Premendra Mitra is popularly known for his wit and humour in his writing. After trying different careers he tasted success in writing business and penned down some of the best and well known characters in his life time. He edited some of the famous and popular Bengali magazines and some of the major ones are; Kollol, Banglar Kotha, Kali O Kolom, Sangbad and Banga Basi among others.
Premendra Mitra`s work was fist published in Probasi, a Bengali journal meaning: The Exile, in 1922. His poems were mainly filled with humour and wit, and very sharp in its depiction. In most of his popular works we see he expressed his empathy for the poor and the working class people. His short stories were innovative, well structured, and engaging, portraying the diverse nature of our society. Much of Mitra`s work depicted the caste system, poverty and systemic degradation pertaining to religion and social divide prevailing in Bengal during his times. He was an innovator and liked experimenting with styles and structures. He, in his most writing, experimented with the style and thematic nuances, and brought to the fore an alternative linguistic formula for the high class people of the society in Bengal, who were so engrossed and used to the style of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Rabindranath Tagore.
Premendra Mitra is a popular choice among the young and school going children and among the older generation as well. Among all his works, Ghanada (meaning elder brother) stands out among all his literary creations. Ghanada can be judged, rather seen from various perspectives. Apparently, an indifferently unemployed man in his mid thirties, who weaves engaging adventure almost at the drop of a hat, is well taken among the readers. The adventures of Ghanada ranges from variety of issues like crime, humanity, science, meta-physics, philosophy, geography, history and psychology. The factual content of all his adventures are amazingly accurate. Though, he claims to be a part of all the adventure he narrates but, of course, it is far from true. He is actually highly learned man with an exceptional talent of story telling.
Critics have often said that Ghanada is actually Mitra`s way of projecting the middle class, (seemingly intellectual with vast theoretical knowledge but no practical experience) that existed in Bengal during his time. Much like Satyajit Ray`s Feluda, the character of Ghanada is also indifferent dispassionate towards opposite sex. Ghanada almost maintains a frugal existence, and preferred spending most of his times in the local libraries.
Apart from Ghanada, Premendra Mitra is also known for his other master pieces like "Mejokorta". The character of Mejokorta is actally a "Bhotshikari" a ghost hunter. The entire series of Mejokorta is actually quite popular among people and has left a significant mark among its readers. This series, though not as long as Ghanada series, has a prominent presence in the genre of ghost stories in Bengali literature.
Several of Premendra Mitra`s works have been included as a curriculum at the school and college levels. His Ghanada series have been translated in English and published in Penguin Books India in 2004.
