Bishnu Dey although essentially an illustrious poet, was also a versatile litterateur who was equally well-known for his prose, translation, poetry-essays, cinema & art criticism. He was born #OTD in 1909 in Bengal Presidency. 
Dey is a difficult poet for the reader. His poetry frequently refers to western classics (art & music) & attempts to marry eastern classical concepts with western, contrasting them at the same time. His sophisticated imageries were rejected by some of his successors as “elitist”
Many scholars have argued that Dey was far too ahead of his time. He was a great intellectual who was extremely well read & versatile. His knowledge of music & art, both modern & classical, western & eastern, was deep rooted.
TS Eliot, whose poems revolved around the crisis of capitalist culture in Europe post WWI had sumptuous influence on Bishnu Dey.
Dey was deeply influenced by #Marxism & drew inspiration from it. Along with other Calcutta-based writers & poets like Subhash Mukhopadhyay he formed the "Anti-Fascist Writers' and Artists' Association" in March 1942. Dey was its secretary.
Dey joined "Friends of Soviet Committee" after it was formed. He was also associated with Indian Peoples Theatre Association, Calcutta Artists Group & Pragati Lekhok Sangha. The "Tebhaga Movement" of 1946 had stirred Dey immensely.
Bishnu Dey was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Purashhkar (1966), the Nehru Smriti Purashhkar (1967), and the Rastriya Jnanpith Award (1971). He also received the Soviet Land Award for Rushti Panchashati.
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