Sisir Kumar Das | |
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| শিশির কুমার দাশ | |
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| Born | November 1936 |
| Died | 7 May 2003 Kolkata, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | South Suburban School (Main),Presidency College,University of Calcutta,School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Translator, Scholar, Comparatist, Linguist |
| Parent(s) | Mukul Chandra Das (Father) , Sarala Devi (Mother) |
| Awards | Rabindra Puraskar |
Sisir Kumar Das (1936–2003) was an Indian scholar of literature, specializing in Indian literature, as well as a linguist, poet, playwright, translator, and comparatist.[1] His three-volumeA History of Indian Literature (covering 1800–1910, 1911–1956, and 800–1399) is a significant contribution to the field. He also edited the multi-volumeEnglish Writings ofRabindranath Tagore.
Das's work spanned various languages and literary traditions. Though his formal training was inBengali language andliterature, he significantly influenced the development ofComparative Literature in India. He advocated for a comparative approach to literary studies, arguing that it offered a more comprehensive understanding of literature.[2]
A poet and playwright in Bengali, Das received theRabindra Puraskar twice (1976 and 1987).[1] His poetry collectionAbalupta Chaturtha Charan (The Disappeared Fourth Line) is considered a major work in 20th-century Bengali poetry. Several of his plays were performed by the theatre group Bahuroopi.
Sisir Kumar Das was born in November 1936 to Mukunda Chandra Das and Sarala Das. After graduating fromPresidency College, Calcutta (1955) and completing his master's degree at theUniversity of Calcutta (1957), he taught briefly in West Bengal. From 1960 to 1963, he taught at theSchool of Oriental and African Studies, London. In 1963, he earned his doctorate, submitting theses at both theUniversity of Calcutta and theUniversity of London. He joined the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies atDelhi University in 1963, where he taught until 2001.[3] He held the position of Tagore Professor (1980–2001) and served as president of the Comparative Literature Association of India (CLAI) from 1999 until his death in 2003.
His translations introduced ancient Greek literature to Bengali readers. His playAloukik Sanglap features dialogues between historical figures likeKalidasa,Aristotle,Parashuram, andOrestes. Das also explored theBhakti movement and its literature.
Das'sA History of Indian Literature was a significant undertaking. He aimed to create an integrated history encompassing multiple languages and literary cultures.[4][5] The first volume,Western Impact: Indian Response 1800–1910 (1991), was followed byStruggle for Freedom: Triumph and Tragedy 1911–1956 (1995). He acknowledged the vastness of the project and hoped his work would inspire further research.[6] Das died on 7 May 2003, while working on the medieval period (500-1399 AD). Das also wrote for children.[1]
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