SHAMIK JOY SENGUPTA

PAINTER

I am a Bengali poet from early 90's is well known for his magazine Saptaparno and publication house Abhijoy Prakashani. He is one of the pioneers in Bangla Little Magazine movement of recent time. His association and contribution is also remarkable in Anti 377 movement and LGBTQ rights. While writing becomes his profession, he still nurtured the passion of paintings. His coluoms and queer related stories and paintings are very popular among youths and equally appreciated by reader of various ages. He was awarded with various awards.. the remarkable awards are - Kochi kacha sisu sahityo Samman (1996), Saralabala Smriti Samman (child progedy) [1999], and Chuni Kotal Samman 2017 for his book Purabartma, a book that breaks the myth of Indian classical mythological queer characters. Purabartma comprises of characters like Shikhandi, Tara, Shanta, Shamik, Barbarik, Satyavati and the two mothers of Bhagirath. Here queer ideology is not reflecting only gender queer or other orientation saga, but also highlights the socioeconomic marginalization. He is a mastermind to recreate the Indian mythology in it's most authentic and believable concept. His other books are Nodir kache ora kojon and Pocket Full of Joy.