Jamshedpur’s Veteran Bengali litterateur Haradhan Adhikari passes away at 75

Jamshedpur: Renowned Bengali litterateur, social worker and humanitarian Haradhan Adhikari passed away in his sleep last night at his residence in Sarjamda Bawangoda. He was 75. Adhikari had been suffering from prolonged illness for the past year and had remained bedridden for the last five months following a brain hemorrhage.

A former employee of Tata Steel’s Public Health Department, Adhikari took voluntary retirement to devote himself entirely to literature, writing and social service. Throughout his life, he remained deeply committed to the welfare of society while making significant contributions to Bengali literature. Unmarried by choice, he dedicated his life to serving the underprivileged and promoting literary pursuits.

Known for his powerful short stories and novels, Adhikari earned widespread recognition among readers. Many of his literary works were translated into Hindi and published in various magazines and journals. His writings frequently portrayed the struggles, hardships and aspirations of poor and marginalized communities, reflecting his deep social consciousness.

Apart from his literary achievements, Adhikari played an active role in several social and cultural organizations. He served as co-editor of the monthly magazine “Singhbhum Varta” and was associated with the literary initiative “Panchpallav.” He was also an active member of the Parsudih Samaj Kalyan Samiti.

His contributions to social welfare were equally remarkable. Since 1982, he had been extending support to extremely poor and orphaned families. He facilitated the marriages of around 53 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and personally performed the Kanyadan of four orphaned young women. He also operated a homeopathic charitable clinic and dedicated considerable time to the care of leprosy patients. One of his notable healthcare initiatives involved the annual distribution of preventive smallpox medicine to nearly 20,000 children living in slum areas.

In recognition of his literary excellence and selfless service to society, Adhikari received several prestigious honours, including the Uddipta Puraskar, Ashapurna Devi Puraskar, Vivekananda Smriti Puraskar and Manav Ratna Samman. He was also conferred the Uttarbang Natya Jagat Puraskar for his multifaceted contributions as a theatre personality, organizer, nature lover, litterateur and social worker.

Remembered as a compassionate individual who firmly believed that service to humanity is service to the Divine, Haradhan Adhikari leaves behind a rich legacy of literature, philanthropy and social commitment. He is survived by his three brothers. His demise has been widely mourned by members of the literary fraternity, social organizations and admirers across the region.