Subimal Misra

Subimal Misra was born in 1943. He has been writing since 1967. He has been described as the father of the experimental novel in Bengali and the leading anti-establishment and experimental writer in the Bengali language.

Misra has tried to bring the style of Jean Luc Godard into Bengali literature. He has steadfastly disavowed recognition and commercial publication, writing only for non-commercial literary publications (or "little magazines") and spurned invitations from major Bengali publications.

Subimal Misra's first collection of stories, titled haran majhir bidhoba bou-er moda ba shonar gandhimurti, was published in 1971. Over 20 volumes of his stories (or “anti-stories”), novellas, novels (or “anti-novels”), plays and essays have been published. Most of these have been published and distributed by the author himself, several of which are now out of print.

Dhiman Dasgupta, a film scholar and writer, has written a treatise on the work of Misra, subimal misra: patan abhyuday bandhur pontha (Calcutta, 1992). Aw-e-ajogor, a Calcutta little magazine (edited by Biplob Nayak), and Droshtobyo, a Bangladeshi little magazine (edited by Kamrul Huda Pothik), have published special issues on Subimal Misra. Publishers Banishilpa have brought out a compilation of his stories. Bitorko have also published compilations of his stories and novels.

Ankur Saha has written a good introduction to Misra in the Bengali e-zine Parabaas.

Misra’s most recent book of stories and essays, kika cutout was published in 2006. Now a retired school-teacher, he lives in Sarkarpool, a suburb of Calcutta.