Manik Bandopadhyay, one of the most important and influential novelists in Bengali literature, had his own way of presenting the Bengal rural life. Contrary to his contemporary authors, who only wrote about the scenic beauty and the simplicity of village life, Manik Bandopadhyay, delved deep into the complicated human psyche and the truth of existence in the villages.His works also dealt with complicated human psychology, a mind without guard. Even today, the simplest of his novels leave the readers spellbound, finding themselves into an identifiable position with the characters.
Because of his father's frequent transfers, Manik Bandopadhyay had a checkered schooling in a number of institutions at Dumka, Ara, Sasaram, Kolkata, Brahmanbaria, Barasat, Tangail and Midnapore. He eventually passed the Entrance examination from Midnapore Zilla School in 1926. After completing his Intermediate in Science from Wesleyan Mission College, Bankura, in 1928, he enrolled in the Bachelor of Science programme in Presidency College. However, he was unable to complete his studies and started working.
He established and ran the Udayachal Printing and Publishing House along with his brother from 1934 till 1940. At the same time, he worked as assistant editor of the Bangashri magazine (1937-39). He was also the provincial organiser of the National War Front of the Indian government and the Publicity Secretary of the Department of Bengal. Manik Bandopadhyay's first story, 'Atasi Mami' (1928), was published in the Bichitra while he was studying at Presidency College and created quite a stir. He continued to write, rising to the rank of one of the topmost writers of modern Bangla. He belonged to the Kallol group, the literary circle that broke away from the dominating influence of Rabindranath Tagore and Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. In 1944 he became a member of the Communist Party and continued to be involved in party activities until his death. He was also involved in anti-fascist literary and cultural circles.
In early life Manik was influenced by Freud, Jung, and Adler, and his writings explore the intricate psychology of human beings. His later writings are markedly socialistic in nature and reveal his Marxist leanings. He shows how social and financial realities shape urban life. His noted books include the novels- Janani, Dibaratrir Kavya, Padmanadir Majhi, Putulnacher Itikatha, Shahartali, Chihna, Chatuskon, Sarvajanin, Arogya etc. He was also a powerful short story writer with several collections of short stories, among them, Pragaitihasik, Sarisrip, Samudrer Svad, Halud Poda, Ajkal Parashur Galpa, Manik Bandopadhyay Shrestha Galpa, Pheriwala.
Padmanadir Majhi , which has been made into a movie, and Putulnacher Itikatha are his most famous novels. Manik Bandopadhyay had known financial hardship himself and had been helped by the West Bengal government which arranged a literary stipend for him. This is why, in Padmanadir Majhi, he could describe vividly how poverty affects human behaviour.
Manik Bandopadhyay was a member of the Purvavanga Pragati Lekhak O Shilpi Sangha, an association of progressive writers and artists from East Bengal. He was elected joint secretary of the body in 1946 and twice presided over its conventions. He worked for communal harmony in the Tollyganj area during the communal riots in 1946. He died in Kolkata on December 3 in 1956.
