Biography of Leela Majumdar

Leela Majumdar

Early Life :

Born to Surama Devi and Pramada Ranjan Ray (who was the younger brother of Upendra Kishor Ray Choudhuri), Leela spent her childhood days at Shillong, where she studied at the Loreto Convent. Surama Devi had been adopted by Upendra Kishor Ray Choudhuri . Lila's grandfather had left his younger two daughters in care of his friends after his wife died. The eldest daughter was sent to a boarding house. Her maternal grandfather was Ramkumar Bhattacharya, who later became a sannyasi and was christened Ramananda Bharati. He was the first among Indians to visit Kailash and Mansarovar and wrote a travelogue Himaranya. In 1919, her father was transferred to Calcutta, and she joined St. John's Diocesan School from where she completed her matriculation examination. She ranked second among the girls in the matriculation examinations in 1924. She stood first in English (literature) both in her honours (graduation) and Master of Arts examination at the University of Calcutta. The family she belonged to made a notable contribution towards children's literature.Sunil Gangopadhyay says that while the Tagore family enthused everybody with drama, songs and literature for adults, the Ray Chaudhuri family took charge of laying the foundations of children's literature in Bengali.

Family:

In 1933 she married Dr. Sudhir Kumar Majumdar, a renowned dentist who was a graduate of Harvard Dental School. For two decades she devoted herself to housekeeping. Her son Ranjan (b.1934) is also a dentist and daughter Kamala (b. 1938) is married to Monishi Chatterjee, an oil engineer and grandson of first female painter of the Bengal school, Sunayani Devi. Her husband died in 1984. Apart from her children, she had, at the time of her death, two grandsons, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

Literary works :

Tong Ling, Naaku Gama, Podi Pishir Bormi, Baksho, Boddi Nather Bori, Din Dupure

Chhotoder Srestho Galpo, Monimala, Bagher Chhokh, Bok Dharmik, Taka, Gaachh, Lal Neel Deslai, Basher Phul, Moyna, Shalikh, Bhuter Bari, Aaguni Beguni, Tipur Upor Tipuni, Patka Chor, Aashare Galpo, Chiching Phank, Je Jai Boluk, Chhotoder Tal Betal, Batash Bari, Bagh Shikari Bamun, Baghyar Galpo, Shibur Diary, Howrahr Dari, Ferari, Nepor Boi, Aar Konokhane, Kheror Khata, Ei Je Dekha,Pakdandi, Sreemoti, Cheena Lanthan, Moni Manil, Naatghar, Batashbari, Kaag Noi, Shob Bhuture, Bak Badh Pala , Megher Sari Dhorte Nari, Pori didir Bor, Pesha Bodol, Batas Bari, Monimala, Elshe Ghai, Pagla Pagolder golpo, Kuri, 

Chagla Pagla.