF