SusannahParish at 12:33, 16 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian poet (1898–1990)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Harindranath Chattopadhyay
| image = Harindranath Chattopadhyay.jpeg
| caption = Harindranath Chattopadhyay
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1898|04|02}}
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Hyderabad State]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1990|06|23|1898|04|02}}
| death_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start = 1952
| term_end = 1957
| predecessor = ''First Election''
| successor = [[Komarraju Atchamamba]]
| constituency = [[Vijayawada (Lok Sabha constituency)|Vijayawada]]
| party =
| spouse = {{ubl|
{{marriage|[[Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya]]|1923|1955}}|
{{marriage|Sundari Rani Chattopadhyaya|1962|1990}} }}
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Sarojini Naidu]] (sister)
}}
'''Harindranath Chattopadhyay''' (2 April 1898 – 23 June 1990) was an Indian English [[poet]], [[dramatist]], actor, [[musician]], and a member of the [[1st Lok Sabha]] from [[Vijayawada (Lok Sabha constituency)|Vijayawada constituency]].<ref name="h1">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/01/stories/2009040159911400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403090153/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/01/stories/2009040159911400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 April 2009|title=When Andhra was a Left bastion |last=Ramana Rao |first=G.V.|date=1 April 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=16 January 2010}}</ref> He was the younger brother of [[Sarojini Naidu]], the second woman President of the Indian National Congress and first Indian woman to hold the position, and [[Virendranath Chattopadhyay]], an international communist revolutionary. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1973.<ref name="Padma Awards.">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=July 21, 2015 | archive-date=15 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Life==
Chattopadhyay, a poet and singer, is famous for poems such as ''Noon'' and ''Shaper Shaped''. His father earned a Doctorate of Science from the [[University of Edinburgh]], and settled in [[Hyderabad State]], where he founded and acted as head of the Hyderabad College, which later became the Nizam's College in Hyderabad. His mother was a poet and used to write poetry in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. His other interests were politics, music, theatre and cinema.

His first book of poems, ''The Feast of Youth,'' was published when he was 19 years old, and received praise from [[Arthur Quiller-Couch]] and [[James Henry Cousins]].<ref name="The Divine Vagabond.">{{cite web | url=https://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/books/DivineVagabond/DivineVagabond.pdf | title=The Divine Vagabond | publisher=The Theosophical Publishing House, Madras | date=1950 | access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref> He wrote in English but of topics relating to ancient Indian culture and [[Vedic]] ideas.

He was awarded [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harindranath Chattopadhyay - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0154129/bio/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> He married [[Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya]], a socialist and leader of women, who created the [[All India Women's Conference]], the [[Indian Cooperative Union]], and also was the inspiration for the [[All Indian Handicraft's Board]], a body which revived many Indian handicrafts (such as pottery and weaving) decimated by the [[Industrial Revolution]] in Britain in the 19th century. They had two sons together, one of which died in 2008. Kamaladevi and Harin's divorce was the first legal separation granted by the courts of India. It was amicable.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Harindranath Chattopadhyay often recited his poem ''Rail Gaadi'' on [[All India Radio]] (''Akashavani''). The song was memorably sung by [[Ashok Kumar]] in the film {{lang|hi-latn|[[Aashirwad (film)|Aashirwad]]}}. He himself wrote the lyrics, composed the music and sang a few songs, notable among which were ''Surya Ast Ho Gaya'' and ''Tarun Arun Se Ranjit Dharani''. He penned the first English song in any Hindi Film, and it became an all time hit – "My Heart Is Beating" – in ''[[Julie (1975 film)|Julie]]'', which launched the Film Playback singing career of Preeti Sagar. He also wrote a number of poems for children in Hindi. His poems were appreciated by the Nobel Laureate [[Rabindranath Tagore]].

In 1951 Lok Sabha elections, Harindranath Chattopadhyay won from Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency in [[Madras State]] as an independent candidate, supported by the [[Communist Party of India]]. He was a member of the 1st Lok Sabha from 14 April 1952 to 4 April 1957.<ref name="h1"/>

His most famous acting role was in the Hindi movie ''[[Bawarchi]]'' (''The Chef''), which was made in 1972. It was adapted by [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] from the Bengali film [[Galpo Holeo Satti]], directed by [[Tapan Sinha]]. Chattopadhyay played the role of the strict and regimented patriarch of the house, where his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren lived in a joint family and still respected and abided by his rules. He had cameos in three [[Satyajit Ray]] films: playing the wizard Barfi in ''[[Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne]]''; the human encyclopaedia, Sidhujyatha, in ''Sonar Kella''; and the senior member of the Board of Directors, Sir Baren Roy, in ''Seemabaddha.''

He also acted in the 1984 Mumbai Doordarshan TV Serial Ados Pados. Amol Palekar was the protagonist in this serial.

