Sukanta Bhattacharya: The Torchbearer of Asian Youth & Poet
Sukanta Bhattacharya: all works in one Sukanta Samagra
Sukanta Bhattacharya was a Bengali poet renowned for his socially conscious and politically charged verse, which resonated deeply with young people in Bengal during the turbulent 1940s. Born in 1926, he died tragically young at 21, but his works, particularly his poems expressing anti-imperialist and internationalist sentiments, continue to be remembered and studied. Sukanta Bhattacharya was a powerful and passionate voice in Bengali literature. Though his life ended tragically at just 20, his impact on modern poetry was profound.
🔥 Why he’s the “Torchbearer of Asian Poet”?
Revolutionary young poet: Often called the “Young Nazrul” or Kishore Bidrohi Kobi for his bold, anti-establishment tone, echoing the fiery spirit of Kazi Nazrul Islam
Marxist-socialist themes:
His poems vividly depict the horrors of WWII, the 1943 Bengal famine, communal strife, and colonial oppression—always advocating for the working class
📚 Life in Brief:
Born in Calcutta (maternal grandfather’s home), on 15 August 1926, to Nibaran Chandra and Suniti Devi
A precocious genius:
Publishing stories and poems by age 10, and later joining the Communist Party in 1944
Worked with Dainik Swadhinata and edited the youth section, besides publishing the anthology Akal (Famine) in 1944
He succumbed to tuberculosis on 13 May 1947—just three months before India’s Independence Day
💥 Major Works & Style:
His poetry collections, released posthumously, include
- Chharpatra (1948),
- Ghum Nei (1950),
- Purbabhas (1950),
- Abhijan (1953),
- Mithe‑Kadha (1951) and
- Hartal (1962)
Representative poem:
“Hey Mahajibon” – a stark metaphor comparing the full moon to a burnt roti, highlighting raw hunger over poetic beauty
His poem Durmor reflects unbreaking resilience:
“Bravo Bangladesh! … fired, burned, died and destroyed, but never gave up!”
🎭 Themes & Legacy:
Intersection of romanticism and rebellion:
His works carry both tender emotion and intense socio-political defiance.
Voice for the voiceless:
He wrote about the poor and oppressed with empathy and urgency, contrasting sharply with the romanticism of preceding Bengal poets.
Posthumous fame:
His entire oeuvre was compiled into Sukanta Samagra in 1967 by Subhash Mukhopadhyay, ensuring his lasting place in Bengali literature
Cultural remembrance:
Kolkata’s new metro station is named Kavi Sukanta in his honor
📝 Why he matters today?
Sukanta Bhattacharya encapsulates the spirit of youth-driven revolution—combining raw emotion, political conviction, and social realism. His poems still resonate, offering insights into colonial resistance, human suffering, and relentless hope.
The torchbearer of India and Asia: Sukanta Bhattacharya
✅ Conclusion:
Sukanta Bhattacharya is called the torchbearer of India and Asia because:
He was the voice of the exploited and the hungry
His poetry echoed an internationalist vision
He carried revolutionary ideas at a young age
He stood as a beacon for youth-led transformation
His poems were not just literary creations — they were weapons of change, filled with fire, truth, and hope.
In summary, Sukanta was more than a poet—he was a torchbearer, lighting the path for modern, engaged, socially conscious Bengali literature. Despite his brief life, his voice blazed with enduring power.
For those eager to delve into the depths of above all works in Sukanta Samagra of Sukanta Bhattacharya‘s unparalleled vision, the link of ‘Sukanta Samagra’ is made available on this webpage for online reading and download.
Download Link: All Books of Sukanta Bhattacharya
