 Sunil Gangopadhyay`s contribution in every genre of modern Bengali literature remains unparalleled. A prolific and versatile writer, he has authored several path breaking collections of poetry, novels, short stories, plays essays, etc, many of which have been made into films. Founder of the seminal poetry journal Krittibas, and winner of several literary awards, namely the Ananda Puraskar, Bankim Puraskar, and the Sahitya Akademi award, Sunil Gangopadhyay is presently the Vice president of the Sahitya Akademi.
As in poetry, Sunil is known for his unique style in prose. Arjun, Pratidwandi, filmed by Satyajit Ray (English title: The Adversary), Aranyer Din-Raatri (The Days and Nights of the Forest, also filmed by Satyajit Ray), Abar Aranya (filmed by Gautam Ghosh), Ekaa ebong Koyekjon are some of his well known works of fiction. His historical fiction Sei Somoy (translated into English by Aruna Chakravorty as Those Days) received the Indian Sahitya Akademi award in 1985. Sei Somoy continues to be a best seller more than a decade after its first publication. The same is true for Pratham Alo (also translated recently by Aruna Chakravorty as First Light), another best selling historical fiction and Porb-Paschim, a raw depiction of the partition and its aftermath. He is also the winner of the Bankim Puraskar (1982), and the Ananda Puraskar (twice).
Sunil has written (and still writes) in many other genres including travelogues, children`s fiction, short stories, features, and essays. Among his pen-names are: Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.
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