Manik Bandyopadhyay (19 May 1908 – 3 December 1956) was an Indian author regarded as one of the major figures of 20th century Bengali literature. His birth name was Prabodhkumar Bandyopadhyay. During the 28 years of his literary career, battling with epilepsy from the age of around 28 and financial strains all along, He produced some masterpieces of novels and short stories, as well as poems and essays. Manik was much inclined to literature and had read some Bengali masterpieces at an early age. While in Class VII in Bindubasini School at Tangail, the Bengali teacher would be pleased with Manik's way of writing essays and would often advise classmates to follow him. Manik wrote poetry at the age of sixteen. A brilliant student, Manik studied in the prestigious Presidency College in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honors course in mathematics. One day, some classmates argued that leading periodicals publish stories only of eminent authors. Manik differed and took the challenge with a bet and replied that his first story would be good enough for the purpose. He wrote his first story "Atasimami" (Aunt Atasi), a romantic love story based on his early life experience of an older couple, a clarionet player and his wife, and went straight to the office of the then renowned monthly Bichitra. Manik handed over the story to the deputy editor present there without even asking when to come next to know the fate of the story. After anxiously waiting for around four months, one fine morning, the famous writer and editor of the monthly himself came to his home with a copy of Poush 1335 issue (Dec-Jan 1928–29) and honorarium and requested for another story. "Atasimami" created sensation in the literary circle of Bengal and Manik became casual in his studies and could not succeed twice in B.Sc. final terms and devoted himself wholeheartedly to literature. Manik Bandyopadhyay carefully read Freud, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and socialist philosophers and participated in cultural activities and mass movements of the toiling people. He finally joined the Communist Party of India in 1944 and remained a member until his death. In 28 years of literary career, he wrote 38 novels, 306 short stories (includes 32 juvenile stories), one book of drama, one book of poems and one book of essays on literature. Manik wrote his first novel Dibaratrir Kavya (Poetry of the Day and Night) at the age of 21. His notable novels include first published one, Janani (Mother), 1935, Dibaratrir Kavya, 1935, Putul Nacher Itikatha (The Puppets' Tale), 1936, Padma Nadir Majhi (Boatman of the River Padma), 1936, Shahartoli (Suburbia in 2 vols.), 1940, 1941, Chatushkone (Quadrangle), 1942, Chinha (Signs), 1947, and Halud Nadi Sabuj Bon (Yellow River Green Forest), 1956.
