Bidhayak Bhattacharya was an Indian dramatist, litterateur and journalist. Bidhayak Bhattacharya was born in the year 1907. His name for stage was chosen as Bagalacharan. Bidhayak Bhattacharya was a popular Bengali dramatist who can claim credit for changing the historical and Puranic predilection of commercial Bengali theatre to middle-class family melodrama in the late 1930s.
Early life of Bidhayak Bhattacharya
His birth name was Bagalaranjan but better known as `Bidhayak`, a name given him by Rabindranath Tagore. His pen-names were `Yashodhar Misra` and `Manas Das`. He passed the Entrance examination in 1928 from Edward Coronation High Institution which is now known as Raja Vijoy Singh Vidyamandir. He has also served as a journalist at "Amrita Bazar Patrika" and "Yugantar". Later he was the editor of Rupayan, Mancharupa and Chhabiwala. He also taught at the Viswa-Bharati University in Santiniketan.
Career of Bidhayak Bhattacharya
He wrote many short stories, novels and plays but he was more well-known as a playwright, writing over 25 plays. His plays are mostly on social and household themes. "Meghmukti" was first staged in 1938 at "rangmahal" theatre in Calcutta and admired. His other well-liked plays are
"Matir Ghar" (1939), "Bish Bachhar Age" (1940), "Rakter Dak" (1941), "Tumi O Ami" (1941), "Chirantani" (1942), "Rajpath" (1949), "Khabar Balchhi "(1950), "Ksudha" (1956), "Anthony Kaviyal", "Nati Vinodini", "Khelaghar", "Tahar Namti Ranjana", "Ujan Yatra" and "Kanna Hasir Pala". He also dramatized quite a few of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay`s novels, such as "Baikunther Will" (1944), "Bipradas" etc. Fateh Lohani based the motion picture "Akash Ar Mati" (1959) on one of his stories. Bidhayak Bhattacharya`s novels include "Chaka Ghurchhe", "Brddha Bidhata"and "Ratri Yader Din".
Bhattacharya wrote a few hagiographical plays like Jhansir Rani i.e. `Rani of Jhansi` in 1954 and Jugabatar Sri Ramkrishna i.e. Ramakrishna, Avatar of the Age` in 1954. His one-act radio drama Tahar namti Ranjana or `Her Name Was Ranjana` remains a permanent choice for broadcast because of the outstanding acting of Sombhu and Tripti Mitra.
Honors and Awards of Bidhayak Bhattacharya
He received many honors for his contributions to literature and journalism and they are:
•Madhusanglapi from Bhatpara.
•Sahitya Mahasnatak from Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan.
•Sudhangshubala Puraskar from the University of Calcutta.
•Shatabarsiki Puraskar on the centenary of Bengali theatre.
