Personal Details

• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 13 December 1903
• 📍 Place of Birth
• Chanchal, Malda, British India (now in West Bengal)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
• Father: Shibprashad Chakrabarty

Early Career

• Shibram Chakraborty embarked on his creative journey with a fervent passion for writing initially contributing to various literary magazines and newspapers. This early exposure honed his skills and laid the foundation for his distinctive style.
• 🌱 Early Life and Family Background
• Shibram Chakraborty was born on 13 December 1903 into the Chanchal Rajbari (royal house) family in Chanchal, Malda, British India. His ancestral home was in Malda, while the ancestral seat of the Chakraborty family was at Choa in Murshidabad District. He was born at his maternal uncle’s house in Darjipara, Kolkata. His father, Shibprashad Chakrabarty, was a spiritualist who often spoke about the road, instilling in Shibram a deep sense of wanderlust and curiosity.
• 🎓 Education and Early Struggles
• From a young age, Shibram was drawn to both learning and activism. He actively participated in the Swadeshi movement during his school years, which was part of India’s struggle for independence. His involvement led to his imprisonment and prevented him from appearing for the matriculation exam. Despite this setback, he pursued self-education, developing a broad knowledge base across multiple subjects.

Career Journey

• Shibram Chakraborty was a celebrated Bengali humorist known for his unique blend of wit, satire, and eccentric characters, enriching Bengali literature with laughter and insightful social commentary.
• ✍️ Early Career in Literature
• Shibram’s literary journey began as a poet, with his first book of poems titled Manush (Man). He later worked as a feature writer for prominent Bengali newspapers and magazines such as Basumati, Ananda Bazar Patrika, and Desh, where his humorous articles gained him recognition.
• 📖 Transition to Storytelling and Novel Writing
• Encouraged by the positive reception of his early work, Shibram began writing short stories and novels. He quickly became known for his innovative use of puns, wordplay, alliteration, and ironic humour, which was unique in Bengali literature at the time. He often inserted himself into his stories and used self-deprecating humour, making his narratives engaging and personal.
• 🌟 Signature Characters and Contributions
• Some of Shibram’s most famous creations include the brothers Harshabardhan and Gobardhan and his sister Bini, who became recurring characters in his stories. He also created the detective Kalke Kashi. In addition to humorous fiction, Shibram authored plays, political writings, and autobiographical works, including Eeshwar Prithibee Valobasa and Valobasa Prithibee Eeshwar. Over his 60-year career, he wrote more than 150 books, establishing himself as a prolific and versatile author.
• 🏃‍♂️ Life Struggles and Inspirations
• Shibram lived most of his life in modest conditions, in a small rented apartment in Muktaram Babu Street, Kolkata, where he documented his life on the walls as a hand-written calendar. Known as a free spirit, he never married and was generous to friends. His personal experiences, such as running away from home in his boyhood, inspired his celebrated novel Bari Theke Paliye, which was later adapted into a film by Ritwik Ghatak.
• 💼 Later Career and Recognition
• Shibram continued to write prolifically despite facing financial difficulties in the later years of his life. His contributions to Bengali literature, especially humour and wordplay, earned him the popular title of “King of Laughter”. The West Bengal Government supported him with a monthly allowance during his last years.