Suchitra Bhattacharya

Suchitra Bhattacharya (10 January 1950 – 12 May 2015) was an Indian novelist, known for works including Hemanter Pakhi, Kachher Manush, Aleek Shukh, Icche and Kacher Dewal. During her career as a writer, she composed over 20 novels and many short stories. Her novel Dahan was adapted into the 1997 film Dahan,

Early life and education Suchitra Bhattacharya was born in 1950 in Bhagalpur, Bihar.

Career Having taken many odd jobs in her early youth, she finally joined the public service, leaving in 2004 to become a full-time writer. She started writing in the late-1970s, and novels in the mid-1980s, finding early success with her novel Kacher Dewal (Glass Wall).

Her writing focuses on contemporary social issues. Her life experiences are reflected in many of her stories and novels. Bhattacharya was enthusiastic about fellow contemporary women author Tilottama Majumdar, and was deeply influenced by Ashapurna Devi and Mahasweta Devi.

Her novels and short stories have been translated into Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and English. She has also written novels and short stories for children.

Her novel Dahan was made into the 1997 film Dahan by Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh. The first novel with Mitin Masi was Sarandai Saitan, followed by: Sarporahosya sundarbone, Jhau jhien hotyarorosya, Dussapno bar bar, Sander saheber Puthi and others. Other Mitin Masi novels were written for adults.

Suchitra Bhattacharya died on 12 May 2015, aged 65, due to a cardiac arrest at her home in Dhakuria, Kolkata.

Awards and accolades Suchitra received many awards, including the Bhuban Mohini Medal from Calcutta University in 2004, the Nanjanagudu Thirumalamba National Award (1996), Dashti Upanyas (Ten novels) German Ganesh Ekaa (Alone) Aynamahal (Palace of Mirrors)

Films Based On Her Books Dahan (1997) Hemanter Pakhi (2001) Icche (2011) Alik Sukh (2013) Ramdhanu (2014) Salt Mango Tree (2015) Onnyo Basanto (2015) Praktan (2016) Mitin Mashi (2019) Jongole Mitin Mashi (2023) Mitin: Ekti Khunir Sandhaney (2025)