Debi Roy

Debi Roy ( August 4, 1940 ) is one of the founding fathers of the Hungry generation movement in Bengali literature. He is also the first modern Dalit poet in Bengali. He was born in a very poor family and worked as an errand boy in tea stalls of Calcutta when his parents lived in a slum in Howrah. He funded his own education and became a graduate of Calcutta University. He started writing from his childhood. Debi Roy met Malay Roy Choudhury in an office of a literary periodical in 1960 and the two of them, after discussions with Shakti Chattopadhyay and Samir Roychoudhury launched the now famous Hungryalist movement in November 1961. His Howrah slum-room was the editorial office from where the Hungryalist Bulletins and Hungryalist Manifestoes were published. Along with ten other Hungryalists, Debi Roy was also arrested in 1964 on charges of obscenity in poetry though the trial court exonerated him.

Debi Roy with his parents

He developed a new kind of sentences in his poems which have now come to be known as logical breaks as well as image jumping. Subsequent Bengali poets have followed the method into the next century. As a result he is considered one of the first Postmodern Bengali poet.

Poetry Collections of Debi Roy

• Unmad Shahar.
• Kolkata O Aami.
• Manush Manush.
• Sampratik Tinjan.
• Debi Royer Kobita.
• Bhrukutir Birudhdhey Eka.
• Ei Sei Tomar Desh.
• Putulnaacher Gaan.
• Sarbohara Tabu Ahankar.
• Bharatvarsha Tomay Khunjchhey.
• Aaguner Gaan.
• Ekushey February.
• Nirbachito Kobita.

References

• Debi Roy Alochanasamagra ( 2004 ). Edited by Swaraj Sengupta.
• Kobita: Shaatha-Sottor ( 1982 ). Edited by Dr. Uttam Das, Mrtyunjay Sen and Paresh Mandal.
• Hungry, Shruti O Shastrovirodhi Andolon ( 1986 ). Written by Dr. Uttam Das.
• Khsudhito Prajanmo ( 1995 ). Written by Dr. Uttam Das.
• Ekaler Gadyo Podyo Andoloner Dalil ( 1970 ). Written by Satya Guha.
• Yabajantrana O Sahitya ( 1968 ). Dr Aloke Ranjan Dasgupta.
• Krittibas ( 1966 ). Edited by Sunil Gangopadhyay.
• Hungry Kimbadanti ( 1994 ). Written by Malay Roy Choudhury.
• Uttorprabashi ( 1986 ). Edited by Gajendra Kumar Ghosh.
• Vantulsi Ka Gandh. ( 1988 ). Written by Phanishwarnath 'Renu'
• Salted Feathers ( 1967 ). Edited by Dick Bakken.
• Intrepid ( 1967 ). Edited by Allan De Loach.

External Links

• TIME magazine news
• Debi Roy along with the Hungryalists