Ashapurna Debi was a popular female Bengali writer, who was the first to assert her position amongst the other Indian writers. She was born on January 8th, 1909 in North Kolkata. She belonged to a conservative family. Although she never attended any formal institution she had a strong personality, immense will power and maturity that were required to adapt oneself to the social surroundings. She was always keen on gaining knowledge about the outer world.
Ashapurna Debi’s Early Life and Career
Ashapurna Debi memorized the Bengali alphabets only by listening to her elder brother learning his Bengali lessons loudly. At the age of 13 she wrote a poem for the first time, which was published in Shishu Sathiat, a magazine for the children. She got married to Kalidas Gupta residing in Krishnanagar, when she was just of 15 years old. Even after marriage, she continued her passion for writing.
Works of Ashapurna Debi
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Choto Thakurer Kashi Jatra was the first children’s book written by Ashapurna Debi and published in the year 1938. Prem O Proyojon was her first novel, which was published in 1944. Ashapurna Debi has excelled in different types of work like novels, children’s literature, books, short stories, poems and many other articles based on different subjects. Many of her works have been translated in different languages as well. Her trilogy Subarnalata, Pratham Pratisruti and Bakulkatha has earned her great reputation.
Awards received by Ashapurna Debi
- Jnanpith Award (in the year 1977) - Prothom Protishruti
- Sahitya Academy Award
- Rabindra Puraskar
- Honorary Doctorate Degree in Literature
Ashapurna Debi passed away in the year 1995 but during the last years of her life she devoted a lot of time and attention towards social work and fought for the under-privileged of the society through her writings.
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