WB govt celebrates Bibhutibhushan's 118th birth anniversary

A programme was held at the state secretariat here to celebrate the occasion where the late author's family, including daughter-in-law and grandsons were present.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "We will never forget the true picturisation of rural Bengal in 'Pather Panchali' - especially the scene where Apu and Durga were rushing with their curious eyes to see, for the first time, a train passing through the village."

Many of Bandyopadhyay's works have been made into films like 'Pather Panchali', 'Aparajito', 'Apur Sansar', 'Baksa Badal' and 'Amar Prem'.

"As a plain and simple person, he grew up in abject poverty but his indomitable spirit of writing went on successfully along with his career as a teacher," Banerjee said of the author who died in 1950.