Nalini Das Explained

Nalini Das
Birth Date:1916[1]
Death Date:1993
Nationality:Indian
Occupation:Educationist, writer, editor
Known For:Notable Bengali writer of mid 20th century
Notable Works:Goyenda Gondalu, Editor of Sandesh Children's magazine

Nalini Das (5 August 1916 – 26 March 1993) was a Bengali educationist, writer and editor. She was one of the editors of the Bengali children's magazine Sandesh.

Early life

Nalini Das was born to Arunnath Chakraborty and Punyalata (Ray Chowdhury). Her father was a deputy magistrate posted in Bihar, and her mother was the daughter of Bengali writer, technologist and entrepreneur Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury.[1] [2] Bengali writer Sukumar Ray was her maternal uncle, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray her cousin.[3] She completed her matriculation from the Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya and IA from St. John's Diocesan Girls' Higher Secondary School in Calcutta.[4]

She studied philosophy at Scottish Church College, Calcutta.[5] She studied for the master's degree in philosophy at the University of Calcutta. She was a brilliant scholar and came first class first in both B.A. and M.A. examinations. In B.A. she scored highest marks among arts examinees in all subjects.

Professional career

Das was a member of the faculty of the Department of Philosophy in the Victoria Institution immediately after her education. Later on she joined the Educational Service of the Bengal Government. In 1945, she was sent to England on a government scholarship for learning about school teachers' training. On return, she joined the newly established David Hare Training College. When a separate teachers' training college for women, the Institute of Education for Women, was set up, she became a senior member of its faculty. Later she became the principal of that Institute.

Later she was the principal (1968–1974) of Bethune College.[6] An award honouring her is given for best all-round performance in the college.[7]

Writer and editor

Along with her elder sister, Kalyani Karlekar, in the 1930s and 1940s she edited a Bengali a women's magazine Meyeder Katha.

Das created the first schoolgirl female detectives of Bengali literature.[8] The Goenda Gondalu (translated into English as the Lu Quartet by Swapna Dutta),[9] are four young schoolgirls who solve mysteries.[10]

From 1964 till her death in 1993, she was one of the three editors of the Bengali children's magazine Sandesh, which operated out of her home.[11] She wrote a book about the childhood days of her cousin Satyajit Ray, Shaat Rajar Dhon Ek Manik. She edited children's books along with Lila Majumdar and Ray.[12]

Personal life

Nalini Das married Ashokananda Das, brother of Bengali poet Jibanananda Das.[1] [13] Writer and publisher Amitananda Das is their son.[14] [15]

Awards

Nalini Das was awarded the Vidyasagar Memorial Award in 1990 by West Bengal Govt.[16]

Published works

TitlePublisherYear
Ra-Ka-Je-Te-Na-PaNew Script1958
Rangangarer RahashyaGranthaprakash 1978
Madhyarater GhorshoyarAnanda1980
Oshoririr Ashor - Edited by Lila Majumdar, Nalini Das and Satyajit RayNew Script1988
Hatighishar HanabariNew Script
Saras Rahashya - Edited by Lila Majumdar, Nalini Das and Satyajit RayNew Script1989
Shaat Rajar Dhon Ek ManikNew Script1993
Upendra Kishore Rochona SamagraAnnapurna Prakashani
Moruprasader RahashyaAnanda Publishers1993
Goyenda Gondalu Samagra - INew Script2009
Goyenda Gondalu Samagra - IINew Script2012
The Lu Quartet - Super sleuth and other storiesHachette India2012
Galpa O Upanyas Samagra - IIINew Script2014
Europer ChithiNew Script 2016
[17]

Notes and References

  1. News: মেজ সম্পাদক . 5 March 2019 . Ananda Bazar Patrika . ABP . 2016-10-01.
  2. Book: Ray . Satyajit . Jakhon Chhoto Chhilam . 1983 . Ānanda . 81-7066-880-8.
  3. Book: Das . Nalini . Shaat Rajar Dhon Ek Manik . New Script . Calcutta . 2nd (January 2005).
  4. Web site: Alumni . St. John's Diocesan Girls' Higher Secondary School . 12 March 2019.
  5. Some Alumni of Scottish Church College in 175th Year Commemoration Volume. Scottish Church College, April 2008, p. 590.
  6. Web site: Department of Philosophy . Bethune College . 12 March 2019.
  7. Web site: Department of Chemistry . Bethune College.
  8. News: Ghatak . Anchita . Detective Mitin Mashi, not middle-class tales, might be Suchitra Bhattacharya's lasting legacy . 8 March 2019 . Scroll . 2015-05-16.
  9. Book: Das . Nalini . The Lu quartet : super sleuths and other stories . February 2013 . Hachette India . 978-93-5009-322-1.
  10. News: Sen . Jash . Go goyenda! A guide to the Bengali detectives who made it to the screen and the ones who need to . 8 March 2019 . Scroll . 2016-12-18.
  11. News: Basu . Anasuya . Children's treat in autumn . 8 March 2019 . The Telegraph . ABP . 2017-10-14.
  12. Book: Das, Nalini . The Lu Quartet: Super Sleuths and Other Stories . 2012-11-30 . Hachette India . 978-93-5009-621-5 . en.
  13. News: পৃথিবীতে নেই কোনো বিশুদ্ধ চাকরি . 5 March 2019 . Prothom Alo . 2019–02–17.
  14. Book: Das . Nalini . Goyenda Gondalu Samagra 1 . Feb 2009 . New Script . Calcutta . 1st.
  15. News: Ghorai . Debashish . সব পাখি ঘরে আসে, সব নদী, আসেন না জীবনানন্দ! . 5 March 2019 . Ananda Bazar Patrika . 2018–09–15 . ABP.
  16. Web site: পুরস্কার বিজয়ী বাঙালি লেখক . State Central Library Kolkata - Government of West Bengal . 5 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017055528/http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/scl/html/awared_wining.php . 17 October 2018 . dead .
  17. Web site: "au:"নলিনী দাশ" . WEST BENGAL PUBLIC LIBRARY OPAC . 8 March 2019.