Akinchan Chakrabarty
Akinchan Chakrabarty (Bengali: অকিঞ্চন চক্রবর্তী; c. 18th century) was a Bengali poet. He wrote three narrative poems: Parvatir Sankirtan or Chandir Nutan Mangal (a version of Chandimangalkavya), Shitala-Panchali and Ganga Mangal.[1][2] He was greeted by the Brahmins as Kavindra ("Great Poet")[3] and lived at Bengaral village near Ghatal in modern-day Paschim Medinipur district in the Indian state of Paschimbanga (West Bengal).[2]
The exact date of his first poem Shitala-Panchali or Shitala-Mangal is unknown.[1] Professor Asutosh Bhattacharya assumed that Chandir Nutan Mangal was composed in the later half of 18th century,[1] while Sukumar Sen believed it was composed particularly in 1757.[3] Akinchan's version of Chandimangalkavya was greatly influenced by that of Mukunda Chakrabarty.[1] This vast work has two khandas (Cantos) further divided into 16 palas (Books).[1] He was, so far known, the last poet of Chandimangalkavya tradition.[1] Ganga-Mangal, a small narrative of Descent Of Ganga composed in 1776,[3] was his last work.[1]
Not much of Akinchan's personal or family life is known except that his father Purushottam lived at Atghara-Srirampur village near Ghatal and Akinchan had three sons: Ramchand, Ramdulal and Shibananda.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Bhattacharya, Ashutosh (2009). Bangla Mangalkavyer Itihas [History of Medieval Narrative Poetry] (in Bengali) (12th ed.). Kolkata: A Mukherjee & Co Pvt Ltd. pp. 465–73.
- ^ a b Das, Sisir Kumar (2003). "Akinchan Chakrabarty". Samsad Bangla Sahityasangi [Samsad Companion to Bengali Literature] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Kolkata: Sahitya Samsad. p. 1. ISBN 81-7955-007-9.
- ^ a b c Sen, Sukumar (1940). Bangala Sahityer Itihas [History of Bengali Literature] (in Bengali). Vol. II (1st (Ananda) ed.). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd. pp. 255–56. ISBN 81-7215-025-3.