Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay

• Relatives — Arabinda Mukhopadhyay (brother) • Awards — *Rabindra Puraskar • Sharat-Smriti Puraskar • Padma Bhushan • Name — Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay • Other Names — Banaphul • Born — 19 July 1899 • Birthplace — Manihari, Purnia District, Bengal Presidency, British India • Died — 9 February 1979 • Place of death — Calcutta, West Bengal, India • Education — Calcutta Medical College Patna Medical College and Hospital • Occupation — Writer, poet, pathologist • Notable Works — *Dana (Wings) • Sthabar • Trinakhanda

Mukhopadhyay was born in Manihari village of Purnia district (now Katihar District), Bihar on 19 July 1899. His family originally hailed from Sehakhala situated in Hooghly District of present-day West Bengal. His father, Satyacharan Mukhopadhyay, was a doctor, and his mother was Mrinalini Devi. He originally took the pen name Banaphul ("the wild flower") to hide his literary activities from a disapproving teacher. He attended Hazaribag College and was later admitted, into the Calcutta Medical College. He moved to Lake Town, Calcutta, in 1968, and died there on 9 February 1979. He is the elder brother of famous Bengali film Director Arabinda Mukhopadhyay.

He is best known for his short vignettes, which were often just half-page long, and centered on a single powerful moment with sharp observation and unconventional perspective, but his literary career spanned sixty-five years and included thousands of poems, over 586 short stories (a handful of which have been translated to English), 60 novels, 5 dramas, a number of one-act plays, an autobiography called Paschatpat (Background), and numerous essays." His short stories often revolve around a single, powerful moment, defined by sharp observation, unconventional perspectives, and exceptional storytelling.

• Trinokhondo তৃণখণ্ড • Boitorini Tire বৈতরণীর তীরে • Niranjana নিরঞ্জনা • Bhuban Som ভুবন সোম • Maharani মহারাণী • Agnishwar অগ্নীশ্বর • Manaspur মানসপুর • Erao achhe এরাও আছে • Nabin Dutta নবীন দত্ত • Harishchandra হরিশ্চন্দ্র • Kichukshan কিছুক্ষণ • Se O Ami সে ও আমি • Saptarshi সপ্তর্ষি • Udai Asta উদয় অস্ত • Gandharaj গন্ধরাজ • Pitambarer Punarjanma পীতাম্বরের পুনর্জন্ম • Nayn Tatpurush নঞ তৎপুরুষ • Krishnapaksha কৃষ্ণপক্ষ • Sandhipuja সন্ধিপূজা • Hate Bajare হাটেবাজারে • Kanyasu কন্যাসু • Adhiklal অধিকলাল • Gopaldeber Swapna গোপালদেবের স্বপ্ন • Swapna Sambhab স্বপ্নসম্ভব • Kashti Pathar কষ্টিপাথর • Prachchhanna Mahima প্রচ্ছন্ন মহিমা • Dui Pathik দুই পথিক • Ratri রাত্রি • Pitamaha পিতামহ • Pakshimithun পক্ষীমিথুন • Tirther Kak তীর্থের কাক • Rourab রৌরব • Jaltaranga জলতরঙ্গ • Rupkatha ebang Tarpar রূপকথা এবং তারপর • Pratham Garal প্রথম গরল • Rangaturanga রঙ্গতুরঙ্গ • Ashabari আশাবারি • Li ৯ • Sat Samudra Tero Nadi সাত সমুদ্র তেরো নদী • Akashbasi আকাশবাসী • Tumi তুমি • Asanglagna অসংলগ্ন • Simarekha সীমারেখা • Tribarna ত্রিবর্ণ • Alankarpuri অলংকারপুরী • Jangam জঙ্গম • Agni অগ্নি • Dwairath দ্বৈরথ • Mrigoya মৃগয়া • Nirmok নির্মোক • Mandanda মানদন্ড • Nabadiganta নবদিগন্ত • Koshtipathar কষ্টিপাথর • Sthabar স্থাবর • Bhimpalashri ভীমপলশ্রী • Pancha Parba পঞ্চপর্ব • Lakshmir Agaman লক্ষ্মীর আগমণ • Dana ডানা

• Pratibaad • swadhinata • "Bonofuler Golpo" • "Bonofuler Aro Golpo" • "Bahullo" • "Bindu Bishorgo" • "Adrisholok" • "Anugamini" • "Tonni" • "Nobomonjori" • "Urmimala" • "Soptomi" • "Durbin" • "Bonofuler Sreshto Golpo" • "Bonofuler Golpo Songroho-1" • "Bonofuler Golpo Songroho-2" • "Banaphooler Chhoto Galpa Samagra—1 & 2" • "Fuldanir Ekti Ful"

On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Government of India issued a postage stamp featuring his image.