Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay (1899-1979) was born in Purnia district of Bihar. His father Satyacharan Mukhopadhyay was a practicing physician at the village. He did his schooling from the Sahebgunge Railway School. He had also started a magazine known as "Bikash" where his first few writings were published. When a poem of his was published in a magazine named Malancha, he was warned by his head-master as he feared that this may spoil his education. Therefore in order to hide his work Balai adopted his pen name Banaphool. He did his graduation from Hazaribag College. Thereafter he got admitted for medicine in Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. He was married to Lilavati. However before he could complete the education he was transferred to Patna Medical College and Hospital due to an order issued by the Government. He was employed as a physician post completion of course. He worked as a physician at Azimgaunge Hospital. At Bhagalpur he practiced Pathology. Thereafter he settled permanently at Salt Lake.

He has composed thousands of poems, 586 short stories, 60 novels, 5 dramas, several one-act plays, an autobiography named Paschatpat and many essays.




Works of Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay: