Famous poet Shankha Ghosh dies of Covid-19

Renowned Bengali poet Shankha Gosh has died of Covid-19 at his Kolkata home.

The 89-years old breathed his last around 11:30am on Wednesday.

The poet had been suffering from age-related sickness for a while, which made him physically weak. He also had to be admitted to the hospital in January this year.

On April 14, he tested positive for Covid-19 and remained in home isolation. On Tuesday night, his health condition deteriorated.

An attempt was also made to put him on a ventilator on Wednesday morning but all the efforts of the doctors failed.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled Ghosh's death and ordered state funeral for the poet.

Shankha Ghosh belonged to the era of Bengali poets after Jibanananda Das. Ghosh had also spent several years teaching in Delhi University, University of Iowa and Visva Bharati. He retired from Jadavpur University in 1992.

A couple of years ago, in a poem called “Mati,” he roared against the anti-Muslim citizenship law of the Modi government.

Shankha Ghosh has been honored with multiple honours in his literary life. In 1977, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award, India's second highest literary award, for his book of poetry “Babarer Prarthona.”

In 1999, he translated the play “Raktakalyan” from Kannada into Bengali and won the Sahitya Akademi Award again.

Besides, he also received Rabindra Award, Saraswati Samman and Jnanpith Award. In 2011, the then government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan.

Among his other notable works are "Dinguli Raatguli," "Mukh Dheke Jaai Biggapone" and "Gaandharba Kobitaguchcha."

Shankha Ghosh's real name is Chittapriya Ghosh. His father is Monindra Kumar Ghosh and mother is Amla Ghosh. He was born on February 5, 1932, in the present Chandpur district of Bangladesh.

His ancestral home is in Banaripara, Barisal. However, Shankha Ghosh grew up in Pabna. As it was his father's workplace, he stayed in Pabna for several years and passed matriculation from Chandraprabha Vidyapeeth there.

He graduated from Presidency College in 1951 with a degree in Arts in Bengal and a post-graduate degree from University of Calcutta.

Ghosh is survived by his only daughter Semanti Ghosh.