Chattopadhyay died of [[cardiac arrest]] on 23 June 1990 in [[Bombay]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Harendranath Chattopadhyaya dead|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=23 June 1990}}</ref>

==Poems==
''The Earthen Goblet'' is one of Chattopadhyay's poems. The poem is written in a conversational tone. The poet presents a dialogue between the goblet and the narrator. The narrator asks the red goblet to recount its experiences as it is moulded by the potter. When the potter made this goblet, he used all his skills and made the beautiful goblet which was full of impulse. The Potter worked hard with the clay and the clay enjoyed the fragrant companionship of the little flower and the unshapely earth which the potter has taken away.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

''Fire'' is one of Chattopadhyay's tragic poems. In this poem a newly born baby asks a question to leaping flames. In fact, the infant's deceased mother had been set on fire and the child asked their question to the flames. The fire already consumed the dead mother and unveiled life in its lonely nakedness. The fire then answers that it is the terrible desire that shaped the infant in his mother's womb.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

''Beside the Death Bed'' is an example of his philosophical poetry. In this poem, Chattopadhyay says that death is the highest bidder and life is the lowest, this being his explanation as to why there is strife in life. According to the poem, man is the coffin of life, and life is the cradle of death.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

''Sorrow'' is a short poem. The small piece brings attention to the importance of sorrow being from a creator. The poem says a person who has lost his lover realizes deep and intense sorrow. It uses the symbolic image of a dove as the Holy Spirit.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

''Futurity'' gives yet another genre of writing explored by Chattopadhyay's poetry. Here, man is presented in unique form. According to the poem, time is the womb of eternity. Each man is compared to a foetus. All birth is yet to be born since man is unfinished and still in the making, and the foetus is awaiting the time to be born.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

''Shaper Shaped'' is marked by its stark simplicity. The narrative voice shows how the shaper has been shaped into the objects which he used to shape earlier. A potter shapes the clay and thus can make a beautiful pot. The narrator praises his work of art. At the end of the poem, the narrator kneels at the feet of a supreme power, who is identified at the one who created the potter himself.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==Works==

===Poems===
* ''The Feast of Youth'' (1918)
* ''The Magic Tree'' (1922)
* ''Ancient Wings'' (1923)
* ''Blood of Stones'' (1944)
* ''Spring in Winter'' (1955)
* ''Virgin and Vineyards'' (1967)
* ''The Lady's Giant Hat''
* ''The Earthen Goblet''
* ''Salute to R-day''
* ''Tati Tati Tota'' (in Hindi)
* ''Voyage''
* ''Things I Love'' (in English)
* ''Curious Town'' (in English)
* ''The Duck'' (in English)

===Songs===
* ''Surya Ast Ho Gaya''
* ''Tarun Arun Se Ranjit Dharani''
* ''My Heart is Beating'' (from [[Julie (1975 film)|''Julie'']])

===Plays===
* ''Abu Hassan'' (1918)
* ''Five Plays'' (1937)
* ''Siddhartha, Man of Peace'' (1956)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1962 || ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'' || Gharhi Babu ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|1963 || ''[[Tere Ghar Ke Samne]]'' || Seth Karam Chand ||
|-
|''[[The Householder (film)|The Householder]]'' || Mr. Chaddha ||
|-
|1964|| ''[[Sanjh Aur Savera]]'' || Mama, Radha's uncle ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|1965|| ''[[Teen Devian]]'' || Mr. Pinto ||
|-
|''Shreeman Funtoosh'' || Mr. Verma ||
|-
| || Bhoot Bangla ||Doctor
|-
|rowspan="2"|1966 || ''[[Pyar Mohabbat]]'' || Thakur Shamsher Singh ||
|-
|''Pinjre Ke Panchhi'' || Father of Miss India 1965 ||
|-
|rowspan="3"|1967|| ''[[Raaz (1967 film)|Raaz]]'' || Baba ||
|-
|''[[Raat Aur Din]]'' || Dr. Dey ||
|-
|''[[Naunihal]]'' || Deranged male in Bombay ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|1968||''Abhilasha'' || Albert D'Souza ||
|-
|{{lang|hi-latn|[[Aashirwad (film)|Aashirwad]]}} || Baiju 'Dholakia' ||
|-
|1969|| ''[[Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne]]'' || The Magician (Barfi) || [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali film]]
|-
|1971|| ''[[Seemabaddha]]'' || Sir Baren Roy || Bengali film
|-
|1972|| ''[[Bawarchi]]'' || Shiv Nath Sharma (Daduji) ||
|-
|1973|| ''[[Agni Rekha]]'' || Baba ||
|-
|rowspan="4"|1974|| ''Gupt Gyan'' || Professor #1 ||
|-
|''[[Sonar Kella]]'' || Sidhu Jyatha (Uncle Sidhu) || Bengali film
|-
|''Raja Shiv Chhatrapati'' || ||
|-
|''[[Aashiana]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|1976|| ''[[Mehbooba (1976 film)|Mehbooba]]'' || Rita's father ||
|-
|''[[Mera Jiwan]]'' || Doctor in village ||
|-
|1977|| ''[[Chala Murari Hero Banne]]'' || Harindranath Chattopadhyay ||
|-
|1978|| ''[[Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se]]'' || Mr. Rodriques ||
|-
|1981||''[[Ghungroo Ki Awaaz]]'' || Nawab Jung Bahadur ||
|-
|1982|| ''Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi'' || Mastermind behind spooking everyone ||
|-
|1984|| ''Hořký podzim s vůní manga'' || Rádz's grandfather ||
|-
|1985|| ''Phir Aayee Barsat'' || Hiren Chacha ||
|-
|1988|| ''Maalamaal'' || Shri Mangat Ram || (final film role)
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0154129}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chattopadhyaya, Harindranath}}
[[Category:Bengali male poets]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:English-language Indian poets]]
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Bengali male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Bengali cinema]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:India MPs 1952–1957]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Poets from British India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Male actors from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian actor-politicians]]
[[Category:Poets from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:People from Kanaksar]]
[[Category:Politicians from Dhaka Division]]

Harindranath Chattopadhyay - Revision history

SusannahParish at 12:33, 16 February 2026