Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury

Sketch: Yafiz Siddiqui

Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, popularly known as Upendrokishore Ray is the author of some of the most well-loved children's books ever written in Bangla. Upendra's Goopygayen, Baghabayen and the tales on Tona-tuni, the birds laid a strong foundation of children's literature in Bangla and are devoured by millions of young readers even after 150 years of his birth. He was also a painter, violin player and composer, technologist and entrepreneur. He was the one who published the first children's magazine called Sandash in April 1913, which was exclusively for children and contained literary and scientific pieces and used to be immeasurably enhanced by good accompanying drawings done by him. Upendrakishore introduced the idea of half tone block making was also the pioneer of Bengali printing industry. Later, he started one of the best publishing houses in Kolkata named 'U. Ray & Sons'. After his death, the mantle of publishing went to his son Sukumar Ray, the famous writer took charge of the publishing house after his death. After Sukumar Ray's death the mantle of publishing went to Upendrakishore's grandson Satyajit Ray, the renowned filmmaker.