Harindranath Chattopadhyay 345 Views
Very rarely has the Indian film industry been graced by a non-filmi personality like Harindranath
Chattopadhaya. Born on April 2, 1898, he was a politician, a poet, a lyricist, an actor,littérateur,
translator, music director, singer, parliamentarian. The list is endless. His sister was Sarojini Naidu,
the second woman President of Indian National Congress, while another sister Suhasini was an
activist while his brother Virendranath was a Communist who was purged by Stalin in 1938.
Harindranath, a charming storyteller, had penned the famous poem for children, Rail Gaadi…which
was sung by Ashok Kumar in Ashirwad as also a number of IPTA songs, Surya Ast Ho Gaya and
adapted La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France in to a working and peasant class anthem Ab
Kamar Band Taiar Ho…azadi ka danka baja.
A Communist Party card holding member, he was a Member of the first Lok Sabha 1952 – 1957. He was married to Kamla Devi Chattopadhaya, social and political activist who single handedly established All India Women’s Council and was the lead in developing the handicraft and handloom sector in India. They were divorced in 1955, which is
considered the first Court Divorce in India.
Harindranath’s acting capability for cinema was aptly utilised by Satyajit Ray who cast him in
memorable roles of Magician Barfi in Goopi Gayen Bagh Bayen, as Sidhu Jetha (Sonar Kella)and Sir
Barin (Seemabhaddha). In Hindi cinema he will be remembered for being the head of the family in
Bawarchi. He also played cameo roles as Ghadi babu in Saheb Bibi Gulam, Mr Pinto in Teen Deviyan.
He died in 1990.
