Short biography of Sunil Gangopadhyay

Sunil Gangopadhyay was born on September 7, 1934 at Faridpur in what is now Bangladesh. He (Shunil Gônggopaddhae), is an Indian poet and novelist. A prolific and versatile writer, Sunil Gangopadhyay  got his Master's degree in Economics from the Calcutta University in 1954. He is currently associated with the Ananda Bazar group, a major publishing house in Calcutta.

Sunil Gangopadhyay was the founder editor of the popular seminal magazine named Krittibas, which started publishing from the year 1953. Author of well over 200 books, Sunil is a prolific writer who has excelled in different genres but declares poetry to be his "first love".

As in poetry, Sunil is known for his unique style in prose. Arjun, Pratidwandi, filmed by Satyajit Ray (English title: The Adversary), Aranyer Din-Raatri (also filmed by satyajit Ray - The Days and Nights of the Forest), Ekaa ebong Koyekjon are some of his well known works of fiction.

Sunil has written (and still writes) in many other genres including travelogues, children's fiction, short stories, features and essays. Among his pen-names are: Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.

Another of his popular novel - Sei Somoy (translated into English by Aruna Chakravorty as Those Days) received the Indian Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985. Sei Somoy continues to be a best seller more than two decade after its first publication. As in poetry, Sunil is known for his unique style in prose. His first novel was 'atmaprakash' and it was also the first writing from a new comer in literature published in the prestigious magazine- 'desh' (1965).

He married Swati Bandopadhyay on 26 February 1967. Their only son, Souvik, who stays in Boston, was born on 20 November 1967.

Sunil Gangopadhyay has written over 35 novels of this popular series, most of which appeared in Anandamela magazine.

One of Sunil Gangopadhyay's cult poems, Smritir Shohor has been turned into a song for the film Iti Mrinalini (2011) directed by Aparna Sen. . Sunil Gangopadhay breathed his last on 23 October 2012.