Sukumar Ray (1887-1923) was born in Calcutta, India, to Upendrakishore Roychowdhury, a visionary children's author, artist and publisher. Sukumar's genius was visible at an early age and in the short span of his life (he died at 36), he managed to cement his position as one of the greatest children's writers of his time. He was one of the foremost writers of nonsense verse and his collections of poetry and prose have been read and re-read by children over the last 80 years. His most famous works include Abol Tabol, HaJaBaRaLa, Pagla Dashu, Bohurupee and Khai Khai. He is the father of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
Sampurna Chattarji is a poet, novelist and translator.
'If you hear this, you will find your heads are getting muddled. Some of you will fathom fully, some will stay befuddled'
The Bengali language has never been quite such a living, breathing creature of whimsy as in Sukumar Ray's hands, and his creations-wild and wicked, dreamy and delirious-have thrilled children and adults alike. T his selection offers you the best of his world-pun-riddled, fun-fiddled poetry from Abol Tabol and Khai-Khai, stories of schoolboy pranks (Pagla Dashu) and madcap explorers (Heshoram Hushiyarer Diary), and the unforgettable harum-scarum classic of Haw-Jaw-Baw-Raw-Law, presented here for the first time in its entirety. All the stories and poems are accompanied by Sukumar Ray's inimitable illustrations.
Sampurna Chattarji's vibrant translation captures the freewheeling play of sound and sense we associate with Ray's writings. With an introduction by Ruskin Bond, this book is sure to captivate Sukumar Ray's fans and win him a whole new generation of admirers.
