Leela Majumdar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leela Majumdar
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| Born | 26 February 1908 Calcutta, Bengal, British India |
| Died | 5 April 2007 (aged 99) Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Period | 1922–1994 |
| Genre | Children's books |
| Spouse | Dr. Sudhir Kumar Majumdar (1894–1984; his death) |
| Children | 2 |
Leela Majumdar (born February 26, 1908 – died April 5, 2007) was a famous Bengali writer. She is best known for her wonderful stories for children. She came from a family that greatly helped shape children's literature in Bengal.
Contents
Her Early Life
Leela Majumdar was born to Surama Devi and Pramada Ranjan Ray. Her uncle was Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, who was also a well-known writer. Leela spent her early years in Shillong, where she went to Loreto Convent school.
In 1919, her family moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata). She joined St. John's Diocesan School there. She did very well in her studies. In 1924, she came in second among all girls in her final exams. She was also first in English literature at the University of Calcutta. Her family, especially the Ray Chaudhuri family, played a huge part in creating children's books in Bengali.
Starting Her Career
In 1931, Leela Majumdar began working as a teacher at Maharani Girls' School in Darjeeling. She was even invited by the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore to teach at his school in Santiniketan. However, she only stayed there for about a year.
After teaching for a short time, she decided to focus on writing. She later worked at All India Radio as a producer for about seven or eight years.
Her very first story for children was called Lakkhi chhele. It was published in 1922 in a magazine called Sandesh. She even drew the pictures for it! This children's magazine was started by her uncle, Upendrakishore Ray Chaudhuri. Later, her cousin Sukumar Ray edited it. Leela Majumdar continued to write and edit for Sandesh for most of her life, working with her nephew Satyajit Ray.
Her Amazing Books
Leela Majumdar wrote many books, over 125 in total! These included short stories, books she wrote with others, and even books she translated.
Her first book was Boddi Nather Bari (1939). But her second book, Din Dupure (1948), made her very famous. From the 1950s onwards, she wrote many classic children's stories. She was especially good at writing funny stories. But she also wrote exciting detective stories, spooky ghost stories, and magical fantasy tales.
She wrote a book about her own life called Pakdandi. In this book, she shared memories of her childhood in Shillong and her time at Santiniketan.
Besides her many children's books, she also wrote a cookbook and novels for adults. She even wrote a biography about Rabindranath Tagore. She translated famous books like Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea into Bengali.
One of her popular stories, Padi Pishir Bormi Baksha, was even made into a film in 1972.
Her Family Life
In 1933, Leela Majumdar married Dr. Sudhir Kumar Majumdar. He was a well-known dentist who studied at Harvard. For about twenty years, she focused on taking care of her home and family.
She had two children: a son named Ranjan, who also became a dentist, and a daughter named Kamala. Her husband passed away in 1984. When Leela Majumdar died, she had two grandsons, two granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren.
Some of Her Works
- Holde Pakhir Palok
- Tong Ling
- Naaku Gama
- Podi Pishir Bormi Baksho
- Boddi Nather Bori
- Din Dupure
- Chhotoder Srestho Galpo
- Monimala
- Bagher Chhokh
- Bok Dharmik
- Taka Gaachh
- Lal Neel Deslai
- Basher Phul
- Moyna
- Shalikh
- Bhuter Bari
- Aaguni Beguni
- Tipur Upor Tipuni
- Patka Chor
- Aashare Galpo
- Chiching Phank
- Je Jai Boluk
- Chhotoder Tal Betal
- Batash Bari
- Bagh Shikari Bamun
- Baghyar Galpo
- Shibur Diary
- Howrahr Dari
- Ferari
- Nepor Boi
- Aar Konokhane
- Kheror Khata
- Ei Je Dekha
- Pakdandi
- Sreemoti
- Cheena Lanthan
- Moni Manil
- Naatghar
- Batashbari
- Kaag Noi
- Shob Bhuture
- Bak Badh Pala
- Megher Sari Dhorte Nari
- Pori didir Bor
- Pesha Bodol
- Batas Bari
- Monimala
- Elshe Ghai
Awards and Recognition
Leela Majumdar received many awards for her writing.
- Her book Holde Pakhir Palok won a state award for children's literature.
- Bak Badh Pala received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
- Aar Konokhane won the Rabindra Puraskar.
- She also won the Suresh Smriti Puraskar, Vidyasagar Puraskar, and Ananda Puraskar.
- She received the Bhubaneswari Medal for her lifetime achievements.
- She was given special honors by Visva Bharati and honorary D.Litt. degrees from Burdwan, North Bengal, and Calcutta Universities.
See also
In Spanish: Leela Majumdar para niños
