Leela Majumdar

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. 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. ==Formative years==

She joined Maharani Girls' School at Darjeeling as a teacher in 1931. Together with her nephew Satyajit Ray and her cousin Nalini Das, she edited and wrote for Sandesh throughout her active writing life. Until 1994 she played an active role in the publication of the magazine. ==Creative efforts==

An incomplete bibliography lists 125 books including a collection of short stories, five books under joint authorship, 9 translated books and 19 edited books. For a special Mahila Mahal (women's section) series of All-India Radio, dealing with the "natural and ordinary problems" in the everyday life of a girl growing up in a typical, middle-class, Bengali family, she created Manimala, the story of a "very ordinary girl" whose grandmother starts writing to her from when she turns 12, continuing into her marriage and motherhood. ==Family==

In 1933 she married Dr. Sudhir Kumar Majumdar (1897-1984), a renowned dentist who was a graduate of the Harvard Dental School. Their son Ranjan was a medical doctor and a dentist. Daughter Kamala was married to Monishi Chatterjee, an oil engineer and grandson of the first female painter of the Bengal school, Sunayani Devi. Apart from her children, she had, at the time of her death, two grandsons, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren. ==Works==

Juvenile Literature Books • Boddi Nather Bori (first published book, published in 1939) • Din Dupure (published in 1948) • Podi Pishir Bormi Baksho (published in 1953) • Holde Pakhir Palok (published in 1957) • Haati Haati (published in 1957) • Bagher Chokh (published in 1959) • Gupir Gupta Khata (published in 1959) • Bak Badh Pala (published in 1959) • Bok Dharmik (published in 1960) • Tong Ling (published in 1963) • Lanka Dahan Pala (published in 1964) • Haoyar Danri (published in 1964) • Maaku (published in 1968) • Nepor Boi (published in 1969) • Naaku Gama (published in 1973) • Batashbari (published in 1974) • Bhootor Diary (published in 1979) • Kaag Noy (published in 1981) • Sob Bhuture (published in 1983) • ''Gupi-Panu'r Keertikolaap'' (published in 1983) • Khonja (published in 1991) • Beraler Boi (published in 1996) Books for Adults • Manimala (published in 1956) • Jonaki (published in 1958) • Sreemoti (published in 1958) • Cheena Lanthan (published in 1963) Autobiography and Memoirs • Aar Konokhane (published in 1967) • Kheror Khata (published in 1982) • Pakdandi (published in 1986) Biographies • Ei Ja Dekha (published in 1961) • Kabi Katha (published in 1961) • Upendrakishore (published in 1963) • Abanindranath (published in 1966) • Sukumar (published in 1989) Cookbook • Rannar Boi (published in 1979) Other Works • Chhotoder Srestho Galpo • Taka Gaachh • 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 • Ei Je Dekha • Moni Manil • Naatghar • Istkutum • Lal Neel Deslai • Megher Sari Dhorte Nari • Pori didir Bor • Pesha Bodol • Batas Bari • Monimala • Ilshe Ghai ==Awards==

Holde Pakhir Palok won the state award for children's literature, Bak Badh Pala won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the Government of India in 1963, Aar Konokhane won Rabindra Puraskar from the Government of West Bengal in 1969. She had also won the Suresh Smriti Puraskar, Vidyasagar Puraskar, Bhubaneswari Medal for lifetime achievement, and Ananda Puraskar. She has been awarded the Deshikottama by Visva Bharati, and honorary D.Litt. by Burdwan, North Bengal and Calcutta Universities. ==Legacy==

In 2019, a documentary film has been made on Lila Majumdar entitled "Peristan - The World of Lila Majumdar". ==References==