Literature and Languages of Purnea

Hindi is the principal language of the district. However other than that, people in different areas follow different dialects. Maithili is one of the prime dialect/languages spoken in the area. People also speak Surjapuri, Polia, Angika and Santhali. In some parts of Purnea, Bangla is also spoken. 

Purnea has been home to many poets and literary figures. The most prominent among them has been Sati Nath Bhaduri and Phanishwar Nath Renu.Satinath Bhaduri (1906-1965) novelist and politician, also known by his literary pseudonym, Chitra Gupta, was born on 27 September 1906 at Purnea, Bihar, where Indubhusan Bhaduri, his father, practised law. His ancestral home was in Krishnanagar in the district of Nadia. Satinath obtained a MA in Economics from Patna University in 1930. In 1931 he completed his BL degree and started practising law at Patna (1932-1939). He then joined Congress and became District Secretary of Purnea. He suffered imprisonment in Bhagalpur Jail twice: 1940-41 and 1942-45. In 1948, he fell out with the Congress and joined the Socialist Party.

Satinath's novel, Jagari (1946), for which he received the very first Rabindra Puruskar (1950), earned him considerable fame. As a political novel, Jagari occupies a unique place in bangla literature. He also wrote a travelogue, Satyi Bhraman Kahini (1951), about his experiences in Paris. His other noteworthy works include Gananayak (1948), Chitragupter File (1949), Dhondai Charita Manas (2 parts, 1949, 1951), Achin Ragini (1954), Aparichita (1954), Sangkat (1957), Alok Drsti (1964), etc. Most of his writings portray the life-style of the people of Bihar. He died on 30 March 1965. [Abul Hasnat] Rabindra Puraskar or Rabindra Smriti Purashkar is the highest honorary literary award given in West Bengal. This award is given by the Government of West Bengal under the aegis of the Paschimbanga Bangla Academy (Bengali Academy of West Bengal), Kolkata. The award is given for creative literature, non-fiction and books about Bengal in other languages.

Purnea has been home to many poets and literary figures. The most prominent among them has been Sati Nath Bhaduri and Phanishwar Nath Renu.Satinath Bhaduri (1906-1965) novelist and politician, also known by his literary pseudonym, Chitra Gupta, was born on 27 September 1906 at Purnea, Bihar, where Indubhusan Bhaduri, his father, practised law. His ancestral home was in Krishnanagar in the district of Nadia. 

Phanishwar Nath 'Renu'

Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' (फणीश्‍वर नाथ रेणु) (1921-1977) is one of the great Hindi novelists of the post-Premchand era. The intimacy in writing brought to the reader with use of local flavor of Hindi in contrast to Khari Boli Hindi was entirely new literary experience. His masterpiece is मैला आंचल (Maila Anchal) (The Soiled Linen, 1954), a social novel that depicts the life of a region and its people, especially the backward and the deprived. He got a PadmShri award from Govt. of India for this novel. Which also was his first. Later during Jayaprakash Narayan Andolan, he gave up his award in solidarity. Another of his short story पंचलाइट (Panchlight) (Petromax) is beautiful in its depiction of human behavior. One can find many parallels between his and Premchand's writings. Also a short story मारे गए गुलफाम (Maare Gaye Gulfam) was adapted into a film by name of Teesri Kasam. Curiously Katihar railway station figures in many of his writings.He wrote descriptive prose with rapid character building senses.. He would then sets about reflecting on his characters and backgrounds from every angle. एक आदिम रात्रि की महक (Ek Aadim Ratri Ki Mehak) which is straight forward story with touchy ending, is one example his unending need for exploring pristine emotions of his characters.  Maila Anchal and Parti Pari Katha are two of his masterpieces. One of his stories, Maare Gaye Gulfam, has been filmed by the name Teesri Kasam. How can one forget the immortal songs: "Paan khaye saiyan hamare" and "Sajan re jhoot mat bolo". Raj Kapoor and Vahida Rehma have retold the story of Hiraman and Hirabai beautifully on screen, through their acting. Maila Aanchal has also been captured by the camera and has telecast on T.V. as a serial.