Maitreyi Devi Biography

Maitreyi Devi, recognized as a distinguished writer and poetess, was born on September 10, 1914. Renowned for her literary contributions, she crafted profound works that reflected her deep insights into human emotions and societal issues.

Maitreyi Devi Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Biography, & More

Throughout her life, Maitreyi Devi’s writings resonated with readers, captivating them with her evocative prose and poignant poetry. Her literary legacy continues to inspire and enrich the literary landscape, making her a celebrated figure in the realm of Indian literature.

Early Life

Maitreyi Devi was born on June 26, 1914, in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata, India). Her father, Surendranath Dasgupta, was an Indian Sanskrit and Philosophy scholar, while her mother was Himani Madhuri Rai. Growing up in a scholarly environment, Maitreyi’s interest in literature was nurtured from a young age, influenced greatly by her father’s love for reading and writing. She received her education in Calcutta, attending St. John’s Diocesan Girls’ Higher Secondary School and later Jogamaya Devi College, University of Calcutta, where she pursued her graduation.

Education

Maitreyi Devi hailed from Calcutta (now Kolkata) and attended St. John’s Diocesan Girls’ Higher Secondary School for her schooling. She pursued her higher education at Jogamaya Devi College, University of Calcutta, where she completed her graduation.

Death

Maitreyi Devi was born on September 10, 1914, in Chittagong, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Chattogram in Bangladesh). She passed away on January 29, 1989, at the age of 74 or 75, with some sources suggesting she died in 1990.

Husband and Children

At the time of her death, Maitreyi Devi was married to Dr. Manmohan Sen, a scientist, since their marriage in 1934. They had two daughters, one of whom is Madhusree Dasgupta, who currently runs a school.

Family

Maitreyi Devi’s father was Surendranath Dasgupta, an Indian Sanskrit and Philosophy scholar. Her mother was Himani Madhuri Rai. She had three brothers: Subhayu Dasgupta, Sugata Dasgupta, and Prof. Subhachari Dasgupta, along with two sisters: Chitrita Devi (Gupta), a writer who lived from 1919 to 2006, and Sumitra Majumdar, who passed away in 2008.

Maitreyi Devi Youngage Picture

Maitreyi Devi Father Surendranath Dasgupta

Maitreyi Devi Daughter Madhusree Dasgupta

Maitreyi Devi Boyfriend Mircea Eliade

Career

Maitreyi Devi had a prolific career as a writer and poetess. Her literary journey began at the age of 16 when Rabindranath Tagore, under whom she studied, wrote the preface to her first poetry book, ‘Udarata’ (1930). She gained widespread recognition for her semi-autobiographical novel “Na Hanyate,” penned as a response to Mircea Eliade’s book “Maitreyi” (Bengal Nights).

Throughout her life, she continued to contribute to Bengali literature with her poetry and prose, delving into themes of love, identity, and social issues. Additionally, Maitreyi was actively involved in philanthropic endeavors, establishing organizations such as Khelaghar for orphaned children and promoting communal harmony.

Awards

• She received Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1976 for her novel Na Hanyate.

Publications

• Tagore by Fireside, 1943
• Rabindranath—The Man behind His Poetry, 1973
• It Does Not Die: A Romance, 1974
• রবীন্দ্রনাথ গৃহে ও বিশ্বে (Rabindranath at home and in the world)
• মংপুতে রবীন্দ্রনাথ (Rabindranath at Mangpu)

Net Worth

Maitreyi Devi’s net worth is not publicly known.

Some Lesser Known Facts About Maitreyi Devi

• Maitreyi’s interest in literature developed due to her father, who loved reading and writing.
• She was a student of Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote a preface to her first poetry book, ‘Udarata’ (1930). She was then 16 years old.
• ‘Na Hanyate’ is a semi-autobiographical novel in response to her forlorn beloved, Mircea Eliade’s 1933 Romanian novel, ‘Maitreyi’ (Bengal Nights). Maitreyi encountered it in the ’70s, reading which she was unhappy. Therefore, she decided to write her side of the story.
• Before ‘Na Hanyate,’ Maitreyi’s series of poems, ‘Aditya Marichi,’ was the first response to Mircea’s book ‘Maitreyi’ in which she found that Mircea described their past relationship as sexual.
• Mircea dedicated his novel ‘Maitreyi’ to Maitreyi Devi, and she was informed about this from her father after 5 or 6 years of its publication.
• Some Bengali media claimed that the 1999 Bollywood movie ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,’ starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Salman Khan was inspired by Maitreyi Devi’s ‘Na Hanyate.’
• Maitreyi took a promise from Eliade that his book ‘Maitreyi’ should not be published in English until she was alive. The book was published in 9 languages with ‘La Nuit Bengali,’ its French version, being the most famous. Its English version was published in 1933.
• She was a philanthropist at heart, who established an organization for the orphans of refugee camps, named Khelaghar. She also established a Council for the Promotion of Communal Harmony (1964).
• She served as the Vice-President of the All-India Women’s Coordinating Council.
• Maitreyi enjoyed farming of cows, fish, sheep, and poultry.

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