Bengali Poet Shankha Ghosh has died of Covid-19 at his residence in India’s Kolkata on Wednesday, Anandabazar reports.
Shankha Ghosh breathed his last around 11:30am. He was 89.
The legendary poet and litterateur suffered from fever and tested positive for coronavirus on April 14.
He was the last of the Mohicans of the post-Jibanananda Das era of modern Bengali poetry.
"ছুটি, প্রভু, ছুটি!”
প্রয়াত শ্রী শঙ্খ ঘোষ…
(১৯৩২-২০২১)গভীরভাবে শোকাহত…#ShankhaGhosh #RestInPeace pic.twitter.com/ezAiszXuug
— Banglar Gorbo Mamata (@BanglarGorboMB) April 21, 2021
After diagnosed with Covid-19, he declined to be treated at hospital, so his treatment started at home.
His condition deteriorated last night and he was kept on a ventilator in the morning today.
Born on 5 February, 1932 in Chandpur of the then undivided India, Shankha Ghosh did his BA in Bengali literature from the prestigious Presidency College in 1951. Also, he obtained his masters’ degree from Calcutta University.
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Shankha Ghosh taught at different colleges affiliated with Calcutta University. Later he joined Jadavpur University and retired in 1992. He also taught at Bangabashi College and City College in Kolkata, Visva Bharati, Delhi University, University of Iowa (USA).
The poet was a recipient of Sahitya Akademi award in 1977 for his book of poems Babarer Prarthana (1976). He was honored twice with the Akademi award after 22 years.
Shankha Ghosh won the Jnanpith award, Desikottama award, Rabindra Puraskar, Saraswati Samman and several other prizes. Additionally, he was conferred with Indian government’s third highest civilian honor — Padma Bhushan in 2011.
As an expert on Rabindranath Tagore, poet Shankha Ghosh was the director of Rabindra Bhavan from 1989 to 1990.
Dinguli Raatguli, Dhum Legeche Hritkomole, Mukh Dheke Jaai Biggapone, Gaandharba Kobitaguchcha, and Chander Bhitorey Eto Andhakar are among his notable works.
