Aditya Sen
Having passed his UPSC examination and in different capacities, he became a News Editor of News Services Division of All India Radio. He had experience of radio journalism for about three decades and had the honour of preparing News bulletins for 8 AM and 9 PM English News broadcast from Radio.
He had also an experience of working as an Under Secretary of the Food Ministry for about four years. He has written 14 novels. Among them six are research-based novels. They are: Parasite (1984) Ganesh Tower (1989), Ranger Rekhaye Rajputana (1992), and Nirannya in three vols, the First vol was published in 1999, the Second in 2000 and the third volume recently in 2012 Nov. In Parasite in the backdrop of maritime history of Bengal when big boats and vessels used to be built, the author has tried to probe that the Bengalis seldom felt comfortable with productive efforts since the fourth century onward and always seemed satisfied to work like a middleman. Does it mean that the Bengalis are Parasite? The novel was widely acclaimed in reviews in newspapers and in Journals.
Ganesh Tower outlines the history of those stalwarts who actually built Public Sector industry amidst much turmoil and strife. The other part of the novel portrays the mysterious man Paranjpaye who built a 72-feet high dancing Ganesha in the heart of the capital and to do it, engages many sculptor-engineers of the globe. The novel shows how non-issues get upper hand in the field of art and culture.
“Range Rekhaya Rajputana” depicts the history of Rajasthan through the eyes of an artist.
Nirannya trilogy is a novel spanning over a period of several decades in Indian political history: the Second World War and Shubhas Bose, the British rule and its food policy in India leading to the man-made famine of 1943 (theme of the first vol), how the partition of India came about and the political motive behind it (theme of Second vol) and the third vol deals with the history of Bangladesh beginning from Bengali language movement till Ayub Khan regime. The novel is a product of ten years’ of research and writing. The novel has been highly praised by many readers. It is worthwhile to mention the name of Prof. Asit Kumar Bandopadhaya, the Head of the Department of Calcutta University. He had reviewed the novel elaborately and said, “The well-documented novel is a history of our country and our period” and “it symbolizes both learning and art”. About the Nirannya-3, the General Secretary of Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society writes: “On going through the book, one can just imagine how much effort and research work, you have undergone to produce this nice book. The book would adorn our Library and would enshrine our readers who are serious about the conviction of our rich Bengali Literature. Your contribution in this field is unparalleled and we, the residents of Chittaranjan Park cherish it all the time.”
Among other writings mention may be made of two Short Story collections and a collection of plays. U.P. Drama Festival in Kanpur had honoured him twice and staged his two short plays on the occasion.His plays are being staged in several other places in Bengal.
His writings on different aspects of journalism and literary subjects used to be broadcast regularly from Siliguri AIR station during 1997-76 and his “Rajdhanior Chitti”, a special write-up on Delhi was continuously broadcast for more than two years from News Services Division, Bengali Section, AIR Calcutta during 1980-82.
Besides he is engaged in writing even now numerous articles on different aspects of Bengal literature in newspapers and journals both in English and Bengali. This is of importance to mention here that endowed with a strong conviction in perusing serious literary efforts, he personally believes that Little Magazines in Bengal have been doing marvelous work in Bengali literary field. So hehas been associated with Little Magazine’s philosophy of serious work and loves to contribute to them.
Among many accolades mention may be made of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan’s Dr Surendranath Sen Smriti Puraskar in 1998, Sammelan’s Delhi Branch gave Rabindra Puraskar in 2006, Bharat-Bangldesh Sahitya Sanskriti Samman in 2007 and Janaki Nath Bhattacharya Smitri Puraskar by Bangiya Samiti, Laksmi Nagar, Delhi.
In 1960 he was the founder-editor of a Bengali Literary Journal, “Indraprasstha” which was being published from Delhi ran about eight years. And now he isthe Joint Editor of the prestigious Bengal Journal of the capital “Unmukta Uchhwas” which is published for the last 20 years. It was awarded by the Publishers and Book Sellers’ Guild in 2011 Calcutta Book Fair as the best Journal outside Bengal. The prestigious literary organization “Mahadiganta” has honoured him as well as the journal “Unmukta Uchhwas” in 2012 for excellence in literary pursuits outside Bengal.