29 Facts About Kaliprasanna Singha

Kaliprasanna Singha, well known by his pen name Hootum Pyancha, was a Bengali author, playwright, and philanthropist.

Kaliprasanna Singha is remembered as a philanthropist who helped several people and movements in distress.

In 1846, Nandalal died of cholera when Kaliprasanna Singha was only six years old.

Kaliprasanna Singha married Bhubanmohini, a daughter of Loknath Basu of Bagbazar in 1854, but she died within a few days.

Sometime later, Kaliprasanna Singha married Sharatkumari, daughter of Chandranath Basu of Hatibagan, and sister of Prabhas Chandra Basu.

Kaliprasanna Singha was admitted to Hindu College, currently known as Presidency University.

Kaliprasanna Singha continued his education in English, Bengali and Sanskrit at home.

Kaliprasanna Singha enhanced his English knowledge under the guidance of a European teacher Mr Kirkpatrick.

Kaliprasanna Singha had contribution in different fields as an author, editor, a publisher, a philanthropist, a social worker, and a great patron of art, literature and culture.

Kaliprasanna Singha established the Vidyotsahini Sabha at the age of 15.

Later on Kaliprasanna Singha enacted the play Benisanhar, which received a warm response and the performance was praised in Samvad Prabhakar.

Young Kaliprasanna Singha played the role of Bhanumati, a female character.

Later in 1857 itself, Kaliprasanna Singha himself wrote the play Vikramorvashi based on the Sanskrit composition of Kalidas.

Kaliprasanna Singha awarded Michael Madhusudan with a certificate and a silver peg.

Kaliprasanna Singha wrote several other plays, such as Babu, Sabitri Satyaban and Malati Madhab.

For improvement of the newspaper, Kaliprasanna Singha took over editorship of the newspaper.

Kaliprasanna Singha provided financial assistance to magazines like Tattwabodhini Patrika, Somprakash, Mookerjee's Magazine, Bengalee, Doorbin and Hindoo Patriot.

Kaliprasanna Singha translated "Bhagavad Gita" the Hindu sacred scripture, which was published posthumously.

Kaliprasanna Singha, who revered Harish Chandra immensely, bought the ownership at a cost of fifty thousand rupees, and appointed Shambhu Chandra Mookerjee for management of the magazine.

Kaliprasanna Singha contributed five thousand rupees for preserving the memorial of Harish Chandra, and wished to dedicate a land for development of a memorial building, which however did not materialise due to lack of interest among others.

Kaliprasanna Singha donated to the fund for saving the editor of "Hindu Patriot" Harish Chandra Mukherjee's house from auction after Harish's death.

Kaliprasanna Singha advocated widow remarriage, and after the enactment of Act, to popularise the concept, he declared a reward of Rs 1000 to every man who married a widow.

When Rev James Long, an Anglican priest of the Church Missionary Society was accused of sedition for translating the controversial Nil Darpan, a Bengali-language play written by Dinabandhu Mitra criticising the treatment of Indian ryots by European indigo merchants Kaliprasanna Singha paid the entire amount of a Rs 1000 fine which was imposed on Rev Long.

Kaliprasanna Singha was appointed as an honorary magistrate and Justice of Peace in 1863.

Kaliprasanna Singha served as the Chief Presidency Magistrate of Calcutta for sometime.

Kaliprasanna Singha was elected as a Municipal Commissioner for Calcutta.

Kaliprasanna Singha however incurred huge financial crisis during the last few days of his life as he had no control on expenditure and there was no end to his donations.

Kaliprasanna Singha died on 24 July 1870 due to liver ailment, at the age of 29, leaving behind his huge contributions.

Kaliprasanna Singha was a Major inspiration for the lead character in Sunil Gangopadhyay's famous Novel Shei Somoy.