Sudhir Chakraborty

Sudhir Chakravarti (19 September 1934 – 15 December 2020) was a Bengali educationist and essayist. He made a vast contribution in Bengal's folk culture development and research.

Early life and career
Sudhir Chakravarti or Sudhir Prasad Chakravarti was born on 19 September 1934 at Shibpur. His father's name was Ramaprasad Chakravarti and his mother Beenapani Chakravarti. He was the youngest of the nine sons of Ramaprasad. Due to the fear of the Japanese bombardings in Kolkata, Chakravarti's father had shifted to Dignagar, Nadia, (where they had ancestral lands as Zamindars) from Shibpur, Howrah in his childhood. After that his family came to Krishnanagar, Nadia. Chakravarti completed his studies in Calcutta University. Chakravarti is known for his research works on Folk religion, Lalan Fakir and Cultural Anthropology in Bengal. He spent 30 years researching the folk culture by traveling to different villages all over the West Bengal. He was a professor of Bengali literature from 1958 to 1994, but even after retirement kept on teaching until 2011. Chakravarti worked in Krishnagar Government College, guest lecturer of Jadavpur University and was also associated with the Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata. He wrote and edited more than 85 books on various subjects like music, art, folk-religion, cultural anthropology. He was the editor of Bengali literary Magazine Dhrubapada. He died on 15 December 2020 in Kolkata.

Literary career
From Rabindranath to Lalan Fakir, from Baul culture to clay modellers, modelling and painters and painting of rural Bengal, everything had become the subject of his interest and research. Besides research and writing, he also edited 'Dhruvapada ' journal.

His contribution to the study of Bengali folk culture is immense. His pen had authored immense detailed work on the sub-religions and cult of Kartabhaja, Balahari, Sahebdhani, their belief community and their songs, which were never paid much attention to by the intellectuals. It is to be noted that after William Hunter and Akshay Kumar Datta in the 18th century, few have paid attention to work on these sects. His book 'Bratya Lokayat Lalon' is considered as a milestone in the practice of Lalan Fakir.

Works
Panchagramer Karacha (পঞ্চগ্রামের কড়চা), 1995
 * 1) Sahebdhani Sampraday O tader gaan (সাহেবধনী সম্প্রদায় তাদের গান), 1985
 * 2) Ganer Lilar Sei Kinare (গানের লীলার সেই কিনারে), 1985
 * 3) Krishnagarer Mritshilpo o Mritshilpi Samaj (কৃষ্ণনগরের মৃৎশিল্প ও মৃৎশিল্পী সমাজ), 1985
 * 4) Balahari Sampraday o Tader Gaan (বলাহাড়ি সম্প্রদায় আর তাদের গান), 1986
 * 5) Gabhir Nirjan Pathe (গভীর নির্জন পথে), 1989
 * 6) Dwijendralal Smaran Bismaran (দ্বিজেন্দ্রলাল রায় স্মরণ বিস্মরণ), 1989
 * 7) Bangla Ganer Sandhane (বাংলা গানের সন্ধানে), 1990
 * 8) Sadar -Mafaswal (সদর-মফস্বল), 1990
 * 9) Agradwiper Gopinath (অগ্রদ্বীপের গোপীনাথ), 1992
 * 10) Nirjan Ekaker Gaan Rabindrasangeet (নির্জন এককের গান রবীন্দ্র সংগীত),1992
 * 11) Bangla Ganer char diganta (বাংলা গানের চার দিগন্ত), 1992
 * 12) Bratya Lokayata Lalan (ব্রাত্য লোকায়ত লালন),1992
 * 13) Chalchitrer Chitralekha (চালচিত্রের চিত্রলেখা), 1993
 * 14) Bangla Filmer Gaan O Satyajit Ray (বাংলা ফিল্মের গান ও সত্যজিৎ রায়),1994
 * 15) Nirbas (নির্বাস), 1995
 * 1) Paschimbanger Mela o Mohotsav (পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মেলা ও মহোৎসব), 1996
 * 2) Debabrata Biswaser Gaan(দেবব্রত বিশ্বাসের গান), 1997
 * 3) Lalan (লালন), 1998
 * 4) Mati-Prithibir Tane (মাটি-পৃথিবীর টানে), 1999
 * 5) Baul Fakir Katha (বাউল ফকির কথা),2001
 * 6) Bangla Ganer Alokporbo (বাংলা গানের আলোকপর্ব),2001
 * 7) Gane Gane Gaoya (গানে গানে গাওয়া),2003
 * 8) Banglar Gounadharma : Sahebdhani O Bolahari (বাংলার গৌণধর্ম সাহেবধনী ও বলাহাড়ি), 2003
 * 9) Rupe Barne Chande (রূপে বর্ণে ছন্দে),2003
 * 10) Lekha Pora Kore Je (লেখা পড়া করে যে), 2003
 * 11) Utsabe, Melay Itihase (উৎসবে মেলায় ইতিহাসে), 2004
 * 12) Ghanaran Bahirana (ঘরানা বাহিরানা),2006
 * 13) Kabitar Vichitra Pathe (কবিতার বিচিত্রপথে), 2006
 * 14) Gaan Hote Gaane (গান হতে গানে),2008
 * 15) Lokayoter Antarmohol (লোকায়তের অন্তরমহল), 2008
 * 16) Shamuk Jhinuk (শামুক ঝিনুক), 2009
 * 17) Akhyaner Khoje (আখ্যানের খোঁজে),2009
 * 18) Loksomaj O Lokchitra (লোকসমাজ ও লোকচিত্র), 2009
 * 19) Rabindranath Anekanta (রবীন্দ্রনাথ অনেকান্ত), 2010
 * 20) Nirjansajane (নির্জনসজনে), 2011
 * 21) Alaldost Sevakamalini lalan (আলালদোস্ত সেবাকমলিনী লালন),2011
 * 22) Manini Rupmati Kubir Gosai (মানিনী রূপমতী কুবির গোঁসাই), 2012
 * 23) Kabitar Khonje (কবিতার খোঁজে),2012
 * 24) Dekha na Dekhaye Mesha (দেখা না দেখায় মেশা),2012
 * 25) Sudhir Chakravarti Rachanavali -1 (সুধীর চক্রবর্তী রচনাবলি-প্রথম খণ্ড),2012
 * 26) Sudhir Chakravarti Rachanavali -2 (সুধীর চক্রবর্তী রচনাবলি- দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড),2013
 * 27) Chorano Ei Jibon (ছড়ানো এই জীবন),2013
 * 28) Bhadrajaner Drishtite Lalan Fakir (ভদ্রজনের দৃষ্টিতে লালন ফকির), 2013
 * 29) Sahityer Lokayata Path (সাহিত্যের লোকায়ত পাঠ), 2013
 * 30) Anek Diner Anek Katha (অনেক দিনের অনেক কথা), 2013
 * 31) Abataler Rupabali Abataler Padabali (অবতলের রূপাবলি, অবতলের পদাবলি), 2013

Awards

 * Ananda Purashkar in 2002 for his book Baul Fakir Katha
 * Sahitya Akademi Award in 2004.
 * Eminent Teacher award from Calcutta University in 2006,
 * Narasimha Das award Medal from Delhi University
 * Rabindratatvacharya award by the Tagore research Institute
 * Dr. Sukumar Sen Gold Medal from the Asiatic Society.